Chapter 45
Fiona
After Mr. Adair left, Ethan and I worked for the next few hours until he left to get ready for the soccer game tonight. He’d told me Ryan would meet me at the stadium to help me find my seats and to keep me safe while I’m there.
(+23)
I found the statement strange, wondering how much danger I could be at a soccer game, but I didn’t dwell on it for long. I’m just glad he invited me.
We’ve been growing closer, but I realized I know less about Ethan than he knows about me. This is the perfect chance to get to know him better. He’s finally letting me in and knowing he’s giving me a glimpse into an important part of his life makes my chest warm.
He hadn’t told me much about his love of soccer, but it used to be important to him, and it must still be if he’s willing to leave work early to play this game.
My nerves kick in as I follow behind a group of people entering the stadium. It’s a large indoor stadium that I didn’t know was on the outskirts of town, but luckily, it wasn’t difficult to find.
Clutching Ethan’s phone in my hand and the ticket in the other, I enter the building. Loud and excited conversations surround me as I enter. The ticket booth line is long, so I get in it. Ryan said he’d be waiting for me on the other side before you get to the seats.
However, I have Ethan’s phone. He left it at work on accident, so I’m going to give it to him before I go sit down.
“Ticket please,” a woman says, holding her hand out. I pass my ticket to her, watching as she punches a hole in the corner before giving it back to me. “Special box seats are to the left. If you need help finding it, ask one of the workers in the green shirts.”
She points at the green shirt she’s wearing for emphasis.
“Thank you,” I tell her, taking my ticket and asking, “Where would I find the locker room? My boyfriend left his phone at work.”
She glances at the phone I hold up and then at me before answering, “Go to the left and walk past the stadium entrance. Once you get to the bathrooms, take a right and you’ll find the locker room.”
Thanking her again, I set off to find Ethan. I’m not sure if he needs his phone, but I want to get it back to him just in case someone tries to contact him. I weave through the crowd as quickly as I can, not wanting to take too long because the ticket
says
the game starts at six.
Twenty minutes.
The woman’s instructions are spot on, and as I pass the bathrooms, I take the right turn into a short hallway which turns into a dead end. The blue door on the end of the hall has LOCKER ROOM printed in bold white letters on the door.
The next thing I notice is a tall, thin woman standing outside the door with a large muscular door. She’s talking quietly with him, but they’re blocking the door.
man on the other side of the
As I get closer, I realize the woman is Ethan’s ex–girlfriend. Isla showed me pictures of her after I’d told her all about our relationship. The main thing Isla told me about this woman is that she’s a supermodel who was with Ethan for about a year before they broke it off. Then, we proceeded to watch an interview of the woman talking about her relationship with Ethan.
She’d gone on and on about how they were perfect for each other, and how she was heartbroken their relationship was over. I had watched her cry over Ethan, but I remember thinking the emotion didn’t seem real.
“Hi, I need to see Ethan Montgomery,” I tell the guard.
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Chapter 45
Ethan’s ex and the guard turn to look at me.
+40%–
+23)
“No one is allowed back other than players,” he states, crossing his arms over his chest and stepping completely in front of the door. “You don’t have access to-”
“Who are you?” A high–pitched voice asks. “And why do you want to see my man?”
I turn to the woman, studying her high eyebrows, curled back top lip, and disgusted expression. Her eyes roam from my head down and then up again, no doubt judging my jeans and casual top against the skintight red dress and heels she’s wearing.
“Your man?” I ask, turning fully to her.
She huffs and throws her long blonde hair over her shoulder. A smirk falls upon her lips and her hands on her hips.
“Yes, Ethan and I have been dating for the past month. We decided to get back together after reconnecting two months ago and realizing we love each other,” she tells me, and immediately, the hair on the back of my neck stands on end.
“Well, I—”
She waves a hand in front of my face, stopping me.
“Ethan has no time for pathetic little fangirls who have nothing better to do than stalk successful men like him,” she sneers. “In fact, he’ll be out any minute to bring me into the locker room. I need to help him calm down before the game, if you know what I mean.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me and winks.
“Actually I-”
“He’s always worked up before a game and needs some relief so he can play well. I’ve helped him in the past and now that we’re back together, its only natural that I join him for a little private–time, so he has no need to meet with a little poor girl like you,” she says, again looking me up and down.
She steps toward me, making me step back. I don’t want her any closer than she already is, and the small movement makes her smirk.
“Could you move—”
“Ethan won’t need you today, so you can go,” she says. Anger bubbles up in me, quickly turning to rage as she yet again cuts me off.
The triumphant smile tells me she thinks she’s won. She thinks I’ll be too scared or embarrassed to stand against her like many people probably are. That won’t work with me, though.
“Do not interrupt me again,” I growl, narrowing my eyes and sending my best glare at her. “I’m here to see Ethan and it has nothing to do with you or your dating issues.”
I turn to the guard, pinning my gaze on him.
“If you’ll just call Ethan out here, I won’t take up much of his time,” I tell him, ignoring the sounds of protest from the
woman.
Before the guard can respond, Ethan’s ex clamps her hand down on my shoulder and yanks me back. I stumble but catch myself before I can fall.
“There’s no place for you here. Whatever you think was between you and Ethan is over because I’m back, and I’ve been taking care of Ethan for the past two nights,” she
My mind sputters, and my heart skips a beat.
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Chapter 45
“Excuse me?”
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