SWNOVELS The Faceoff: Chapter 26
Way to go, Hayden.
Of course, I had to go and say something that scared her off. How stupid could I be? I didn’t even give myself the chance to think before the words just came out. And once they were spoken into the universe, I wasn’t taking them back. Instead, I just went with it like it was completely intentional.
Eden isn’t my girl… not officially.
We’ve been over it enough times for each of us to make it clear that we didn’t want anything more than what we had between us already. It was a lie. It was always a fucking lie. I was just too stubborn and stupid to see it at first. But now that Eden is under my skin and in my heart, I don’t want her to ever leave.
I watch as she disappears through the crowd, heading toward the restrooms. The bar is packed tonight, so I don’t expect her to be back right away. I’m sure there’s probably a line to get in. But there’s a moment as I watch her disappear that dread fills the pit of my stomach. I don’t know why, but I feel like I should have gone with her. I don’t want her out of my sight.
“Well, look at who decided to show his face again.”
That voice. It instantly makes me cringe as I hear the sweetness laced in the venom of her tone. Glancing over my shoulder, I see Carly walking over to me. My stomach rolls as I see that she’s wearing one of my old jerseys. One that she stole from my room when I was still playing here.
“Hi, Carly,” I respond, keeping my voice even as she walks around to face me. Asher and Sterling have since moved on to a different table and I’m literally left with no one to interrupt this conversation.
Where the hell is Eden?
“I’m surprised to see you, especially after everything that happened,” she smiles, slurring her words. She shifts her weight, stumbling slightly as some alcohol spills from the glass in her hand. I watch in slow motion as it lands on my leg, wetting my sweatpants.
“Fuck,” I mumble, reaching to grab some of the napkins from the table.
“Oh my gosh.” Carly giggles, spilling more of her drink as she sets it down and grabs the napkins before I can get them. “Here, let me clean up the mess I made.”
I watch in horror as she starts dabbing them against my pants. This cannot be happening. I literally just want to vanish and never have to see this girl again. I knew she would be around; I just thought that maybe she would be smarter and not bother to approach me.
“I got it,” I bark at her, grabbing the napkins from her as I wipe off the excess liquid. “What do you want, Carly?”
She rocks back on her heels, tipping her head to the side as her long blonde hair shifts around her shoulders. “I wore your jersey tonight, hoping I would see you,” she murmurs as she places her hand on my shoulder. I thrust my arms out in an attempt to push her away, but instead I’m catching her as she falls into my lap. “I wore your old jersey, and then I saw some other girl with your new jersey on. Who is she?”
“Fuck off, Carly,” I grumble, placing my hands on her hips as I go to lift her off of me. “What I do and who I do it with doesn’t concern you.”
“Why wasn’t I enough for you, Hayden? I loved you.”
Oh my god, you’ve got to be kidding me.
I finally get her off my lap and on her feet as I rise to my own. Tilting my head down, I meet her eyes. “It was never more than a hookup, Carly. Get the fuck over it.”
Lifting my gaze, I glance around, looking for Eden, but she still isn’t back. She should have been back by now. I need her to come out here. I see Sterling and Asher leaning against one of the high-top tables with their eyes on us, watching the scene as it unfolds.
“What does she have that I don’t, Hayden?” Carly continues, her words slurred and thick with her plea. I don’t know how the hell to handle this.
My eyes slice to hers as she reaches out and grabs my arm. “My heart.”
Removing myself from her grip, I finally get away from her and shuffle over to Asher and Sterling. They’re both still watching and neither of them have amused looks on their faces.
“Have either of you seen Eden?” I question them, glancing around the room again. Carly must have finally gotten the message because I don’t see her where I left her.
Asher shakes his head as Sterling takes a sip of his beer. “Haven’t seen her since she went to the bathroom.”
“Who was that?” Sterling questions me, his gaze glued to mine.
I look between the both of them, shame washing over me. “My old coach’s daughter.”
“Looks like she isn’t over you, King.”
Swallowing roughly, I stare directly at Sterling, who is the one challenging me now. “There was never anything between us for her to get over. She’s living in a fantasy—a dream world. One that will never become a reality. She was simply just a hookup, so please stop acting like we don’t all do that at some point in our lives.”
“And what about Eden?” he retorts, taking another sip of his beer. “You gonna leave her in the same condition as that chick?”
I shake my head. “Things with Eden are different and will never be like that.”
“How are they different?”
The three of us are silent for a moment, with Asher’s question hanging heavily in the air. I look between the two of them, swallowing over the emotion lodged in my throat.
“I’m in love with Eden.”