Chapter 180

After the game, I waited by the locker room for Lamar.

I didn’t know what I would say, how I would explain why I was standing so close to Asher. But I had to tell him something, even if it was just another apology that he would make fun of.

Unfortunately, the first person outside the locker room was not Lamar, but Joseph.

He stopped when he saw me, then laughed. “There’s the girl who doesn’t know when to quit. You drop out yet, Cynthia?”

“No,” I snapped. I knew better than to show Joseph he had gotten under my skin, but he always seemed to know just the right things to say to make me upset. “And I’m not going to. I’m going to pass that transfer exam and –”

He waved his hand in a circular motion. “Yeah, yeah. Sure, sure.” He lowered his hand. “Don’t tell me you are here to see me.”

“Lamar,” I said. “I’m waiting for Lamar.”

“Ah, yes. Your sweetheart. He’s a good guy.”

“He is.”

“I hope you plan on treating him right.”

I had done a poor job of it so far, but I wouldn’t tell Joseph that. Instead, I just kept quiet. None of this was Joseph’s business anyway.

Joseph dropped his eyes to my chest.

I immediately turned from him, crossing my arms.

Joseph raised his gaze again and smirked. “That Lamar’s jacket?”

I glanced down at myself. I was still wearing Asher’s sweatshirt. The rest of the game, I had been a nervous wreck about Lamar and what he had seen and thought. I had totally forgot to return Asher’s sweatshirt.

I shucked out of it and crinkled it up under my arm.

Joseph laughed. “Thought so. You really are predictable. Does Lamar know you’re still holding that torch for Asher?”

“Our relationship is none of your concern.”

He stifled his laughter. “It is, if you are planning on two-timing my teammate.”

“It isn’t like that.”

“You don’t have to lie to me, Cynthia. Maybe Lamar puts you on a pedestal, but I see you for who you really are.” He stepped closer to me. “I’ve been on the sharp side of your betrayal myself. For the same guy, even.”

I stepped back, but he just kept closing the distance, until I was backed up against the wall.

“You think you’d get the hint,” Joseph said, voice sharp with spite. “If Asher still hasn’t made you his girlfriend after all this time, he just doesn’t want you. Why do you keep running back to him, time and time again? Especially when you’ve got a good man like Lamar?”

“I’m not with Asher now,” I said.

“But you’d like to be. I know the truth, Cynthia. You like the games. You enjoy teasing men’s hearts and taking your pleasures wherever you can get them.”

“That’s not true.”

“Let’s call you what you are. Slut. Whore. Couldn’t keep your legs closed if you tried.”

I raised my hand to slap him but he caught my wrist.

“Struck a nerve, did I?”

“You are the worst kind of person.”

He threw my hand down.

Glaring at me, he said, “I just call it like I see it. Why don’t you do everyone a favor and let my parents raise that baby, huh? Then you could do whatever the hell you want, and I wouldn’t say a word.”

“No,” I said firmly. I would never back down on that. He could call me every name under the sun, but I’d never give up my baby.

He growled into my face, “Why do you have to be so damn stubborn?”

“Hey, Joseph. Back off my girl, would you?”

Lamar was at the door. He walked over to us, stopping beside us. I immediately stepped closer to him, putting his shoulder between me and Joseph.

“I didn’t mean any harm,” Joseph said, smirking again. “Just having a chat.”

Joseph looked at Lamar and Lamar looked back. Something passed between them that I couldn’t read.

Then Joseph stepped away from me. “See you lovebirds later.” He waved as he disappeared into the parking lot.

I glanced at Lamar. “What was that look about?”

“What look?”

“The one you between you and Joseph just now. It seemed meaningful.”

“It was just a look, Cynthia. I don’t know.”

He seemed defensive about it, but I decided not to push. He likely wouldn’t tell me anything.

In my silence, he turned toward me. “But if we’re asking questions, why were you talking to Asher during the game?”

I’d been expecting this question, and I still didn’t know how to answer. “He was standing next to me. I didn’t want to be rude.”

“He came and stood next to you and you didn’t find that suspicious? Even after everything I told you about him?”

I didn’t know how to talk to him about this, not without starting an argument. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t consider your feelings.”

Usually when I apologized to him, he’d joke that I owed him a nickel. He didn’t say that this time. Instead he watched me for a long moment. Then he shook his head.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s those feelings of yours again, yeah? I know he’s got his hooks into you.”

“I’m sorry,” I said again.

He smiled. “You owe me a nickel.” I hated when he made that joke, but this time, I was also relieved. It meant he was returning to his typically easy-going attitude.

“I owe you many nickels,” I said, hoping to match his lighter tone.

“Yeah.” He laughed. “I’ll collect someday.” He tapped my shoulder. “You want to come to the after party with me?”

“No, uh… I’m not really feeling up to it tonight. I’m so—”

“Don’t owe me another nickel.” He winked.

I closed my mouth.

“I’ll call you, alright?” he asked.

I nodded.

Then he winked and left me, walking out into the parking lot. Had he drove here? If he had, he clearly had no intention of driving me back.

That was fine. He didn’t owe me anything. It just seemed… strange.

Oh well.

Once he was out of sight, I turned my feet toward the direction of my dorm and started walking. A few steps in, I shivered from the cold.

After making absolutely certain neither Lamar nor Joseph were around, I unfolded Asher’s sweatshirt and slipped it on. I zipped up the front.

It was huge on me, sleeves down to my fingertips. I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t noticed before that this was Asher’s sweatshirt. It was obvious now.

At the corner of the stadium, I stopped.

Asher was at the crosswalk. Arms crossed, he leaned against the lamppost. Was he waiting for someone?

That crosswalk was part of my walk home, though I likely would have gone to it anyway. With Asher so close, I couldn’t avoid him if I tried. I wanted to be near him. Even hurt, even angry, I felt better at his side.

He looked at me as I approached, his icy blue eyes bright under the streetlight. He kept looking as I stopped in front of him. His gaze slowly lowered to his jacket wrapped around me.

His lips twitched again, that secret almost-smile.

“Waiting for someone?” I asked him, feeling bold.

His gaze lifted again. “Can I walk you home?”

“Were you waiting for me?”

He was quiet a moment. Yet just as I thought he wasn’t going to say anything, he asked, “Does it matter?”

No. It shouldn’t. Couldn’t. We were broken up. We weren’t even friends.

But it still did.

“It matters,” I said.

He kicked off the lamppost, standing his full height in front of me.

“Then, yes,” he said.

My breath caught.

“I wanted to make sure you got home safely,” he said.

My heartbeat raced out of control.

He asked again, “Can I walk you home?”

What could I say, but, “Yes.”