Page 68 of Riding Pine
I’d taken an errant stick to the face, but it only grazed my cheek. Landon pauses next to me as I slow pedalling. “Just a scrape, as I thought.” He lowers his voice. “Ben called me. He said you didn’t answer and was worried.”
“Is he okay?”
“Yeah, he’s just waiting for you, and you’re late.”
With a glance at the clock on the wall, I groan. I got lost in my thoughts, and I’m twenty minutes past when I said I’d meet him.
“Thanks, Landon. I’ll call him back right away.”
Hopping off the bike, I stride to the empty locker room and pull my phone from my coat pocket. I’ve missed two calls from him. After punching the call button, he picks up right away.
“Hey, I’m so sorry. I lost track of time. I was on the bike because I felt a little tight after the game, and I just wanted to be careful.”
“Don’t apologize. I was just worried that everyone else seemed to have left, and you hadn’t come out yet.”
“You were amazing tonight.” I swallow hard and lower my voice. “I was scared you were so high with no safety net.”
Ben laughs softly. “Remember that’s what I used to do. We never had nets during live shows, only practice. I didn’t think you’d be watching. Did you like it?”
“I loved it. A bunch of us were in the hallway watching. You really inspired us to play.”
“Really?” Ben’s voice rises, and I can picture him smiling.
“Yeah. Listen, I need to shower, and I’ll be right out.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Ending the call, I turn to find Evans sitting in his stall watching me.
“How long have you been there?”
“Long enough to confirm my suspicions.” He stands and walks closer to me. “The team captain shouldn’t have big secrets.”
Evans holds my stare. “What secret do you think I’m hiding?”
“Your boyfriend. He’s the mascot.”
“You somehow got that out of eavesdropping?” I snort and grab my shower gear, hoping my voice doesn’t betray me. “You’re imagining things.”
Evans says nothing more. He just stares at me for a beat before he does this two-finger salute off his temple and turns to leave. Stripping off my sweaty shorts, I grab a towel and practically run to the showers, where I must break a record on how fast I shower.
Evans is more observant than I thought, and I don’t know what he’ll do with the information. He’s just enough of an asshole that he might try to use this against me somehow. I should’ve listened to Burnsy and talked to Coach right away.
“Fuck!” My shout echoes around the showers, and I can only hope whatever Evans is up to doesn’t hurt Ben. I agreed to get into this with him, knowing he had a secret to keep, and I won’t forgive myself if I’ve ruined this for him.
I’m barely dry, but I pull on my suit and shoes and rush out into the mostly empty arena. Staff are cleaning the aisles, and the autograph seekers are long gone. The aroma of popcorn and beer still lingers as I leave the hallway of the dressing rooms down to the lobby.
Ben stands, looking at a bulletin board with his duffel bag in hand. A bag I know hides his suit and lets him come and go undetected. My dress shoes clack against the floor, echoing in the space now void of people, and he turns towards me.
The smile on his face when he sees me calms the anxiety that lingers after Evans’ words, and I bend to kiss him when I reach him.
“Hey, baby. I’m so sorry to keep you waiting like this.”
Ben didn’t drive here today. He was out with James and just had him drop off, knowing he could come home with me after. It was a good plan until I lost track of time.
“It’s okay.” His brows knit. “What’s wrong?”
Not wanting to be overheard again, I shake my head. “Nothing. I’ll tell you later.”
