Page 16 of Homecoming

“Which is it?”

How did a drink with a friend to take my mind off Lola turn into an interrogation about what she was to me?

“No,” I pushed through clenched teeth.

Kevin didn’t miss it. “Is she yours?” he asked with concern etched on every line of his face.

“Yes,” I stated on instinct, not sure where it came from. But every hard beat of my heart echoed that statement.

Lola was mine.

I watched Kevin’s jaw drop a little before he got control of himself. He turned back to his glass and kept on me. “Should I be worried about her?”

“You know better than to ask,” I sighed. He didn’t know the details of my past. No one did.

But he knew enough to know I didn’t have anyone from home coming near me. No one but Mr. Kendrick, and that was on a rare occasion.

Everyone else? No fucking way. I kept that part of my life tucked away neatly.

Since I didn’t try to push Lola out of our world, that was confirmation enough for Kevin.

Lola was safe to be near me.

“Should I be worried about you?” Kevin muttered into his glass before taking a drink.

I leaned into his side, bumping my shoulder against his. “You know you should. That’s why you’re here.”

“Fucking great,” he mumbled before draining the rest of his drink.

“What did you say to Lola last week?” I asked suddenly, catching Kevin off guard.

“Nothing,” he shook his head, not meeting my eyes. “I was just reminding her it isn’t safe walking around the pit without looking where you’re going.”

Something told me he was lying, but I couldn’t figure out why.

Since Kevin was always straight with me, I pushed the feeling aside and finished my drink.

The next morning, after barely any sleep at all, I dragged my body out of bed.

The whole night I tossed and turned, images of Lola from back then, and the look of her now, swimming through my sleep-deprived mind. I barely had any energy to shower and get dressed.

Walking slowly through the gates, my eyes shielded from the glaring sun and reporters lurking around by my sunglasses, I looked around hoping to see her.

I just needed a glimpse of her to get through the day.

“Morning sunshine,” was said way too cheerfully right next to my ear.

I glared at the culprit, Colton Donavan, even though he couldn’t see it behind the shaded glass. It was for the better. I was sure if he knew the death glare I was aiming his way, I would walk away with a bloody nose and a black eye in thanks for my efforts.

“It’s way too early to be this energetic,” I growled.

“Ah, not for me,” he said and put a hand over my shoulders.

“Trying to stir the pot,” I asked, indicating the reporters with my head.

“We need some excitement around here, it’s becoming dull,” he shrugged. “Or are you willing to stop dominating and winning every race for the fuck of it?”

“Fuck you,” I said and started walking to my garage.