Page 106 of Quarterback Sneak

“Have you ever seen the lines at these games? I'll go with for moral support. But make sure you have the game pulled up on your phone because we’ll probably miss the beginning of the second half.”

“Tess, you can just stay here.”

“Friends don’t let friends navigate bathrooms at packed football games by themselves.”

I grin. “Okay then. Come on.”

She wasn’t kidding. It takes forever to get to one of the bathrooms; then it takes forever to actually make itintothe bathroom. When I come out, I don’t see Tessa anywhere. I spin in a circle trying to find her. My eyes catch on something. No, not something. Someone.My breath catches in my lungs as my brain tries to process what I’m seeing. “Evie.” I jerk at the sound of my name. Tessa walks towards me carrying a large soda. I look back over my shoulder, but there’s no one there. “You good?”

I swallow, trying to catch my breath. “Yeah. I thought I saw someone.”

She looks behind me and then back at me. “You ready to get back in there? The second half’s already started.”

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

The second half passes in a blur, but I don’t focus on any of it. I watch enough of the game to know that Zane has a better game than the last one. I still feel like something’s still off with him, but they win. So that’s a plus. But I have a hard time focusing on any of it because all I can think of is Jace. My heartbeat speeds up every time I think about him. My mind can’t decide if that was really him outside the bathroom or just a figment of my imagination. I rub my clammy hands together.It was just somebody that looked like him.I keep trying to convince myself of that. But then I see in my mind’s eye the smirk he flashed me, and I go cold all over because it feels really real. What’s more terrifying is if that really was him, why was he here?

My phone dings, and I look down at it.

Zane-looking good in that jersey, Bennett

I spin around, trying and failing to see Zane.

Me-where are you?

Zane-I'm still with the team. I’ll be out soon.

My phone dings with an incoming picture. I tap on it and see a picture of the back of me watching the game.

Zane-Reid snapped it and sent it to me

Me-good to know it wasn‘t some random person

Zane- The team’s going out after the game. Want to go?

I bite my lip before sending back a text.

Me-I'm not really up to it, but please go. Have fun!

Zane-want to go over to the house instead and order something?

Right on cue, my stomach growls, reminding me I haven’t eaten anything in a while. Tessa nudges me. “I gotta go, so I can get to work on time.” She gives me a quick hug. “See you.”

“See ya!” I call out after her before texting Zane.

Me-that sounds good to me but only if you want to

Zane-great! Want to head to the area you met me last time? I’ll meet you there and we can drive to the house.

Me-sounds good

It takes me a while to get to the area I need to be at. When I get there, I see Riley and Zane’s parents. Riley sees me first. “Evie!” She hugs me tightly. “It’s so good to see you.”

I can’t help my smile. “You too.”

I take in their matching jerseys, all with Zane’s number. It makes me happy to see that they’re so supportive of him. We make small talk while we wait for Zane to come out. When he does, he scans the crowd, skipping right over his family until he sees me. I bite my lip at the look on his face. He walks right past his family and stops in front of me, taking in his jersey on me. To humor him, I turn around so he can see the back too. “You look good in my jersey,” he says in a low voice. I give in to the urge to hug him, and he wraps his arms around me. I feel some of the tension leave my body, and I feel safe for the first time since half time. Zane runs a hand down my spine. “Hey, are you okay?”

I don’t meet his eyes because I feel like he’ll be able to tell something is wrong, and I want him to be able to celebrate tonight. I nod against his chest and then pull back. “Ready to go?”