Page 68 of Frozen Hearts
“Yeah, thought that. Haven’t seen you there all year.”
Therebeing the football frat house where most of the team lives and where we—they—throw an epic party after every home game.
“Look, man. None of us know what went down at the end of last year, but you’re still one of us.” No, I’m not. Despite the bobbing of heads in agreement from the other guys. “I get it if coming to a game is too much, but seeing you at the house would be great.”
Giving nothing away, I blandly state, “I’ll think about it.”
I won’t.
“Good. I hope you do,” he says genuinely. “It was meant to be you and me this year, living it up and making the rookies’ lives hell.”
Yeah, it was. Untiltheycaught wind of the win we pulled at last year's championship game. Whentheyheard I was on the team. Found out I was making a name for myself; that I had the potential to go somewhere. To be someone.
Now, it’shisyear, and I’m simply trying to navigate the fallout of yet another ass fucking.
“Todd, man, we gotta get to training,” one of the younger players says.
“Yeah, alright.” Todd sighs, clapping me on the shoulder.
“I’ll see you around, man.”
With that, he takes off, the team giving me chin tilts and head nods before they follow after their leader.
I watch them go with a resignation.
That should have been me.
I should have been the one leading the team to victory this year. The one being looked upon by the rookies with reverenced awe.
And the fact I’m not, is still a devastating blow. Especially when I have to fuckingseethe consequences.
This is why I barely set foot on campus unless it’s to go to class. Why I haven’t attended a single game this year, never mind an after-party. It’s one thing to know in my head that that part of my life is officially over, but it’s another to witness what could have been with my own two eyes. To see everyone else moving on with their lives while I’m fucking stuck.
“What do you mean, suspended?” I argue, my mouth dry as I gape first at my coach, then the Dean of Halston. Both of them stare at me with stern expressions, but there’s disappointment in my coach’s eyes that makes it impossible for me to look at him for more than a second.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had that look directed at me. I’d almost forgotten how fucking awful it felt. And now that I’m reminded, I never want to see it again.
“Just until we can sort this issue out with the Mountbattons,” the Dean attempts to explain, but I’m barely listening. The future I’ve been working my ass off for is being flushed down the toilet. It’s slipping through my fingers and there’s not a damn thing I can do to stop it.
I should have known my past would come back to haunt me. That as soon as life started going well for me,theywould spring out of the woodwork to ruin it. God fucking forbid I move on and be happy.
“I didn’t do anything,” I argue, but just like the first three times I said it, my words fall on deaf ears.
“Nothing will be decided until a thorough investigation of the allegations has been completed,” the Dean appeases fruitlessly.
I scoff, shaking my head.
Not if my father has anything to do about it. I already know there isn’t going to be an investigation. That’s not how my father works. He wouldn’t dare let me drag the King name through the mud—not again.
The doors to the meeting room bang open, and I turn in my chair as my father strides in, his long coat billowing out behind him.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“Mr. King,” the Dean simpers. “As we were just explaining to your son. Mr. Mountbatten contacted me with some disturbing information—”
My father waves away the Dean’s words. “Yes, yes. That was already settled with Mr. Mountbatton years ago. We came to an understanding. He shouldn’t be bringing it up now.”
“Regardless, now that it has been brought to my attention, I cannot simply overlook it,” the Dean continues, her lips pursed as she stares down my father.
