Page 59 of Framed

She shot me a look that told me she called bullshit. I wouldn’t say she was right, but was she entirely wrong? I pleaded nolo contendere.

I stared at the takeout menu sitting on the edge of my bed for long seconds, debating as I mulled over my options.

“Please.” The cracking in Winter’s voice gave me my answer. This was for her and this was her way of indirectly asking for help.

Winter ushered me onto the bleachers, where I saw the two teams huddled around their respective coaches. Our team wore navy blue jerseys with the word “Lions” plastered on the front and white helmets to match. The game hadn’t started yet so I allowed myself to scan the players, wondering if he still played.

“He’s the QB, number three.”

“Who?” Winter shot me a “don’t play dumb” look before she turned back to the crowd.

I knew who she was talking about. I was surprised he kept the same number after all of these years. I picked it for him in middle school. Though I never admitted it to anyone, the number symbolized that the three of us were out on the field together—that me, him, and Naomi would always be there for each other. Just the three of us. That was all we needed.

It had been a while since the last game I got to attend. The nervous energy and determination in the air felt nostalgic, like home.

I discreetly allowed my own gaze to scan the crowd, searching for number three until I found him. He was taller than most of the players on the team but that wasn’t what caught my attention. It was his feet that had me stuck on stupid. He had on green socks.Thegreen socks.

My heart did a stupid flip at the revelation. I hadn’t spoken to him since that night I revealed the truth about the notes and he dropped a bomb of his own.

Me too. I spent countless nights repeating the two words, wondering what it meant. He also got the notes? My brain couldn’t process the information. I couldn’t believe and once again, I was stuck with a million questions I knew I’d never get answered.

He hadn’t spoken to me since that night but I knew he was always around. Always watching. I felt his presence everywhere I went. I was starting to think he was my shadow.

“He wears them every game.” Winter supplied, her gaze also on the 6’4 quarterback. Apparently I wasn’t as discreet as I thought.

“Why?” I asked dumbly. I knew why back then but what reason did he have to continue to wear them if he hated me as much as he portrayed? In honor of Naomi?

“No one knows. He doesn’t answer personal questions during his interviews, only talks about the game.” That was on par with the boy I knew. Xavier played the sport as if he needed to escape and he never cared too much for the politics of the game.

My gaze swiped back to the field and this time I spotted Kane. His helmet was off and he was talking to one of the coaches on the sidelines.

“Kane plays too?” I found myself asking and as if he could sense me staring, we locked eyes. A smile lifted his lips as he waved at me. It was adorable and I couldn’t help the upward tip of my lips as I returned the gesture.

We’d hung out a few other times since our date but it was always in a group setting. I didn’t mind it—if anything the group setting kept him at a safer distance.

Xavier, who was talking to the coach, followed Kane’s line of sight and stiffened as he saw me.

My smile fell and we stared at one another. His light-brown eyes blazed, shining with an emotion I imagined.Jealousy. I could’ve sworn I saw it first a few nights ago. But I decided that I imagined it because in what world did he have the right to be jealous? He was the one who abandoned me. Abandoned us.

Plus, he never asked, but something deep down told me he knew about my date with Kane. He had to. It was his job to look out for me after all.

I was his assignment. Nothing more, nothing less. That’s what I told myself anyway.

But that kiss? It was everything. It threw all logic to the wind. It was as magical as I thought it would be. Honestly, it kind of ticked me off how well our bodies meshed together. How perfectly my height matched his. I’d feared that it would be off back when I was a teenager.

Winter blew out a low whistle, breaking me out of my trance. “I’ve been trying to give you space but one day you have to tell me what happened between you two.”

My eyes cut to Kane again and my heart dropped as I found him openly glaring at Xavier. This wasn’t the easy-going man I met a few months ago. The nice man who took me to a charity dinner. His gaze was murderous and he made no attempt to hide it. It was two lions circling each other, asserting their dominance. I hated to admit it but it was kind of hot and made parts of me tingle.

“You’re so lucky.” Winter sighed dramatically.

“How do you mean?” I decided to play dumb. I’d say it was stupid to pit the two against each other, not lucky. It’d be a fight to the death no doubt.

“The tension between those two could blow up a storm. If I had my druthers, I would be sandwiched between the both of them and let them have their wicked way with me.”

I snorted, which made her laugh as she leaned in and waggled her brows suggestively.

A whistle blew and the starting lineup, excluding Xavier and Kane, rushed out to their positions. After a breath, the two exchanged one last smoldering look before they jogged out onto the field.

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