Page 82 of Fighting Spirit

She pauses. “I like hearing you call yourself my boyfriend.”

“Yeah, I like it too.”

“God, we’re turning into one of those awful couples.” She laughs.

“At least we’re not making out in line at theme park.”

“That’s a very specific example.”

“Those people deserve jail time,” I deadpan.

“I think it’s kinda cute.”

“It should be a felony.”

She laughs at me. I know I must look a fool back here, arms wrapped tight around myself and grinning down the phone, but it’s the happiest I’ve been since the bus pulled out of campus this morning.

Usually, I’d be riding the wave after a win like this, but I just want to get back to her. The sound of the bar door jolts me upright, and I realize I’ve been out here a while. If the guys haven’t already noticed my absence, then they will soon.

“I’d better go. I just wanted to check in.”

“Okay,” she says, sounding noticeably happier than she had when she picked up. “I’ll see you sometime tomorrow?”

“You bet. I’ll text you when we hit the road.” I finish the call and shove my phone into my jacket pocket.

“You got a girl we don’t know about, Ainsley?”

I whirl around, trying to school my expression. Jed stands leaning against the brick, a cigarette held loosely between his lips as he leans down to light it. It takes him a couple of tries, the wind not helping, but eventually, he gets it and stands back up to pin me with a stare.

What am I supposed to say? I flounder, wondering how much he’s heard, if anyone else is out here too. I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to approach the subject of Ruth with the guys. I don’t want to keep her a secret, but I know if I do this wrong, it could all blow up and ruin everything I’ve got going with the team. No matter what I say, they’ll see it as a betrayal, but there must be something I can do that can keep things tothe smallest shitshow possible. I just need time to work out what that is.

I know whatever I tell Jed will be all over campus before we get back, and to be honest, he’s the last person I want to find out about this.

“Just Trevor,” I go with, hating myself as the lie rolls off my tongue.

“Sure.” Jed raises an eyebrow.

I offer him a tight smile before I head back in. I wince a little as the volume hits me. They’ve started playing music, and I catch a couple of guys busting out some ill-advised moves on the makeshift dance floor.

I pick my way back through the crowd to the booth, where I can see Darius valiantly making sure nobody takes my spot, or my drink. I’m about halfway over when a girl slides in front of me. She’s pretty, with dark hair and only a little shorter than me, but when she puts her hand on my chest, I feel like ants are crawling under my skin. I don’t even let her finish her sentence, probably asking to dance or if I’ll buy her a drink.

“I have a girlfriend,” I say with a polite smile. She takes a step back, unbothered but not about to press, and heads back to her friends. By the time I make it back to the guys, I’m ready to get out of here. The thought of spending time with anybody right now gives me a headache.

I quickly say my goodbyes and head out to walk to the hotel. I make it about five steps before I have my phone out again, already hitting her contact.

“You miss me that much already?” Ruth asks once she’s picked up.

“I’m clingy, I guess.” I shrug. “I’m walking back to the hotel, you wanna keep me company?”

“Sure! You didn’t wanna stay and celebrate?”

“We are celebrating.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

RUTH

Ihave to take my coat off as soon as I get through the door of the campus library. The heat’s blasting to combat the chill outside, but they might have gone a little overboard. My psych textbooks are heavy, weighing down the tote bag until it’s digging into my shoulder.

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