Loving a Man Who Forgot Me Novel Chapter 22
The moment broke, and Abel looked away.
He and his grandfather crossed to the other side of our row and took up seats at the end, next to his mom.
I bit my lip and cast a wary look to the side. Up close, he looked tired. Gorgeous as ever, but tired.
And stressed around the eyes, and a little on edge. How bad was it? Nope. You don’t get to care.
I couldn’t do it again. Get sucked in by him. Every time it ended badly. He made his choice and there was no going back for us.
I peeled my eyes from him and forced them in front of me, to the cheerleaders who were beginning to get the crowd going in anticipation of the players’ arrival on the field.
The stands erupted with thunderous noise when the band broke into Darlington’s fight song, prompting everyone to stand to their feet.
Yells and cheers exploded into the air as a stream of boys in blue and black came pouring onto the field, led by quarterback Aiden McCabe.
The announcers started in on the stats for the Panthers and the opposing Wildcats, while the teams took up their positions on opposite sides.
Coaches shouted, players ran around, and within minutes both teams took to the field and the game began.
From the very first play, it was an intense battle between the two sides.
Panthers’ Coach Richards and his staff barked at our players from the sidelines, and the cheerleaders led us in cheers of defense and offense as the ball went back and forth between the two sides.
Both teams eked out a touchdown in the first quarter, and then as halftime neared, the Panthers were able to score again and pull ahead. When the whistle sounded they were up fourteen to six.
“Aiden’s killing it. I can’t believe I didn’t make it to a single game last year,” Abel commented regretfully. “You’re here for this one,” Aunt Jax said cheerily.
“I should be here more.” Frustration leaked from his words. “It’s okay, he understands.”
I eyed my dad who was watching me closely as I listened in on the conversation. “I think I need nachos,” I said, standing.
“Anybody else want anything?” I avoided Abel’s gaze and mentally jotted down the requests for bottled water, chocolate, and a hot dog, and then joined the throng of people all heading for the concessions. The students were buzzing with excited chatter.
Panthers were up, but Abel McCabe was still the main topic. His name was on every tongue as I was jostled along until I finally turned the corner and the walkway opened up. “Abbi, wait!”
I couldn’t escape him. For even a few minutes. I stopped in my tracks and slowly turned. Abel was shouldering his way through the crowd toward me. People were staring and everything in me wanted to spin around and bolt, but I didn’t.
I folded my arms across my chest and fixed a bored expression on my face. “I thought you could use help carrying everything,” he said when he stopped in front of me, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“You thought I needed help? Carrying things? That’s what you’re going with?” Without waiting for him to respond, I turned on my heel and continued toward the concessions. “Abbi, please.” He was right on my heels, but I didn’t spare him a single glance as we joined the line.
I felt his heat at my back as he leaned in close, “Is this how it’s going to be? You not looking at me, or speaking to me at all?” He said in a low voice. I clenched my jaw against the urge to snap a biting remark. What did he honestly expect?
“Abbi,” he sighed, “it doesn’t have to be like this.” I bit down harder. Was he serious? “I can explain everything, if you’ll just give me the chance to.” That was it.