Page 41 of Heart of Gold
By the look on his face, I can tell he wants to ask a thousand questions but standing here in this empty tunnel, I know I have to tell him the truth.
“I’m not Daisy.”
Adjusting his helmet from one hand to the other he speaks, “I know. I kind of figured that wasn’t your real name.”
I’m quiet because I don’t really know how to explain to him why I lied about my name. Of course, I already told him about my life, but that was because I thought I’d never see him again. My name was searchable, I didn’t know if I was ready to be found. Now he’s here, and this stranger is on a teamwithGrayson.
Why does this crazy shit always happen to me? My life is entertaining to say the least.
Noticing my inability to speak, he tries to fix the awkwardness. “It’s okay, you don’t have to explain. I get it. Sometimes I don’t want to be Gavin.”
I cross my arms over my chest as a comfort mechanism, “It’s not that. I just didn’t want you to get dragged into my shit show of a life.”
He looks down at his cleats but back up to me with the cutest smirk, “It’s a lot more complicated than I would’ve ever thought.”
I can’t help but smile a little, and look behind him through the tunnel. “No shit.”
Grayson walks up behind Gavin, and I feel my heartbeat race with nerves.
“What are you doing, Richardson?” He growls, stepping up as close as he can to my side.
Phoenix— I mean Gavin, stares at me for a single beat, almost like he’s deciding how to handle this. I’m not sure what the right thing to do is.
“Just ran into Quinn,” He says, his voice calm and comforting. I like how he doesn’t respond with yelling or cursing. It’s just different.
“Did you fuck him?” Grayson asks, and I watch as Gavin’s face turns redder. I can tell he’s pissed but his restraint is unmatched.
“No,” Gavin quips. “I did notfuckher.”
Grayson holds up his hand, signaling that he doesn’t want Gavin’s input, and zeros his gaze on mine.
“If you don’t mind, I’m talking to Quinn.”
His voice becomes slower and more demanding. “Did. You. Fuck. Him?”
Gavin’s hands tighten into fists at his side, and I quickly realize this whole encounter is going to turn into a fight.
Abort mission, Quinn.
“Nope,” I say, popping the p. It’s none of his business what I did with Gavin, but still I sort of lie. “We just met.”
Grayson stares at me like he’s trying to gauge my seriousness, and Gavin pushes past both of us.
“See you around, Quinn.”
I turn around and watch his back as he disappears into the locker room, but it’s Grayson who speaks back to him.
“Fat chance.”
Grayson grabs my hand, and tries to pull me along behind him but I jerk away. “What happened out there?”
He shakes his head in dismissal, “Nothing. Just bullshit.”
I don’t believe him, knowing that something happened between them because of the blood dripping from multiple cuts on both of their faces, and the fact that neither of them are on the field.
“I’m going back to my dorm,” I announce.
“I’ll take you,” He insists. “Wait for me at my car, I just need to change.”
