Page 66 of I Blame the Rival

Trip laughs, “It’s true. I caught him googling new training drills last week.”

Skylar stays silent beside me, his fingers nervously tapping his thigh. Besides a quiet murmur of acknowledgement to Cody and Stella, he hasn’t said a word since we sat down.

I lean over and nudge him gently, “What do you think?”

“Of the play?”

At my nod, Skylar lifts a shoulder, “Stella was right, it was a strategic move. He purposefully waited until the other forward made a breakaway so the defensemen would be preoccupied when he made his shot.”

I’m stunned, speechless, and that’s before Stella turns and gives him a nod of acknowledgement.

“I’m glad somebody else understands lacrosse.”

Cody barks out a laugh, “Says the woman who has never stepped on a lacrosse field.”

“Doesn’t make it any less true.”

Taber’s old lacrosse captain shakes his head, “Next date, we’re playing lacrosse. Then we will find out who knows more about the sport.”

Stella smirks, flicking a braid over her shoulder, “Get ready to have your ass whooped, Ellsworth. Better start working on your losing skills now.”

He grins, “Good thing I’m not the sore loser in this relationship.”

The couple starts bickering and I shift closer to Skylar. Reaching into his lap, I take his hand to stop the nervous fidgeting. I stroke his thumb gently, silently offering some reassurance.

“You know a lot about lacrosse. Did you ever play?”

Skylar shakes his head, squeezing my fingers, “This was always my brother’s territory. I just picked up some things from watching his games.”

“Did you watch a lot of them?”

He flicks his eyes to mine, “I watched every single one.”

I bite my lip, thinking about the number of players Vector has put in the hospital. Skylar does everything he can to avoid violence and yet his brother goes out of his way to inflict it.

After meeting Amber and seeing the scars she carries around, it makes me wonder how the two brothers could have chosen such different paths.

“That must have been tough.”

“Some were.” Skylar huffs out a quiet laugh, “But someone had to take responsibility.”

Before I can question his response, the ref blows his whistle and the game resumes. Wrapping my hand more securely around Skylar’s, together we watch the Tigers run around the field, the varsity athletes moving with accuracy and speed as they whip the ball across the field.

“What strategy are they doing now?” I whisper softly in his ear, noticing the shiver that runs through him.

“This offensive play is called an invert, it’s pretty common among the university circuit.”

Skylar points to different players lined up on the front line, casually explaining the formation and objective behind it. He does it in a way that is plain and simple, leaving no room for confusion or complexity.

It blows my mind how much of a patient person he is. From the hours he spends on his art to the way he lets me linger around a bookstore, Skylar’s ability to wait is incomparable. I’ve never met someone who feels comfortable letting the silence grow if only so I can have more time with my thoughts.

He’s cautious yet meticulous. Precise yet undemanding.

It makes me wonder what he’d be like as a lover.

The thought has discomfort spreading over my skin like a rash. I haven’t been able to properly read a sex scene for the last two years, and now that Skylar is on the scene, it’s starting to bother me. At this rate, I would be better off being the virgin my roommate paints me out to be.

I’m a freak and not in a good way.

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