Chapter 36

Turns out, rugby is pretty cool.

The rules themselves are pretty confusing. More often than not, Debbie has to explain to me what’s happening. Other than that, it’s like sparring with a ball. Players lunge after one another and block with their elbows and some guys even turn up a bit bloody at half time.

The whistle blows and all the players dart off into the locker room. Debbie finally turns towards me as people start to leave the stands for refreshments. She gives Mia her hand and Mia immediately begins to naw on Debbie’s thumb.

“So how was the ride?” Debbie asks, completely unphased by the baby munching on her finger.

“It was fine,” I say. “You know how I told you someone took my knife when I first entered the pyramid?”

Debbie nods. Mia removes Debbie’s thumb from her mouth and grabs onto Debbie’s bracelet. I don’t need to know designer to know the piece of jewelry is expensive from all the diamonds in it. I don’t know how Debbie doesn’t care.

“Neil took it,” I continue.

Debbie gasps. “I thought you said he was a nice one?!”

“He is,” I say. “That’s why it’s so odd. I guess maybe they were trying to keep Mia safe but I’m still suspicious.”

“I agree,” Debbie replies. “I’m worried about you being there. All those guys are mean. Even Neil and Steven. I mean you heard what happened to Peacy – I mean Anna. Even Neil can be a dick.”

I think about all the Untouchables. I haven’t seen many of them besides Debbie since I freed them. I look back at Debbie.

“Do you keep up with them?” I ask.

“Peacey?” Debbie doesn’t correct herself this time. “Yeah of course. We have a few classes together. She’s a sophomore like me. Only she didn’t flunk out of training and took bio last year.”

“How is she?” I say. “How are they all, really?”

“Amazing,” Debbie sighs. “They’re all flourishing on campus. It’s how they should’ve been their whole times at Moonriver. I mean, some of them were in there for almost four years.”

“That’s awful!” I say.

“Agree,” Debbies shakes her head. “That’s what I’m saying though. None of the brother’s are truly good people. They’re bullies. Through and through.”

I chew on my lip as I stew over this. It’s hard to believe someone like Steven or Neil would be capable of putting people in the Cave. But I met the people they put there. Sure the reasons were a bit ridiculous but making people untouchables was even more ridiculous.

I’m still stewing over the thought as the teams come back on the field. The crowd is going wild again. Moonriver’s team comes over and waves to their fans in the crowd. A few girls shriek for Beau or Archer, holding the massive signs with their names on them.

Archer ignores them all. He keeps his head down and focuses on his stretching. Beau, however, lives for the attention. He waves at all his little fangirls and blows a few a kiss. But when he reaches my gaze, he does something entirely different. He winks.

And everyone fucking sees it.

A bunch of whispers erupt around me. I can hear most of what their saying and it’s nothing out of the ordinary bullshit.

“She’s just a whore like her mother!”

“Look at how she’s parading the baby around like she’s proud to be a nanny!”

“I bet she’s only doing it to sleep with Beau!”

Debbie gently rubs my back as the rumor mill continues to turn. She tells me to ignore it but it’s hard not to. I’m almost annoyed at Beau for doing something so public. But then, I feel the flutter in my stomach and the heat creeping in my cheeks. Beau winked at ME.

The referee blows the whistle and the match starts up again. It’s becoming increasingly hard for me to watch. Seeing Beau and Archer throw themselves across the field is hot. It’s lighting the pit that started deep within my stomach up again.

Beau scores and pulls his shirt over his head. His flat, rippled abs are so much I almost moan. I bite it back, completely ashamed. I don’t know what’s happening to me. I’ve never had this many horny thoughts before. My whole body is aflame.

The game is almost over with only a minute left. Moonriver and Openbridge are tied. Openbridge is control of the ball, flying down the field towards their scoring zone. Suddenly, Archer plows into the guy with the ball. It soars out of his hands and onto the ground.

Archer grapples across the ground and flies towards the ball. Effortlessly, he scoops it up and is back on his feet. As almost if the entire world was put into slow motion, the clock ticks down it’s final seconds. Archer sprints down the field and shoves one – two – three defenders out of the way. The clock is winding down and Archer is slow close to the finish line.

3…

2…

Archer’s foot crosses the end zone.

1…!

With that, Moonriver have won the game.

The stands come alive. The floor shakes under my feet as everyone hollers and whoops . I find myself cheering along too, smiling from ear to ear. Archer’s teammates hoist him up onto their shoulders, chanting his name. The crowd chimes in. Archer is grinning from ear to ear. He looks out into the crowd and starting scanning the seats. We lock eyes and my heart skips a beat.

He smiles wider than I’ve ever seen him before.