I nod, showing him the messages.
Sebi whistles low. “That's… not great, brother.”
“You think I should say something else?”
“Hell no,” Reese says immediately. “You already made your feelings clear at Hail Mary's. Say more and you'll look obsessed.”
“But if you don't do something,” Sebi counters, “and he makes a move while you're sitting right there like a chump…”
“He's not going to make a move at his own game,” I argue, but even as I say it, I'm not sure I believe it.
My phone buzzes again.
Honey:Chris says it should be a really good game. Rome U is their biggest rival, and apparently there's some drama between the goalies.
Another message about Chris. Another reason she's excited that has nothing to do with me.
“Fuck this,” I mutter, shoving my phone in my bag.
“Easy,” Reese warns. “Don't do anything stupid.”
“Like what? Show up to support my girlfriend?”
“Like show up looking for a fight,” he corrects. “Because that's what this feels like.”
He's not wrong. I can feel the anger building in my chest, hot and territorial. But what am I supposed to do? Sit back and watch Chris slowly wedge himself between us?
“Look,” Sebi says, surprisingly serious for once. “If this guy's really trying to snake your girl, he's playing the long game. The best thing you can do is be there, be supportive, and remind Honey why she chose you in the first place.”
“And if that doesn't work?”
Sebi's grin returns, all teeth and terrible ideas. “Then we get creative.”
For a second, I almost buy into it. The part of me that likes drama and the idea of forcing the world to notice what I already know, but Reese is right. Acting now would make me the loser that can’t control his feelings, and I’ll look like an overbearing and controlling boyfriend.
I won’t do that to her.
Not ever.
I let out a long, quiet breath and shove my hands in my pockets like I’m steadying myself. “okay,” I say, forcing my voice to stay level. “We don’t make a scene. We don’t start anything. We do the opposite.”
Reese blinks. “You mean… be normal—something I know is really hard for you. Zach, if you want Honey to continue dating you, I think this should be a solo mission.”
My phone buzzes again.
Honey:Not sure if I was clear, but I want you to come with me. Chris says it’s a huge game and I don’t want to be there without you.
For a second, all the noise in the locker room drops away. She wants me there—to watch him. To cheer from the stands while Chris tries to get her attention. My jaw flexes and heat crawls up the back of my neck.
“Shit,” Reese mutters, reading over my shoulder. “She just invitedyouto the guy’s game?”
“Yup.” My voice is flat, my chest tight.
Sebi lets out a low whistle. “That’s brutal. She’s basically handing the guy the mic and asking you to clap.”
Reese shakes his head. “You can’t go, man. Not like this. It’ll just blow up into something it’s not.”
I stare at Honey’s name glowing on my screen, my thumb hovering over the keypad. I could tell her that I’m busy or be honest and let her know it pisses me off, but I can’t.