Page 51 of Fake Dates and Home Plates
Triangle?
There isn’t a triangle. There never has been.
It’s me and Theo, period. Ever since we decided to give this a real shot. Maybe even longer than I was willing to admit. Neither of us has even given my ex much thought since the door incident, at least I haven’t. I’m way more interested in spending our time without mentioning the douchebag. I block any message he tries to send and have avoided any further run-ins on campus. All his efforts are just as pathetic as they are ineffective.
The guy is toxic waste, and I treat him as such.
My chest tightens, a knot forming just beneath my ribs. Deep down, I know if Dakota can’t get to me, he’d try to get as close as he can.
By getting to my teammates.
Surprisingly, it’s Maddie who elaborates further. “A lot of the team is getting backlash on their personal social media. Some of it’s harmless, some of it’s gross. And a few of the girls got tagged in posts from Delta Alpha guys.”
I’ve been ignoring my social media almost altogether. Occasionally, I’ll post something with Lily or something with Theo. Now that we’ve taken the step of a real relationship, though, neither of us has really bothered to post photos.
There’s nothing for us to stage anymore.
But I know I’ve still been getting comments and private messages. I just delete and block the trolls—when I even remember to check it anymore.
Before I can even respond, another voice cuts in.“Maybe you’re really oblivious, or maybe you don’t even care,” one of the juniors says, pulling her ponytail tighter. Her tone is pointed. “But you weren’t the only one with Dakota. You think you’re the first? Or the last?”
Her words slice through me, unexpected and cruel. Of course, I care about my teammates, but this is the first time I’ve heard they’ve been on the receiving end of things too.
My mouth opens, but nothing comes out. Luckily, my best friend isn’t having the same problem.
“Hey, chill out. Henley hasn’t wanted anything to do with the jackass since she caught him cheating, and she isn’t the one using social media to bait all of us. This is stupid.” Lily speaks up while my mind is still processing everything they’ve shared. Her eyes meet mine, filled with sympathy, and I just know she must have been hiding this from me.
Any time we’re both home, she’s usually telling me about class or the cute guy in her art class, or grilling me about myboyfriend.
Fuck, I feel like shit. I might be a good captain during training, but I’m shit at involving myself outside the sport.
“Besides, it’s not just Dakota,” another teammate adds, her voice hesitant, maybe even a little regretful. “Some of us…hooked up with the other Delta Alpha guys too. It’s not exactly a secret.”
There are uneasy nods around the room, girls shifting on the benches, some biting their nails, others hugging their arms to their stomachs. I feel queasy, realizing they were probably another point in the messed-up game those dickheads are playing.
Willow crosses her arms in front of her, clearly determined to find the upper hand in the discussion. “Listen, it’s not like anyone really thought you and Dakota were serious. I mean, you sort of have a history.”
Her comment lands with the intended implication. My eyes widen at her audacity, and I finally speak up for myself. My voice is sharp and steady as I snap back at her. “We aren’t going to tell someone they deserve to be cheated on and publicly humiliated just because they’ve had sex with any number of people. That’s slut shaming, and it has no place in this locker room.”
Lily nods in agreement. “That was a fucked up thing to say, Willow.”
Realizing she has no backup—in fact, several voices speak up in against her—Willow quickly backtracks. “I didn’t mean it…”
She’s interrupted, though.
“It isn’t Henley’s fault. We all chose to hook up with those assholes, and that’s on us. If anyone is to blame, it’s those of us who played a part in betraying her.” Maddie’s voice is full of shame as she speaks what I already assumed.
I knew the party wouldn’t have been the first time Dakota cheated, but to hear some of my own teammates also hooked up with him while we were together…
It sucks.
Lily groans in frustration. “So much forchicks before dicks.”
The absurdity of her mantra pulls a laugh out of me, even as my chest feels tight.
“I’m sorry, Henley. I should have come to you sooner, but an idiotic part of me thought he actually liked me,” Maddie says with what seems like genuine remorse.
Others echo similar thoughts and apologies. Maybe I should be more upset, furious, even, but I’m not.
