Page 73 of My Secret Bandit

“Most men don’t publicly humiliate the woman they have feelings for just because they got rejected. I wouldn’t, would you?” Xander asked, pointing at Mateo, who rested against the countertop with his arms folded across his chest.

“Absolutely not,” he replied with a shake of his head and eyes that pinned me in my place.

“You guys are giving him too much credit,” Sierra began. “Kyle isn’t a man, he’s a young, spoiled kid used to getting his way. He’s been infatuated with Jamie since I’ve known them, probably even before that. I don’t know if I’d say he’s obsessed. Like there probably—hopefully—isn’t a shrine or anything, but he’s overbearing and controlling. When I first met them, he never let her out of his sight for more than ten minutes at a time.”

Thinking back on it, he was a little controlling. After meeting Kyle, he walked me back to the dorms every day until I moved off campus. We were in the same study groups and classes. We ate lunch together most days and when we didn’t, he sent multiple texts until we sat next to each other in class again.

Maybe I was just so desperate for friends and a new beginning that I didn’t want to notice his behavior. Then when my mom died, Ineededthe friendship he willingly provided.

“Not to mention the whole bloody knuckle, punching thing,” Sierra added, plucking away at split ends that weren’t there.

“Wait a fucking minute!” Xander yelled. “He hit you!?”

“God, no!” I sent a glare over to Sierra. “Just my door.”

“‘Cause that’s better,” she mumbled.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Mateo asked, unease scrunching his features. As far as he knew, Kyle was just an acquaintance who hated me and later him by association.

I shrugged. “Kyle isn’t violent, he had an… emotional lapse in judgment, but everything Sierra said is true. I just never paid attention the way she did. Honestly, I thought we were over it until—“

“Until Mattie became your hero in the middle of that God-forsaken millennial watering hole leaving that motherfucker in the dust where he belongs,” Xander finished when I couldn’t find the words.

“Ooh, I like him! Mom. Dad. Can we keep him? Please?” Sierra pleaded.

“The fuck? You’re the new one here. Wouldn’twebe keepingyou?“ he said back.

Before it could turn into a pissing match, I pushed Sierra toward the front door. I stopped to give Xander a hug. We shared a secretive wink over ‘Mission: Mateo’ before he closed the door behind us.

Minutes down the road, Sierra leaned forward from her seat. “Between us, it’s me, right? If you guys had to choose one, you’d keep me?”

“Without a doubt,” Mateo said with a bright smile, looking at her through the rearview mirror.

Sierra smiled in contentment and went back to working on her phone.

“Doyouhavetogo?” I whined from the passenger seat as Mateo parked in front of my office.

“I do. Xander and Q are already waiting for me.” He leaned across the console to kiss me.

“Wouldn’t one more day be good?”

“I want to see what my body can take before going through a whole practice. I’m not doing anything crazy, just a small workout.”

He came around and lifted me from my seat.

“Define small,” I grumbled, leaning up against the side, my hands in Mateo’s as he tried to calm every worry I carried. “What if something happens? You’re already cleared to play. Take the day. Please.”

“Jameson. I know you’re nervous and I get it. Baby, I really do.” He laid a kiss to my forehead. My body fought with my nerves, wanting to give in and lean into him. “I’ll keep you updated if it makes you feel better.”

“What is with men and the perception of strength, needing to prove themselves by pushing their bodies to the limits?”

“Gotta protect that fragile ego somehow.” He winked.

“This isnota joke, Mateo,“ I chided.

“I know, and that’s why I’m doing it. If I can’t make it through a workout, how am I supposed to play an entire game? I’m not going in just to come right back out ’cause I can’t stand being a little uncomfortable.”

Irritation refused to let my eyes meet his and instead focused them on the pavement.

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