Page 30 of Web of Lies
“I see Chase gave you a ticket,” she says in a monotone voice, eyes still on the action on the field.
“He did,” I say, taking the seat farthest away from her, leaving three empty seats in between us.
She huffs, discreetly peering over at me. Chase runs around the field like a maniac, probably smiling so wide beneath his helmet. He darts in and out, finally tossing the football further up the field with a whoop—his fist slams into the air as his teammate dances with the first touchdown of the game.
Seger and Zepp take down guys hot on his tail, pounding them into the ground with brute force. My face flushes, watching each of them work together.
I sit on the edge of my seat, peering down at a game I never thought I’d enjoy. Sure—I watched my brother play plenty of times, and he’s good. Fantastic. But watching the boys run around the field like crazy loons feels different, maybe because they’re my friends. Friends. Hmm. Perhaps they are. Maybe my original assumptions based on Magnolia’s emails were wrong. I need to reevaluate them.
“My brother must really like you,” Ainsley says, refusing to look at me. I shrug, even though she can’t see me.
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” I say, finally catching her attention. Red puffy bags still dominate underneath her eyes as she stares at me like I’m crazy.
She scoffs, rolling her eyes. “Chase doesn’t invite randos to his precious private viewing box. Enjoy it. For now,” she says with a one-shouldered shrug.
A panicked knock pounds at the door, threatening to break it off its hinges. Before Ainsley or I can think about answering, a girl comes barreling in like a damn blur of anger. Her curly brown hair bounces with every stomp. Her face contorts, nostrils flaring, and her fists look ready to pound my face in. So, thanks to her rude entrance, the escalating tension in the room reaches a damn fever pitch. Her laser brown eyes zero in on me, her newest victim.Yay. Scrunching her perfect little button nose, her eyes twitch as she stares at the name on the back of my jersey.
Ah—it’s the nameBenoiton my back, setting her off. Oh goody. Now she’ll be all over me at school with her mean-girl tendencies.
I recognize her, although she hasn’t been at school this past week, I guess she’s finally decided to show up. Hadley Lacey is the daughter of a powerful media mogul, Neil Lacey, who has built his media firm from the ground up over the past 20 years—making him and his family richer than the queen—or God himself. Giving Hadley ample ammunition in her mean girl crusade and by the red tinting her face, she’s about to show me what she’s made of.
Have I mentioned how excited I am for this?
I’d know her smug little face anywhere, especially after all my research on this place. She was proudly displayed on Chase’s FlashGram for a few months last school year. In every picture, she kissed him, held his hand, and looked like his perfect match on the red carpet for his father’s events. Her starry googly eyes peered at him like he hung the moon for her every night. They were the perfect couple on paper, a match made in heaven. Until one day, she disappeared from his pictures, and a new nameless girl replaced her.
Because that’s the thing about Chase Benoit, he loves the ladies. And me being here, seeking his attention? It’s a bad idea. I have to remember my plan and stick to it. I can’t let him get too close, or I’ll be replaced by a nameless hussy tomorrow.
“Who the fuck is this, Ains?” Hadley grits out, flopping a wrist in my direction. “And why the fuck is she in my seat?” she asks again, gaining Ainsley’s barely there attention.
“Chase asked her,” Ainsley says solemnly before turning back to the game. She turns her back on Hadley, earning me the intense hate-filled stares.
“I don’t care if he asked her. She’s in my fucking seat!” She shrieks again, stomping her foot like the spoiled little girl I pegged her for. Great, just great.
“I don’t see your name on it,” I say, looking all over the red-cushioned seat for a name of any kind, coming up empty. I shrug at her, shaking my head, like I really searched high and low for her name.
“I’ve been coming to this box every game to support my boyfriend for the last year! That. Is. My. Seat. Now get out!” She shrieks again, hovering over me. Her hands instantly fall to her hips, her foot tapping an impatient tempo against the wood floor.
“Boyfriend?” I ask, raising a brow, trying not to let her comment pierce through my armor.
Triumph rushes through her eyes, her chin raises, taking in the pleasure of bursting my bubble. “Yes, my boyfriend. And from what I’ve heard since I got back last night, you’ve been moving in on what’s not yours. So—I’ll tell you once, New Girl Slut, he’s mine—they are mine! Back the fuck off and get the fuck out of here.” Her teeth grit so hard she nearly pops one out of her mouth.
“Did he ask you to come here?” Ainsley asks Hadley calmly, keeping her eyes on the game still.
“Well—uh—I—just assumed this was still my seat! My daddy’s money helped to build this!” She shrieks again, and I swear blood runs out of my ears. Maybe she’s possessed or something. Nah—she’d run the demon out by talking too much.
For the first time since Hadley walked into the room, she stares at Ainsley in pure terror—wide eyes, swallowing hard, and sweat dripping down her brow. It’s odd to see such a fierce person so desperate for Ainsley to like her. At any moment, she’ll fall to her knees in worship, begging Ainsley to accept her into this box so she can ogle Chase on the field. But alas, her chin lowers a smidge in defeat, hands falling to her sides.
“If he didn’t ask you and you don’t have a ticket for this area, then you must leave. He asked Kaycee and gave her a ticket. And quite frankly, Hadley, you’re getting on my last nerve. Chase broke up with you—they broke up with you. Last year. Get over it and screw off.” Ainsley spits venom into her words, never taking her eyes off the field, but I’m sure she can feel the intense fire burning off Hadley’s eyes.
They?!
Hadley huffs, flipping Ainsley and me the bird. She stomps out of the viewing box, rattling and shaking in the wake of the slamming door, and her shouting curses pierce through the walls. Ainsley huffs a breath of relief, sitting back in her chair, pulling her sweater tighter around her.
“She’ll be gunning for you now,” she sighs. “But dear God, that felt good. Between you and me,” she says, looking into my eyes for the first time tonight. “I don’t know why they kept her around. She wasn’t even their girlfriend, not really, more like a clinger who wouldn’t let go. Of all of them.” She gives a slight shrug and turns back to the game.
“So glad I could be of service,” I say through a tight smile. My eyes move to the game as Seger makes a touchdown at the opposite end of the field. The boys jump him in their excitement to end the quarter.
I roll my eyes as Piper’s peppy ass comes out onto the field at halftime. I mentally groan, thankful she hasn’t said more than hi to me over the last week. Ever since Chase has been on my tail, wooing me, she’s stayed clear.
