Page 85 of Built to Fall
I get some weird looks when people see me heading toward the front doors of the football building. I don’t really give a damn right now. They can call me a jersey chaser all they want. All I care about is figuring out what’s happening.
Generally, I’m not a huge fan of getting my information from a secondary source. Since Eden didn’t seem like she was going to tell me anything without excessive prying, I decided to skip that route entirely.
Plus, according to Grant, we’refriendsnow. He should have no problem telling me what is already spreading around campus.
I push through the doors of the facility, and as I enter the lobby, I realize I have no idea where I am. I also have a sneaking suspicion that I’m about to get asked to leave due to the way the girl at the front desk is eyeing me down.
I’m doubtful anyone’s going to let me wander around this place, so I might as well try a different tactic.
“Hi.” I plaster on the nicest smile I can muster as I approach the desk. I’m hoping it doesn’t look as fake as it feels.
“How can I help you?” the girl sitting behind it asks, her expression not changing the slightest. She must have people come in here a lot when they’re not supposed to.
“Do you know where I can find Grant Vandenberg?”
She gives me a look that practically screams,“Are you stupid?”before saying, “Sorry, but we can’t let anybody in to see the players while they’re practicing.”
“Can you at least tell me if he’s here?”
Her expression turns even more judgmental. “Why? So you can wait here in the lobby for him?”
Shit. She thinks I’m some kind of stalker.
I take a moment, thinking of a valid reason that I would need to speak to Grant while also proving that I know him.
“He’s my boyfriend,” I say quickly, not thinking.
“Jesus Christ, Lina,”I can imagine Grant groaning.
I’m in the middle of mentally scolding myself before realizing that the girl’s face has completely sobered. “O-oh, of course,” she stutters. “I’ll get him for you right now.”
I can’t believe that worked.“Thank you,” I say as she gets up from her chair and heads down one of the side hallways.
Taking a few steps backward, I sit on one of the benches near the windows while I wait. When she returns, my breath hitches when I see she has Grant in tow.
Secretly, I’m hoping she didn’t give him any specifics of who was here to see him, but all hope is lost when he walks over and puts on a fake smile in the same fashion I did a few minutes ago.
“Hi, pretty girl,” he says sweetly.Too sweetly.
God damn it.
“Hi.” I stand from my chair, not sure what I’m expecting to transpire, but it’s definitely not Grant pulling me into his arms.
He wraps me in a hug like it’s the most natural thing in the world. As if wedothis—public affection, casual touching, lying about him being my boyfriend—all the time. His hand slides down my back a little too familiarly. I’m so startled I forget to pull away immediately.
Behind him, the front desk girl watches with open curiosity, practically vibrating with how much she wants to eavesdrop. I can’t say I blame her.
“You really had to go withboyfriend?” Grant murmurs against the side of my head, his breath warm. “You’ve gotta commit to the bit now. I can’t lie, it kind of turns me on.”
I would smack him in the chest for his lewd comment if I didn’t know there was a set of eyes on us.
“What the hell did you do?” I mutter under my breath, stepping back just enough to glare at him, ignoring his attempt at a compliment.
“I think the real question is, what the hell didyoudo?” His hands are still glued to my waist, and it feels like they’re burning through my skin as he fiddles with the straps of my backpack. “You know how weird it is to have our receptionist come pull me out of practice to tell me mygirlfriendis here? Especially with all the rumors going around right now.”
“Grant—”
“Let’s take a walk, yeah?” he cuts in loud enough for the receptionist to hear, tilting his head toward the exit doors with all the casual arrogance in the world. He doesn’t wait for me to answer, just takes my hand like he has every right to and leads me back outside into the cold air.
