Page 23 of Flag On The Play
“You too, man,” I reply, even though the words feel hollow.
“Finlay! Let’s go!” Jace calls, dragging a shirt over his head as he jogs past. His energy is high, as always, buzzing from the win.
I glance up, brow furrowing. “Go where?”
He laughs, dropping onto the bench to tie his sneakers. “Roxy’s working at Heaven’s Edge tonight, and Delaney’s meeting us there. Theo’s already in the damn car.”
I blink. “Seriously? You guys are hanging out with Nova’s friends? At the club?”
Am I pissed? Maybe.
Jealous? Absolutely.
It’s one thing to keep running into her by accident. But now my friends are actively hanging around her inner circle? That feels like a new level of mind-fuck.
Nova’s pressing every damn button I have, and now I have to worry about Jace getting handsy with Roxy while Theo sweet-talks Delaney?
No. Fuck that.
“You guys go,” I mutter. “I’ve got shit to do.”
Jace shoots me a look. “Come on, man. You and Nova looked real close last night.”
Yeah. I thought so too.
I felt it. The way her body moved with mine. How she let me touch her. How her breathing hitched when my hand slid down her waist. The way her eyes locked on mine and held, like maybe, she was feeling the same pull I was.
But I guess the ice queen still reigns.
“Nah,” I say, grabbing my hoodie. “That was nothing. Just a lap dance. You know how it is.”
Jace is standing now, arms crossed. “You sure? Looked like something.”
“Go have fun,” I mutter. “I’ll see you both at practice.”
I don’t wait for more questions. I toss my gear into my bag, sling it over my shoulder, and walk out.
Because if I don’t, I’ll cave. I’ll end up right back at Heaven like some obsessed asshole, hoping for a glimpse of the girl who couldn’t even bother to show up today.
The drive home is a blur. By the time I step into my penthouse, the weight in my chest hasn’t lifted. I drop my bag by the door and walk straight to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The city glows beneath me. Bright, buzzing, alive. But from up here, it looks small. Tame. Quiet.
I used to love that. The sense of control. The peace.
Tonight, I feel none of it.
I head into the kitchen, grab a bottle of water, and sink into the leather couch without even turning on the TV. The screen stares back at me like a reflection of everything I’ve been trying to avoid.
Eight goddamn years. Eight years of living in the same city, never crossing paths with Nova. And now she’s everywhere. In my head. Under my skin. Driving me absolutely insane.
I should let her go. Let the memories die and move the fuck on. But I can’t.
Because it’s not just about the past, it’s not just that high school rejection or the shit I said after. It’s her. It’s always been her.
Her fire. Her mouth. That impossible attitude.
And yeah, her body. Her confidence. The way she walks like the world owes her something and she’s gonna take it.
I’ve had women. Plenty. But I don’t remember them. I don’t dream about them. I sure as hell don’t feel like my world tilts when they walk into a room.
