Page 130 of Puck with Karma
“Oh, so maybe I should wear something else?” Presumably Jared asks from somewhere off camera. “My t-shirt is dirty. I dropped some ketchup on it earlier.”
Van shakes his head in disgust.
“What the fuck are you doing eating ketchup anyway? Do you know how much sugar is in it?”
“Yeah,” Jared agrees. “But I put in extra time on the weights today. I burned that.”
Van turns his head to look at my brother.
“Remember when we were young and stupid like that?”
“We still are,” Bran shrugs.
Van huffs at that. “Maybe stupid, cause young, we ain’t.”
I blindly reach for my phone, scared to take my eyes off the screen.
“What am I supposed to see?” I ask the girls.
“Wait for it,” Janie whispers in anticipation.
“Okay, folks.” Van claps his hands and calls for attention. “Be ready.”
“Maybe you need to tell people why we’re here.” I smile at Bran’s sarcastic tone. “Or are you gonna drag it like this all night?”
“I can’t all night since we only have till midnight,” Van deadpans.
The camera zooms out, and I see what seems to be a folding table and chair set in the middle of what I’m sure is the Sliders’ locker room. And right there, sitting at that table, is the love of my life, Xander Hamilton.
Documents are stacked in front of him, in a very dramatic fashion, while he is watching everything with a smug smirk on his face and arms crossed over his chest.
“Hello from the Sliders’ arena,” Van greets us. “This is Van Boyd coming at you with some historic news. I apologize forthe language.” He leans more into the camera. “If we have kids watching, those are words to be used by adults only, got it?”
Someone snickers in the background, causing Van to lift his arm and give the finger to whoever that is.
“As you know, the Minnesota Cats are our sworn enemy.”
The guys behind him start booing, making me laugh.
“This is funny,” Janie snickers on the phone. “I love Van.”
“We particularly hate Xander Hamilton,” Van continues. “But we know he’s their best weapon to beat us. So,” he moves to the side in a dramatic fashion, “we took him from them.” He grins into the camera. “Say hi to your new fans, Xander.”
I cover my mouth to stop the gasp of excitement I’m feeling when Xander stares into the camera. It feels like he can look right into my soul, although, I know that’s not possible.
The corner of his mouth comes up into a smirk, making him look almost arrogant, but I know better than that. It’s his signature move when he’s being put on the spot.
“Hi, Abby.”
My heart stops in my chest at hearing his voice.
“You have to say hi to everyone,” Van snaps at him. “Not just Abby.”
“She’s the only fan I have in New York so far,” Xander shrugs. “And I want her to know that I know. And that I love her for it.”
“I hope you love her for more than that,” Van scoffs at the screen. Laughter bubbles up when I see the face he makes.
“I love her for everything that she is. Forever.” There is no hesitation in Xander’s voice when he says the words.
