Page 44 of Puck You
I’m sorry.Just talk to me.
Gabs was determined to punish me after our argument.The only reply I’d gotten in the past two weeks was a middle finger emoji.
“Doesn’t look like you’re getting much studying done.”
My head whipped up and I connected with a pair of gray-blue eyes.“Hey, Landon.”
I locked my phone and placed it face down on the table.Around us, the student union buzzed with activity.I preferred to study someplace quiet, where I was less likely to run into people I knew, but I didn’t have enough time between my morning classes to stop at the library.
“Mind if I join you?”Landon didn’t wait for me to answer before he sat down in the empty chair across from me.If he had, I would have told him that I was just about to leave.
My phone buzzed, and I felt a tiny surge of hope that Gabby had finally come to her senses and texted me back.But when I flipped it over, the last name I expected flashed across the screen.Matt.We hadn’t spoken since the night of the gala.It should have been me reaching out to apologize, but I’d gotten so swept up in the campaign and my sister that I hadn’t thought about our conversation in weeks.
Matt
Just saw this: DUupdates (@DUpdates) on TikTok
Sucks to see those training conditions.Congrats on taking a stance.
Does this mean I’m forgiven for being a total bitch?
I’m sorry by the way
I think I can let it slide this once ...
As long as I can see you when we come play Dallard this winter
I think that can be arranged
“Boyfriend?”Landon was leaning across the table and looking down at the screen of my phone.I’d completely forgotten he was there.
“Ex,” I said, snatching up the device and shoving it into my pocket.
He smirked at my admission.“You’re a heartbreaker, aren’t you?”
I could have sworn my eye twitched.This—Landon flirting, laying it on thick like he did with almost every other girl I’d seen him interact with—did absolutely nothing for me.He was nice enough, but I wasn’t interested in him, or at the idea of jumping into another relationship.And even if I wanted a distraction, I wouldn’t turn to Landon for it.Hell, I’d rather—
As if my twisted thoughts had conjured him from thin air, Sebastian was suddenly hovering over the table, surveying the two of us with a strange-looking smile.“This is cute.Am I witnessing a first date?”
“No,” I said quickly.
“Grace, can I talk to you?”
Sebastian turned to Landon, who was watching the scene unfold with a pinched expression.The goalie let out an exaggerated sigh and pushed back his chair to stand.
“See you later?”he asked hopefully.
“Sure, see you next practice.”
Landon’s shoulder made brief contact with Sebastian’s as he walked by, but the team captain barely flinched.He plopped down into the now abandoned chair.I waited for Sebastian to explain himself, but he simply made himself comfortable and took a long sip of water from the bottle in the side pocket of his backpack.
“Get on with it, then,” I prompted.
“Get on with what?”
My eyes narrowed in suspicion.“Whatever it is you need to say.”
“Oh, that?I don’t actually need to speak with you.It just looked like you needed rescuing.Landon doesn’t really know how to read the room.”
