Page 55 of Sinful Storms

My phone vibrated again.

Tristan:

Forget my messages. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. For what it’s worth, I understand why you don’t want anything more to do with me and my family. I’ll leave you alone now, you have my word

I threw my phone to the bed and let my tears fall.

When I raised my head again, my eyes swollen and my head pounding, I re-read Tristan’s messages.

Please come to the lacrosse game. It’s important. I’m begging you here.

I did the only thing I could. The thing that I’d known was inevitable the second I’d seen his name on my phone screen. The thing that had been inevitable for much longer than I wanted to admit to myself. I fixed my make-up, removing all traces of my tears, put on my clothes, and after a quick detour to grab an item I knew I’d need, I went to the lacrosse game.

I’d never seen so many people at a game before. The stands were completely full, and extra benches had been brought outside to provide additional seating for both sets of supporters. Even with that, there were still spectators clustered around the edges of the field, standing in little groups, undeterred by the rapidly darkening clouds that held the promise of heavy rain.

Drawing closer to the stands, I scooted around a group of year ten girls dressed in the standard Hatherley Hall uniform, but with their eyelids decorated in glittering blue and the school logo painted on their cheeks. I breathed in as I squeezed past them before giving an apologetic wave as I swerved to avoid a man carrying an armful of water bottles. With this many people around, it was going to be difficult to find a spot to watch the game.

Did I even want Tristan to see me?

I looked down at myself and rolled my eyes.Obviously, you want him to see you, Aria. Otherwise, why would you have broken into his dorm room, stolen his spare lacrosse jersey, and put it on? I hadn’t gone as far as to paint my face in theschool colours, but in wearing Tristan’s jersey, I might as well have been carrying a giant sign that said, “Yes, I am gone for Hatherley Hall’s lacrosse captain.”

Ah, well. My pity party for one was over, and I had no fucks left to give. People could think what they wanted. The only thing I needed to do right now was to find a place where Tristan would be able to spot me.

Sidestepping yet another group of students, I came to a halt. Rising onto my tiptoes, I scanned the stands. It was times like this when being short was a real inconvenience. I just needed to…

I ducked under the barrier that separated the spectators from the pitch. Now I was out in the open, I could move quickly and easily.

I’d just reached the edge of the home stands when the crowd roared, those seated rising to their feet.

Slowly, I turned around, my stomach sinking. I hadn’t been quick enough.The teams were jogging out onto the field.

My surroundings melted away as my focus narrowed to one person. Hatherley Hall’s team captain, looking every inch the god he said he was, with his perfectly tousled hair and glowing tanned skin, his muscles flexing beneath his uniform as he moved across the grass with his helmet clasped in one hand and his lacrosse stick in the other.

He suddenly faltered, electric-blue eyes arrowing straight to mine. I felt a jolt deep inside me, like I’d been shocked by a bolt of lightning.

I came alive.

My lips formed his name, but no sound came out as I stood there, vibrating out of my skin, watching as he began to move again, a disbelieving smile curving over his mouth as he drew closer to me.

He really was so fucking beautiful, both outwardly and beneath the surface. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever let myself admit it before. All the reasons I should stay away from him were still there, but I didn’t care. How could I when he was smiling at me like that?

Coming to a stop in front of me, he let his helmet and stick drop to the floor. He looked down at me, his bright eyes shining. “You’re here.”

“Yeah…well, y’know. I didn’t have anything better to do, and the lacrosse captain himself gave me a personal invite, so…” I shrugged.

His smile was so fucking wide. “Is that why you decided to wear his jersey? That’s a pretty big statement, Aria. Wouldn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea.”

“What would the wrong idea be?”

His smile disappeared. He stepped closer, close enough that I could feel the heat from his body, and I had to tilt my chin up to keep holding his gaze.

“That you care about him,” he said.

I swallowed hard. “Maybe I do.”

Exhaling harshly, he rubbed his hand across his mouth. “Fuck. Aria. Fuck.”

“Did-did I?—”

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