Page 132 of The Deception You Weave

"You don't need to warn me about anything, Let. I know the kind of men they are. But sometimes, you've got to dance with the devil to get the things you want."

"What the hell is that meant to mean?" I bark.

He stares at me, his eyes saying everything his lips aren't.

"Kane's going to be okay, Let. Just give him some time to figure all this out."

My lips part but my cell buzzing in my pants pocket distracts me from what I was going to say.

Pulling it out, the name staring back at me makes my heart begin to race.

Kane: Don't make plans for after the game tomorrow.

25

Letty

There wasn't a question as to whether I was going to be watching the game. Since I first became friends with Luca and Leon, I never missed a game—well, unless they were playing the Harriers, but I have my reasons for that.

I pull on my purple Panthers jersey and stand in front of my mirror, looking at my reflection.

The majority of the marks from my night with Kane have faded, but even in his absence, the memories haven't. And in the past two days, my frustration has only grown.

I know I said that I don't want any details about the Hawks or what he's doing for them. I'm aware of what I told him. But that still doesn't mean that I'm not desperate to get a hold of him and force him to tell me everything he's done in the past three days.

He's showed up to practice with the guys, so he's been here. If he's fine like he told me on the phone the other night, then why couldn't he come and see me. What has he been doing that forces him to hide from me?

Clara's little visit to my table on Wednesday night flickers through my mind, but I once again shoot it down. He has not been with someone else. I trusted him when he told me he'd only been with me, and I really want to hold on to that. Kane is a lot of things, a lot of bad things, but what he told me Tuesday in that restaurant, I believe.

"Ugh," I groan, getting frustrated with myself. I've been over this time and time again in the past forty-eight hours, and I'm fed up with going round and round in circles.

What I need is him. Him standing in front of me and telling me the truth.

I straighten my hair, apply some light makeup before spritzing myself with my favorite perfume, and head out to meet the others.

Ella, Vi, Micah, and I all head to the stadium together. I'm a nervous wreck long before we pull up to a parking space but it's not for seeing Kane later, it's for Luca and Leon.

It's always been the same. While they were as cool as cucumbers before a game, I was a jittery wreck.

Ella glances over at me and must be able to read the expression on my face. "You know they're gonna smash it," she says with a wide smile.

"I'm sure they will."

We find our seats and watch as the cheerleaders flip and twist across the field getting the crowd in the mood, but no matter how many people cheer around me, I can't find it in myself to get excited.

I'm nervous for the guys and now I'm here, I'm assuming where Kane is, I'm getting more and more anxious for what he might have to tell me.

I scan the stadium as we wait for the teams to appear, taking in the black and orange of the Missouri fans who have traveled for the game. From what I've heard over the breakfast table, the Panthers smashed the Tigers last year so they've shown up with something to prove and their fans sure seem fired up.

I hold my breath as the teams emerge and get ready for the whistle.

My eyes immediately land on Luca and Leon as I send up a silent prayer for them. I know how much they both want this, how much pressure Luca especially puts on himself. I really want it all to pay off and for him to go all the way.

Ella and Vi scream beside me, getting swept up in the excitement.

I search the team, looking for the others, I find West, Brax, and Zayn. My heart swells seeing my brother down there making his own dreams come true. But I don't see Kane.

Please don't tell me he's missing this game too.