Page 73 of Play Maker

The way it was supposed to be. Nothing good would’ve happened if I’d followed him.

Still, I couldn’t remember the last time I wanted to chase after anyone. Try never. More warnings echoed in my head but with my hangover, I could barely hear them.

Self-recrimination, like cleaning, would have to come later.

After showering, I was hit with a wave of nausea, so I downed a bottle of electrolyte water and ate two protein bars. Feeling better, I headed for the gym, determined to flush out the remaining alcohol—and these crazy feelings for Axel—from my system.

The gym was quiet for a Saturday afternoon, but it suited me fine. I put my earbuds in, blasted Linkin Park, and did my weight routine.

An hour later, sweaty but feeling better, I took another shower and headed for the library to get some studying done. I finished a project outline for my biology class and was about to launch into a report for my practicum when my phone buzzed.

Dane: You awake yet?

Jace: LOL, for hours. Been to the gym and now the library. You?

Dane: Studying with Jackson.

Jace: So, not studying?

Dane: Not at all, LOL. but it’s Saturday, and we only have one day a week to spend together.

Jace: Um, you guys share a room. And you were together last night.

Dane: Yeah, but with school, practice, and games, we’re both busy. It’s hard to find time just us two.

Jace: Then stop texting me and go back to your boyfriend.

Dane: I will. I just needed you to confirm that hell didn’t freeze over first.

Jace: What??

Dane: You and Axel last night, dancing at the party. What the fuck was that?

Jace: Just what I said.

Dane: Why does that confirmation scare me?

Jace: Nothing to be scared about, we’re fine.

Dane: Maybe it was the alcohol, but you were all over him, J, and he was pretty comfortable in your space. Call me crazy, but…

Jace: It was the alcohol. We were dancing and having fun. Nothing to worry about, Captain. At ease.

Dane: If anything changes…

Jace: You’ll be the first to know.

Eventually I’d tell Dane what happened with me and Axel but not now. It didn’t have any impact on me or the game, so why upset him? He was already stressed out with the pressure on our team as we headed into the semi-finals.

My phone buzzed again, and I shook my head. I loved my friend dearly, but he needed to relax. Only, when I stared at the message, it wasn’t from Dane. It wasn’t from any of my friends.

It was Preston.

Axel

‘Back away, Ax, or swear to God, I’ll kiss you right here, right now. And I know neither of us is ready for that. You, especially.’

I didn’t care. I wanted him to kiss me.

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