Page 99 of Offside Attraction
“Am I?” she asks, arching an eyebrow as she hands the cigarette back to me. Her tone is infuriatingly neutral, like she’s just stating facts, not accusing me of anything. “Because from where I’m sitting, it seems like there’s something between you two. Something… unresolved.”
I take the cigarette from her, more to give my hands something to do than anything else. I bring it to my lips, inhaling deeply before blowing the smoke out in a long, slow stream. “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say finally, my voice quieter.
Shay doesn’t respond right away. She just watches me, her expression unreadable, before leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees.
“Maybe,” she says softly, almost to herself. “But if I’m wrong, then why does he always look at you like you’re the one thing he can’t figure out?”
I freeze, her words cutting through me like a blade. My grip on the cigarette tightens, and I can feel the heat of her gaze on me, waiting for a response I can’t give.
“I don’t know,” I say eventually, my voice barely above a whisper.
She studies me for a moment longer before sighing and leaning back against the wall.
“Everyone’s talking about it, I mean the guys from the hockey team. The tension between you two, that’s not nothing. Onewould think you two have been at each other’s throats since middle school.”
I scoff, my gaze steady as it lingers on Shay. “Why do I have a feeling you already know what happened?”
Shay laughs, the sound low and distant. “Ezra talks a lot, especially when he’s drunk. And he didn’t have to talk much for me to put two and two together. You like him, don’t you?”
My chest tightens at her words, and I clench my jaw, trying to keep my expression neutral. “Ezra doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” I say, my voice sharper than I intended. “He’s full of shit.”
Shay smirks, “Maybe. But that doesn’t answer my question.”
I glare at her, my hands curling into fists. “Why do you care, Shay? What’s it to you?”
She shrugs, “I don’t, not really. I just think it’s… interesting. You and Hayes. The way you look at him, the way he looks at you—it’s not exactly subtle, Dakota. You can deny it all you want, but people notice.”
Her words cut deeper than I’d like to admit, and for a moment, I don’t know how to respond. She’s too perceptive, too calm, like she’s enjoying watching me squirm under her gaze.
“No offense, but your boyfriend isn’t really the likable type,” I say finally, my voice low and measured. “Whatever you think you know, you don’t. So drop it.”
Shay raises an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Sure,” she says, drawing out the word like it’s a challenge. “I mean Hayes can be a dick sometimes, but he’s a good guy.”
I laugh, the sound bitter as I stare at Shay. I don’t think she believes the words she just said. She rolls her eyes and looks away, tucking a few strands behind her ear.
“I have a feeling you know I’m right. I just think it’s because he’s always under a lot of pressure,” Shay says as she slowly shifts her gaze to me. “Hayes and I used to be friends before westarted dating. I came onto him, and I was surprised he didn’t fight it. I guess he thought it was easier that way,” she continues, her tone thoughtful, almost detached. “Being with me came with certain… advantages. Less drama, and our families were friends.”
I stay silent, my grip tightening around the cigarette as her words sink in. There’s a hint of bitterness in her voice, buried under layers of composure, and for a moment, I wonder if she’s telling me this because she needs someone to listen—or because she wants to get under my skin.
Shay shifts closer, her blue eyes narrowing slightly. “You know, I always wondered if there was someone else. Not in a cheating kind of way, but… someone he couldn’t stop thinking about. Someone who made him second-guess everything.”
Her gaze pierces me, and I feel the weight of her words pressing down on my chest. “You don’t know shit,” I say flatly, though my voice betrays the crack of uncertainty.
“Don’t I?” she asks, tilting her head, studying me like she’s piecing together a puzzle. “Hayes isn’t exactly subtle when it comes to you.”
I look away, my jaw tightening as I fight to keep my emotions in check. “I don’t know what you’re trying to prove, Shay,” I say, my voice low. “But you’re wasting your time.”
She lets out a soft laugh, the sound laced with something almost sad. “I’m not trying to prove anything, Dakota. I’m just saying—Hayes isn’t as untouchable as he likes to pretend. He’s got cracks, just like the rest of us. And maybe, just maybe, you’re the one who gets under his skin.”
Her words leave me frozen, my mind racing with thoughts I don’t want to entertain.
Shay stands, brushing off her skirt as she glances down at me one last time. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think he’s figured itout yet. But he will. And when he does, he’s going to have to decide which one of us is good for him. You or me.”
“Isn't he supposed to be your boyfriend though?” I ask, tossing away the cigarette and watching it fizzle out on the cold, hard floor. My tone is sharp, almost accusatory, but I can’t help it. Shay’s casual revelations and pointed observations have left a bitter taste in my mouth.
She pauses mid-step, glancing over her shoulder with a faint smirk. “He is,” she says, her voice smooth and unbothered. “But relationships like ours aren’t always about love, Dakota. Sometimes, they’re about convenience.”
I scoff, leaning back against the railing. “That’s a nice way of saying you’re both just using each other.”