Page 78 of Bullied By The Bad Boy

“Wait, why are you here?” First, he is not wearing his school jersey. Second, he is in the enemy’s corner. I mimic a magical character from our childhood movies, waving my invisible wand in his face. “Tell me, traitor, have you come to spy on us? Speak now, or I’ll have your tongue.”

“No, Milady,” he replies with a mock bow, and we burst into laughter. “You still haven’t forgotten, huh?”

No way I’ll forget my first and only play with my crush. I note Brian’s lean muscles. His biceps contract when he brushes his hair away from his face, and my pulse quickens. He used to like me back then. I wonder if he might have become my first boyfriend if he had stayed. Would I notice Ben?

The crowd begins to disperse, but we are too comfortable in each other’s presence to move. Asher’s coach pats some players, dishing out what I assume is praises because their faces light up. I need to say hi to Asher before he leaves. He is the reason I’m here. Not for Ben or a kiss.

My eyes roam the field for Ben, and I suck in a soft breath when they find him. He is by the side entrance with a frown so deep it’s almost a scowl. I raise my hand to wave at my favorite jerk, but my arm refuses to move. Ben disappears into the shadow, but I still feel his eyes on me.

Why is he glaring at me?

Brian’s arm settles on my shoulder. I’m still on his lap. “Is that your boyfriend? He’s hot.”

Very.

“No, but I like him.” Lett’s words float to my subconscious. I should define things with Ben. I shrug Brian’s hand off my shoulders, and he ruffles my hair like I am still the little girl he left behind. I look up and try to act unaffected. “He doesn’t like me back, so don’t even ask, Brian.”

“Doesn’t seem like that to me.” My face wrinkles. Maria said the same. But I don’t believe them. Brian tugs my hair out of its bun to frame my face and give us some privacy. His lips inch closer to mine, and I hold my breath. What is he doing? My hands flatten on his chest. “He likes you.”

Yeah, and pigs can fly.

“Do you want him to be your boyfriend?” I have never admitted it out loud to anyone, and the words to reply to Brian refuse to form. Our lips are so close. “Play along. Loverboy is watching.”

My body listens to Brian. As his big hand slides to the back of my neck, I become deathly still. Acting comes naturally to me. I gradually relax and fall into the role of the lover he is trying to portray.

“He’s fuming,” he says. Laughter coats his voice. Somehow, I like the idea of making Ben angry and jealous.Take that, Benny boy. Next time, don’t kiss that bitch. “You can look if you want.”

I turn slowly, and my breath ceases at the intensity of Ben’s stare. He’s no longer hiding in the shadow. It is obvious he is watching us, and he doesn’t care. I almost backtrack, but Brian’s arm keeps me grounded. Brian shakes his head in a silent warning, and my body sags against his chest. I’m not doing anything wrong by talking to Brian or sitting here. Ben is not my boyfriend.

“Make the boy come to you. If he can’t man up and let you know how he feels, he has no right getting upset when you are with other guys.” I nod slowly, but everything in me wants to run into Ben’s arms and explain this situation to him. Brian plants a kiss on my cheek, and I turn the same shade as a ripe tomato. I swear he has done this before. He’s too good at it. “You gotta relax.”

His tone is light, but I don’t find the humor in our situation. It feels like I am cheating on Ben, and we are not dating. I snap my gaze from the spot Ben is standing. “Yeah,” I reply. “You’re right.”

“Tessa, I have to go,” he whispers into my hair. “My bus is leaving.”

He helps me to my feet, taking my hand as we walk hand in hand to Ben’s line of sight. I die a little on the inside when he places a kiss on my forehead and draws me in for a long hug. Shit.

“Make him come to you,” he says, keeping his lips close to my ear like he is whispering sweet nothings. I don’t want to play along, but I have to. To be fair, Ben is not a saint. “He likes you, or he wouldn’t be that bothered. Trust me on this. I’m a guy. I know when a guy likes a girl, Tessa.”

That line sounds familiar. Brian straightens up and pushes his phone into my hand so I can input my digits. I return his phone. He bops my nose one last time and winks. Is Ben still watching? I am a horrible person. “Take care, Tessa, and you better let me know when you two start dating.”

Brian leaves before I can reply. I am still smiling as I head toward Asher and his silently fuming brother. The school bus is a few meters from them, someone shouts Asher’s name, and he gives her a thumbs up. My smile falters when the gap between us shortens. I direct my gaze to Asher.

“Tessa,” Asher cries out, tackling me in a hug that almost causes us to fall. “You came.”

“I told you I would, Champ.” We fist bump. “Great game,” I say.

His arms are still locked around my waist when he turns to his brother. “Benny, I want to see Samuel. Can I go?” Ben shrugs. Asher takes that as a sign of approval and dashes to the bus slowly filling up with boys his age. He stops at the entrance and waves. “Thank you, Tessa.”

For what? An awkward silence falls on us. I nudge one leg forward, waiting and hoping Ben will start a conversation. A soccer ball comes flying at a boy heading to Asher’s bus, missing his face by some inches. The lucky boy snorts with laughter. He wouldn’t be laughing if it had hit him.

“That would have hurt,” Ben comments.

His fingers slide into his pocket. He twists, facing the yellow bus while I assess him.

“I know, right? I have been hit by balls before, and it hurt badly.” A bemused look takes over his face. I pinch myself. “Um, I meant soccer balls, you know…like the balls they play on the field.” An eyebrow shoots up. He smirks. Oh, God, I’m making this worse. “You know what I mean.”

He grins in amusement, the only good thing about this moment. “I don’t. Enlighten me.”

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