Page 103 of For the Fans

“What do you say we go get you some refreshments?” Theo grins at him.

Kyran peeks at me, for only a split second before turning back to them and smirking. “Sounds good.”

“It’s party time, baby!” Guty hollers, pointing to a few of the nearby cheerleaders. “I expect to see you ladies taking care ofmy man tonight!” He aims a knowing grin at Kyran and winks. “Only the best favors for All-star Harbor.”

Pursing my lips, I hold in my sarcastic remarks as best I can, shifting my weight to keep from feeling invisible in front of all these people who barely notice that I exist.

Theo shoots me a teasing look. “You coming to the party, Baldwin?”

I’m about to politely decline, when Kyran says, “It’s not really his scene. This party is team only.” I cock an insulted brow at him, but he’s already turning away with his friends. “Maybe next time, Eagle boy!”

Wow… really?? He just fucking snubbed me.

I scoff and roll my eyes to myself, playing it off like I don’t care. Because Idon’t…

But swallowing feels sort of difficult right now. For some reason, my stomach is heavy and my chest is tight. I need to get the fuck out of this stupid costume.

I didn’t want to go to his dumb party anyway. I’d rather drink Flavor-Aid in Jonestown.

But he didn’t need to act like a dick about it…

Leaving the field, I make my way to the locker room. I usually get changed in a private bathroom in the back—because God forbid I go anywhere near the players. With every clomp of my giant bird feet, I’m grumbling to myself.I can’t believe I actually rooted for him. He’s such an asshole…

Seriously, all he cares about is winning so he can show off to his jock friends and the swarms of blonde bimbos who hang all over his broody ass.

His voice from the other night pops into my head… When he was telling me he couldn’t get hard with Lexi.

Itshouldmake me feel better, but it doesn’t. Still, I force myself to smirk at his misfortune, pulling a carefree grin and telling myself it doesn’t matter. Because itdoesn’t.

He’s not my friend. He’s not even mybrother… We’re just coworkers. Tolerating one another for the sake of making money.

That’s what I need to remember throughout whatever comes next. That’s thetruth.

Creeping into the locker room, I hear clamorous voices, showers running. I roll my eyes, rushing along the outer edge of the room as quickly as I can toward the bathroom. I’m not even paying attention, just trying to get through there without anyone spotting me.

Unfortunately, I come crashing right into a solid wall of damp muscle. And it doesn’t take much assessing to realize that it’s douchebag Number Nine. Wet from the shower, with only a towel wrapped around his waist.

“What the fuck…” he grunts, narrowing his hazel gaze. “Are you fucking following me??”

Shaking my head, I scoff at his audacity. “Could you be more conceited?? I’m going to change… Not everything is about you, Kyran.”

“Whatever,” he mumbles, jaw set visibly.

I go to move around him, but he moves in the same direction. I shift the other way, and he does the same. We literally can’t get away from each other and it’s really starting to piss me off.

“God,move,” he huffs. “You and your stupid bird suit! Get out of my way!”

“You get out ofmyway,” I grumble, giving his chest a hard shove in my mitts.

He barely budges, but still… I don’t think he likes what I did.

His eyes harden, those stupid full lips sloped in a displeased line as he shoves me back. “Don’t fucking touch me, Avi.”

The weight of my giant costume causes me to stumble. And when I regain my footing, I’m seeing red.

Lunging forward, I grab his shoulders, pushing him backward. He staggers, his back hitting a wall of lockers with a grunt from his throat.

But I’m not done.