SCORE (A Stepbrother Sports Romance)(28)

“He’s a maniac,” Matt spat angrily. “I don’t know how you lived in the same house as him.”

I sighed, dropping the ice pack into my lap. “It’s complicated, Matt. He’s a very intense person. I’m sure he didn’t mean anything by it.”

Matt stood up and snapped, “You didn’t see him, Alyssa. He had a crazy look in his eye. He wanted to hurt me.”

I shook my head. “Matt, sit down, you’re going to be okay. I know he didn’t intend to hurt you, and you guys will make up in no time.”

Matt looked at me, angry and offended. “I’m so done with you defending him. He’s a piece of shit, Alyssa.”

I stood up and snapped, “I’m so done with you, period.” I stormed out of his room, annoyed with him.

I felt guilty, knowing that I was taking the first excuse I could to free myself from the relationship with Matt. I didn’t really like him, I admitted to myself. It was helpful at first, a good distraction from Blake, but it was time to end it. I wished that I really did like Matt, because it would have made my life so much easier. I hated that I still had feelings for Blake. It had been over a month, and except for the few isolated incidents, we had barely seen each other.

I walked back to Matt’s room, knocking hesitantly, guilty for taking my emotions out on him. I had to talk to him, explain to him why I couldn’t be with him. He opened the door, holding the ice pack to his head. He wore a cold look on his face and asked, “What do you want?”

“Look, Matt,” I started, looking down, having a hard time saying the words that needed to be said. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that. I just want you to know that I’m not breaking up with you because of a petty fight between you and Blake.” I lifted my head, looking into his eyes as I continued. “I have feelings for someone else, and it isn’t that I don’t like you, but I just can’t get over those feelings. I’m really sorry, and I hope we can still be friends.”

He was quiet for a moment and finally, he let out a yielding sigh. “Well, I appreciate your honesty, I guess. I’ll see you around.”

I gave him a small smile and said, “In a different world, we would have been really good together.”

He shook his head and shut his door, simply saying, “See you around, Alyssa.”

I walked away, grateful for the closure, but guilt still loomed over me. My phone rang, distracting me from my nagging thoughts. “Hi, Dad.” I felt relieved to hear a comforting voice.

“Hey, honey. How is school?” he asked.

“Good,” I commented. “So what’s up?”

“Debbie and I are going to Blake’s game Friday. It’s at five, so make sure you’re there,” he told me.

I bit my lip, knowing Blake wouldn’t want me there. “I have a lot of homework, Dad,” I said, hoping to get out of it.

“It’s just one night, and it will make Debbie happy. Do it for your pop,” he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice.

“Okay, Dad. I’ll be there. Love you.” I suppressed my irritation at breaking down and agreeing to go.

“Love you too, pumpkin,” he replied before hanging up.

I sighed, thinking about how much had changed in the last year, beginning to miss when it was just my father and me against the world. At least he’s happy, I thought. Even though I’m not. I frowned because I had to patch things up with Blake. We couldn’t spend the rest of our lives together in an angry, hostile environment. This football game was just one event in a long list of family vacations and activities that would take place. Whether we liked it or not, Blake and I were going to have to deal with each other, and we both deserved to be happy. We would have to come to a solution. We were a family, and we had to act like it.

***

I slid on a summery blue dress with a white cardigan, ready to go watch Blake’s game with our parents. I had thought again about trying to skip it, but I missed him desperately. I headed to the field, grateful to see that our parents hadn’t arrived yet, giving me time to find a seat in the bleachers, which were already beginning to fill up.

I started to climb the steps when I heard my dad’s voice, and I turned. He and Debbie were standing next to the coach. I groaned and mumbled under my breath. “So much for trying to blend in with the crowd.”

I joined them awkwardly as the game was about to begin. I felt nervous and excited all at once, reminding me of when I first fell for Blake. I watched as the team ran out onto the field, the crowd erupting with cheers. We clapped, and I tried to avoid looks from Matt, who was surely not happy to see me there.

Finally, my eyes landed on Blake, and my heart skipped a beat, excited to see him. Debbie cheered loudly when she saw her son, and I laughed at her enthusiasm, my doubts about being there beginning to fade. The game began, and the crowd fell quiet as they started their first play.

I watched Blake intently through the first half, my gaze glued to every single movement he made, mesmerized by his speed and agility. The crowd loved him, as they should, because he scored again and again, landing footballs in the end zone to raucous cheers. When the second quarter ended and halftime began, Blake waved and yelled a greeting at his mom and my dad as he hurried into the locker room. I frowned as he blatantly ignored me.

The same heavy pangs returned, pulling on my heart. I felt so worthless, and I wanted to leave. After the game, which our team won by a huge margin, I watched Blake running to the locker room, and without thinking, I chased after him, telling our parents we’d meet them for dinner. I had planned to talk to him that evening, but I acted on impulse instead. I could hear the crowd thinning.