Page 90 of Rookie Season
He tightens his grip on my arm. “I know. I want to kill him, too. But if you confront him here, you might ruin Ally’s chances of getting a call back.”
He’s right. I know he’s right. But I’m so angry right now I can hardly breathe.
“Can someone tell me what’s going on?” Penn asks, looking legitimately concerned now.
“Something happened to Ally in college; it’s her story to tell,” Fisher says. “But that loser down there had something to do with it. He’s the scum of the earth.”
The next dancer comes on stage and new music trickles around the room, feeling too light and happy for the mood. Tyler has the audacity to smile at Fisher before he turns back around like he doesn’t have a care in the world. Little does he know the three of us would gladly rip him to shreds right now if we wouldn’t get arrested for it—screw it, I’d take getting arrested. The only reason I haven’t murdered him yet is that I don’t want to screw up Ally’s big day.
“Let’s find Ally, quick,” I say through gritted teeth. “I don’t want that asshole getting anywhere near her.”
Penn nods. “Yeah, let’s go.”
We quickly find Ally backstage, celebrating her successful audition with her friend Cora from the dance studio. She seems happy and relaxed, which I’m assuming means she didn’t notice Tyler sitting up front. Thank God the spotlight was in her eyes. He could’ve completely ruinedthis for Ally, and I refuse to let him take anything else from her.
Ally’s eyes widen when she sees me, and she flings herself into my arms. I hold her close, and she melts into me, like she’s releasing all the pent-up stress she’s been holding on to. She wraps her arms around my waist, hugging me with firm pressure, and it calms me enough that I briefly forget about Tyler. Then I tense, and the pit in my stomach returns at the memory that Tyler is in the same building as Ally.
I need to get her out of here. I need to protect her. I’m not allowing Tyler to upset her after she slayed the routine that she’s worked on day and night. She deserves to relish in how well she did.
Ally pulls back and looks up at me, her smile fading. “What’s wrong?”
I glance at Penn and Fisher. Ally follows my line of vision, and she pulls out of my arms.
“What’s going on?” she asks again, her voice suddenly tense.
Sliding my hand into hers, I force a smile. “Nothing. You did amazing; let’s go celebrate.”
Fisher slides his mask of cool confidence into place. “Yeah, celebratory drinks on me!”
Ally laughs. “Fisher, it’s like eleven AM.”
“Never too early for mimosas, silly girl,” he says with a stupid flourish of one hand, playing nonchalant much better than I am right now.
Penn nods. “You rocked it, Ally.”
She glances between us curiously, knowing something is off but not pushing it. “Um, okay. Let’s go for drinks, then. And thanks.”
Ally says goodbye to her friend, and we walk a fewblocks to a local trendy brunch place with a bar, where Ally orders orange juice after she reminds us she’s underage, and Fisher casts a worried look in my direction before ordering three beers for us guys. I’m not sure I even breathe until we’re far away from the performing arts center. I’m quiet, which isn’t necessarily unusual, but I just can’t think of anything to say as I sip my beer, hand clenched tight around the bottle, which I’d love to break over Tyler’s head. My mind is overwhelmed with thoughts of the man who hurt Ally.
Thankfully, Penn is full of conversation. “Ally, I can’t believe we get to meettheCarter Callahan tomorrow. Do you think he’d sign my butt cheek?”
She snorts a laugh. “Honestly, he might.”
“So, you’re telling me there’s a chance,” he teases.
“Let’s just say I’m excited to see you try,” Ally says with a smirk, then sighs happily. The sound silences the noise inside my head. That happy sound and the smile on her face are two reasons not to tell her Tyler is in town, whatever the hell he’s doing here.
“I can’t wait to see them,” she says, snuggling into my shoulder. “They’re going to love you guys, and I’m so happy I’ll get to take them to one of your games.”
Penn smiles cheerfully. “Tell them they’re in for a great show, because they’ll get to witness me wiping the ice with Chad-dick Weatherby.”
Ally giggles. “Um, who is Chad-dick Weatherby?”
As Penn launches into his backstory about his long-standing rival, Fisher catches my eye across the table and a silent agreement flows between us. We will stay silent and let her live in happiness.
She never has to know Tyler was here.
CHAPTER 38
