Page 198 of For the Fans

Avi is suspended. The dean knows about the OnlyFans. Ash Holloway is a prick of epic proportions…

What if he knows I was the one in those videos with Avi?? What if he tells the dean??

Theo stomps over to us, interrupting my inner meltdown. “Bro,everyone’stalking about your stepbrother.” He chuckles in fascination. “He’s like this OnlyFans superstar. I didn’t even know he was gay…”

“He’s bi,” I grumble, then purse my lips. “I guess. I mean, that’s what he told me…”

“Did you know about the stuff he was doing?” Theo asks, excitedly. He seems thrilled by all this, and I can’t tell if he just loves the drama or if he actually thinks it’s awesome that Avi’s been fucking dudes online for money.

Notdudes. Just one dude… Me.

God, this is fucked.

“Excuse me…” Ignoring him, I spin away and pull my phone from my pocket, typing out a fast text.

Me: Where are you? Are you coming?? I need to see you…

Only a minute goes by before he responds.

Avi: I’m outside…

Avi: I saw Dean Perkins go in and I don’t want her to see me

Me: What the fuck is going on?? You’re suspended?????

Avi: Don’t worry. I’m handling it.

Me: How? How the hell are you going to handle this, Avi?? Everyone knows

He doesn’t respond, and my heart is jumping frantically inside my chest.

Stalking toward the door, I’m all set to sneak outside to go find him. But I bump into my father and stepmother instead.

“Son!” My dad smiles wide, grabbing my shoulder. “Great to see you.”

I’m distracted from giving him a bewildered look when Hannah pulls me in for a tight hug. “This is so exciting, Kyran! The Rose Bowl, my God…” She releases me, holding me at arm’s length and grinning. “I can’t believe my stepson is a famous football star!”

“I’m hardlyfamous…” I rub the back of my neck. “Hey, did you see—”

My words are cut off when I spot Frankie and Zeb slinking past us into the room, their bodies huddled together to form a shield in front of my stepbrother, who’s crouched and shuffling in behind them.

“Avi,” I whisper, leaving Dad and Hannah to follow them.

“Shhh!” Zeb gasps at me. “We’re trying to sneak him past the dean.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I grunt, my eyes stuck on Avi while he hides behind his friends. “Everyone is talking about him. Hewon’t be in here for two seconds before someone spots him and makes a scene.”

Avi’s gaze flits up to mine and he blinks. There’s so much in that one look, it’s like an entire conversation. One I’m dying to have with him. But now Ican’t, because there’s too much heat…

I just wanted to see him, but not like this. Not with all these prying eyes watching our every move. It’s too much pressure.

“Members of the band are required backstage to set up!” someone yelps at Frankie and Zeb, grabbing them and ushering them away.

“Goddamnit…” Zeb huffs, following the guy while shooting Avi an apologetic look.

“Good luck, bae.” Frankie shrugs as they’re whisked off.

And now Avi is just standing out in the open, his head sloping left and right as people immediately begin to notice him.