Page 20 of Golden Goal

Ronan's puppy dog expression makes it clear that people don't often tell him no. "C'mon, I can promise you a good time."

Surprising me, Leia says, "Hm, I guess we can probably stop by." It leaves me unsure of her true feelings toward Ronan. After all, she spoke highly of him last night, but the way she talks to him now makes me question if it's the opposite. I'm starting to get invested in seeing how their relationship will develop.

Ronan takes Leia's words as a victory, and he pumps his fist in the air, startling me. "Fuck, yeah! Okay, I'll text you the details later."

Ronan swiftly grabs his bag and rises from his chair. With a goofy smile and a wave, he backs away from us, as if he's worried Leia might change her mind. I can't help but think he's making a quick exit.

I glance over at Leia, my curiosity piqued. "When did you get his number?" I ask, connecting the dots that explain how she knew they would be at dinner. What a sneaky move.

She grins playfully, saying, "I have my ways."

I remember it now. It was during the children's skate event. While one guy was making me cry, Leia was busy getting another guy's number.

As I gather my notebook and pen from the table, I can't help but share my exasperation. "You stress me out."

Leia rolls her eyes as she starts collecting her own belongings. "You love me, babe."

I can't help but find that statement debatable.

CHAPTERELEVEN

LINCOLN

Sitting up against my headboard,I have textbooks spread around my legs on the bed as I continually check the time on my phone. Ronan had headed to the library to pick up a book he needed for a History class and attempted to persuade me to accompany him. However, I had to push him out the door, knowing that my presence would only distract him, and he'd never find the book he needed.

It's been about an hour and a half since he left, and he should have returned about forty-five minutes ago, which worries me. I'm hoping he got sidetracked by someone he knew and stopped to chat, but I'm doubly hopeful that this diversion occurred after he found the book.

As I try to pull myself back into my studying, I hear footsteps pounding up the stairs. I instantly recognize Ronan's distinct heavy footfalls. He makes his way into my room with all the subtlety of a charging elephant. He swings my door open, steps inside, closes and locks it, and then flings himself onto my bed. He flops down on his back, sprawling his limbs all over my schoolwork.

I glance down at him and ask, "Why did you lock my door?"

He looks back at me with a smile that rivals the jokers. "I have big news and don't want Liam or Marsh peeping in on our conversation."

The phrase 'big news' instantly makes me anxious. I hope he didn't get someone pregnant, as that would indeed be big and terrible news, all bundled into one dreadful package.

Frowning, I respond, "Why can't they know?"

His smile, with his perfectly straight white teeth, remains firmly in place. "They can, but I don't think you'll want them to hear this."

The silence drags on, and I can feel the suspense building as Ronan takes his time. My patience is wearing thin, and I finally blurt out, "Tell me!"

He sits up, toying with my gray comforter as he begins to speak. "I wish you would have come to the library with me. I saw your new friend." Sutton. "I happened to sit down with them and get to talking. There happens to be a party tomorrow night at the boys across the street, and I happened to invite your girlfriend and her girlfriend."

Sutton and Leia. He's such a troublemaker.

Avoiding my intense stare, he continues, "They are beyond excited and will be there, and I may have told Sutton that you were going to invite her, so I just did it for you."

I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "Why?"

Ronan is still smiling, and I have this urge to punch that smug look off his face. "You need it. You want Sutton but are too much of a coward to do anything about it."

Huh. "You think I'm a coward?" I ask.

Ronan shoots me an exasperated look, as if he believes I'm the dimmest bulb in the room. "No, but you're clearly fixated on Sutton, and I know you won't take action, so I'm taking charge and getting things moving."

His chest puffs out with pride, but honestly, I'm beyond exhausted by this point. I can't fathom how he's deduced that I've got a thing for Sutton. Sure, I may have verged on insanity when I held her coat hostage until she allowed me to help her put it on the other night. Offering to drive her back to the dorms had also been an impulsive, fleeting lapse of judgment.

It was Ronan who pushed me into this peculiar friendship with her, leaving me utterly bewildered. Her number in my phone feels like I'm clutching a ticking time bomb, one that's destined to detonate and leave me in ruins.

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