I tip my head back and start to close my eyes with my arms wide on either side of me, but the banner above catches my attention before my eyes drift closed. Granger’s intense green eyes stare down at me in the photo, and it’s right then that I realize he’s not smiling in the picture. He mainly only smiles when he’s around me…like I truly make him happy. My groan echoes around the quietness as my thoughts confuse me. What if what we had was really real and not fake? The possibility of Victoria lying is high, but the baby truth wasn’t, I could tell by how guilty he looked when he could hardly glance at me in the eyes.
What the hell am I doing? Why do I have to find a way to make myself miserable, as if I don’t deserve happiness? I need to see him, to find out the truth. To look him in those green eyes I love and just know if what we had is real.
I keep skating until I’m short of breath, my feet hardly touching down as the anger melts away with each flying leap. My leg bends and my right foot taps the ice at the pick, causing my body to leap off the ice with every small swirl. I repeat this until my throat is sore from the cold and my shaking legs collapse onto the ice, the cold surface seeping into my calves. With my hands braced on my knees, I only feel pushed this hard because I’m missing something in my life I’m supposed to be chasing. I need to look at Granger in the eyes right now, and I don’t care what time it is. We need to talk. To get it all out before it’s too late.
With that decision, I quickly exit the ice with clarity for the first time in a long time. I’m chasing after him and not letting go, because I need to believe…believe in him. Not bothering to untie my laces, I tug my skates off with desperate yanks and hop from one foot to the other in a rush as I slip into my shoes. As I’m running past the tunnels to the exit, a male shadow that looks like Granger turns the corner into the locker room. What are the chances Granger is here too? Very likely, because we always seemed to bump into each other as if destiny had a plan to make sure he was placed into my life.
“Granger!” My shout echoes as my feet start moving to run after him, hearing cupboards close on the other side of the locker room door once I stop at the entrance.
Pushing the door open, I peek my head around the corner to make sure I’m not walking into anyone changing. You never know. Another shuffling noise comes from the back of the room, and I follow through the maze of lockers with only a few lights on. The shape of a man is crouched before a locker that is definitely not Granger’s, and he isn’t as tall or broad shouldered as him.
“Oh! I’m so sorry! I thought you were someone else! Sorry!” I squeak out as the male shape rises from his crouched position and slowly turns towards me, stepping into the light.
“Kitty Kat, you can’t seem to stay away from me, huh? Don’t worry, babe. You don’t need to chase me because I’m right here for the taking.” Jeff stands impossibly close, making me wish I didn’t chase after a male into the dark locker rooms at midnight.
I’m so stupid. What the hell was I thinking? Granger was on my mind, and I relied on fate or destiny that he would be here. My gut churns, a bad feeling coming over me as Jeff stares down at me without blinking.
“I-should-um, go, yes go! I thought you were someone else… I’m sure Victoria is waiting for you, and Granger is expecting me, so see ya!” My voice comes out shaky, and I curse silently at the smirk he’s throwing my way, knowing I’m bullshitting.
He quickly grabs my wrist and walks forward in front of me until my back hits a locker cubby, digging into my spine as he crowds my space.
“We both know it wasn’t Granger you wanted. It’s me. Come on, Kitty Kat, I’ve seen the way you stare at me. As for Victoria…that never meant anything. Granger wanted her so I took her, and it did its job of making him look pathetic until you came along,” he sneers, gripping my wrist tighter and trailing his other hand up my waist.
My heart pounds, the blood rushing through my veins in fear, and I wonder how loud I have to scream so Bob can hear me. I have to keep him talking and find a way to distract him so I can get away from him.
“You cheated with another team player's girl just because he had what you wanted?” He’s crazy and delusional if he thinks I want him.
“Granger gets everything he wants without having to work hard. The captain position, the money, the girls, but I did take his girlfriend and got her pregnant. You should have seen his face when he found out. I destroyed him in seconds, and I can’t wait to see his face again when he finds out I’ve had you to myself.” He smiles with a far away look, then glances down at me with a leer as he moves his hand up, covering my breast with a grip that makes me whimper in pain, before letting go to move his hand to my shoulder where my loose sweater hangs off.
I can’t believe this is happening. My body is frozen in place, fear making my scream lodge in my throat as he bends down to get into my face.
“Say you want me instead,” he demands
