Page 173 of Just for the Cameras
OC:So are we going to get an update? From what I gathered online and through social media, it seems like you two are getting along swimmingly, but then again, it could be all show because I can’t fathom a time when the Gladdy Daddies would help you and you wouldn’t update us.
I stare down at the text from OC, slightly wincing, because, yeah, I didn’t update them. I was kind of busy.
Well, really busy.
Too busy to be bothered with simple gossip.
“You look different,” Hutton says as he takes a seat next to me at my locker.
I lean back in my chair and rest my phone on my lap. “Yeah, in what way?”
He studies me for a moment, making a show of really observing me. I’m about to swat him away when he says, “Less…growly.”
“Is that the technical term?”
He smirks. “I think it is.” Then he pushes at my shoulder. “Seriously, man. What’s going on?”
I shrug and grab a pair of socks from my locker. I’m going to need to replenish my spare clothes since I’m using them up today after staying the night with Maple. “Nothing is going on.”
“You’re such a goddamn liar. I saw the way you were eyeing that rookie. You were about to murder him for even chasing Maple down.”
“That immature nimrod doesn’t know how to listen. I said don’t fucking touch her. He’s lucky Maple was the one who took him down and not me.”
“Is he lucky, though? He had to be carted off the field.”
“Am I supposed to feel bad for him?”
“Maybe a little.”
I shake my head. “I don’t.”
“Okay, what about after the play, when the guys were celebrating with Maple, and you were just standing off to the side with heart eyes, watching her the whole time?”
“I didn’t have heart eyes.”
“Dude, the cameras all around the field were snapping shots of you looking at her. I’ll be shocked if there aren’t memes already out there that say something like ‘Find a person who looks at you the way Graydon looks at Maple.’ Hashtag Flock and Tackle.”
I roll my eyes. “Seriously, man, you’re—”
Hutton presses his hand to my chest, pausing me and looking me dead in the eyes. “Just fucking tell me.”
He knows me too well at this point not to see when I’m about to bullshit my way out of a conversation.
I sigh and lean in closer, closing off the conversation to just us. “I spent the night with her last night and basically confessed my feelings.”
“Jesus,” he whispers. “Does she feel the same way?”
The lightest of smiles tugs on the corner of my lips, and I’m unable to hold it back. “She does.”
“Wow.” Hutton smirks. “So what does this mean?”
I shrug. “I guess I’m in a relationship.”
“Well, fuck.” He tugs on the short strands of his hair. “Never thought you would say those words. Honestly thought you were just going to be alone forever.”
“Same.” I drag my hand over my face and stare down at the ground, still in disbelief. “She’s different.” Then I look up at him, concern filling me. “I just worry about how this is going to play out.”
“What do you mean?”
