Page 4 of Deking
Now, he is acting like a prick. He isn’t the man I met freshman year anymore. It’s like the years of getting his ego inflated changed who he is.
The sad part is that I once would have said I loved him, but I am not even sure I do anymore. I feel like my whole life is just going through the motions these days.
I don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel anymore.
Part of me considers listening to him. Turning around and going back home. I would love nothing more than to go home and fall face first into my bed. I promised him I would be there, though.
Reluctantly, I pick up the pace and jog toward the stadium.
I might not know how I feel about Kyle anymore, but I still don’t want to let him down. He is still my boyfriend, and I am going to show up for him.
I don’t want to go. I really shouldn’t go. It’s a boneheaded move to show up. It’s not like she will even know I’m there.
Still, I change my shirt into a Walker Wolves hockey T-shirt before I head out of my room and down the hall.
When I enter the living room, I am relieved that Kellan is the only one there.
“What are you doing right now?” I ask him.
He turns and looks at me. “Watching the Halloween Baking Championship?”
He poses it as a question.
“Will you go somewhere with me, no questions asked?” I ask him.
Kellan is the best person for this. I would have taken Brett if he hadn’t graduated and been doing the whole “dad” thing. He has the most adorable daughter ever. I love Alissa to death. Still, Brett is invasive. He would have asked a million questions.
Calvin was an option, but he is focused on becoming captain when Kellan leaves next year. He will only have a year left, but he wants the feather in his cap, and I think he’s going to get it. Kid has made strides since he joined the team. I’m not surprised he’s not home right now.
Then there is Pender. He is our newest freshman. He took Brett’s old room. I don’t know him enough to trust him to mind his business.
So Kellan is my only option.
“Is this like that movieThe Town? Are we going to hurt people? Because I mean, I got your back always, but I don’t want to go to jail.”
I laugh. “No. I want to go to the pep rally, and no, I will not be answering questions on why.”
“Oh. Why didn’t you just say that? Let me get my shoes.”
Within minutes, we are out the door, walking toward the football stadium.
“So I can’t ask why we are going, which is fine, but can we get food afterward? I am starving, and Cora is working all day today.”
Cora is his girlfriend. I always knew they were going to get their issues straight at some point. It didn’t help that Kellan used to be in love with our former captain and one of my best friends’ girlfriends at one point. Clayton and Grace met during Grace’s freshman year. She was close with Kellan and thought she might love him too, but he wanted nothing to do with her until Clayton took interest. Due to that, Clayton and Kellan didn’t get along when they met, but when he fell in love with Clayton’s sister the following year, I knew things were going to change. Thankfully, Kellan proved that he was no longer in love with Grace and committed to Cora.
I should probably text Grace and make sure she doesn’t need anything. Peyton too, where both their men are off in a different town for hockey.
“Yes, I will feed you,” I tell him.
“Good. Is there anything I need to do at this rally? Like throw tomatoes at them or something?” he asks.
Quickly I open the texts between Grace and me and send her one.
“Where do you get your reference points? No you don’t need to throw anything at anyone. We are going to the rally. Watching it. Then going to get food. That’s it,” I tell him.
“Okay, good. Shit, there’s a lot of people here,” he says as we walk through the parking lot.
I agree. It seems the whole student body has shown up. Instead of heading in the main entrance, I walk toward one of the side ones that is closer to the locker room. The security guard nods at me as he opens the door.
