Chapter 425 - Everybody Else

Chapter 425: Chapter 425 - Everybody Else

For a few seconds, Roxie only stared at Dylan’s name flashing across her screen.

"Mason, you fucking idiot."

She should’ve known Mason couldn’t keep his mouth shut. It had only been a few hours, and somehow Dylan was already calling.

Roxie considered letting it ring until voicemail, but Dylan would probably call again, and ignoring him after going behind his back would only make everything worse. She grabbed the phone before it stopped.

"Hey."

"What the fuck, Roxie? Mason just called me asking why you wanted to know if I still liked Zac."

Roxie closed her laptop and leaned back on the stool, already feeling the embarrassment from lunch crawl back up her neck. "So he told you. Great."

"That’s what you’re worried about right now?"

"No. I’m pissed at Mason, and I’m embarrassed because I already know calling him was shitty."

That seemed to catch Dylan off guard. He was quiet for a moment before answering, "If you wanted to know something about me, you could’ve asked me instead of asking Mason behind my back."

"I know. I should have."

"Then why didn’t you?"

Roxie looked down at her laptop. Mason had already made her feel stupid enough about the call, and she had spent most of the walk home trying to figure out why she had needed his reassurance so badly in the first place. Having to explain it directly to Dylan made the whole thing feel even uglier.

"I don’t know."

"Don’t give me that bullshit, Roxie."

She took a deep breath and covered her face with both hands. She really had fucked up with this one.

"I was already pissed because Zac and I fought before lunch. Then I sat there by myself thinking about everything, and I got in my head. Calling Mason felt easier than calling you."

Dylan let out a sharp breath. "You hear how fucked up that sounds, right? Mason calls me out of nowhere asking why Zac’s girlfriend is checking whether I still like him."

"Yes, Dylan. I heard myself say it."

Roxie bit her lip, wishing she could crawl under the table even though she was already home. This was fucking embarrassing.

"And if you have a problem with Zac coming over, you should’ve said something to me or him instead of asking people about me."

Roxie lifted her head, guilt eating through whatever irritation she had left. "I never said Zac couldn’t go to your apartment."

"You’re asking whether I still want him because he stays here sometimes. What else am I supposed to think?"

"I wanted to know if the crush was actually over. That’s what I asked."

"It is."

The answer came immediately.

Roxie almost smiled from how direct it was because that was exactly what she had wanted from Mason earlier. Mason had already reassured her, and now Dylan was saying the same thing without hesitation.

"Mason said that too."

"I told you about my sexuality because I wanted to be open with you. I didn’t tell you so you could start wondering if I have some hidden thing for Zac."

Roxie rubbed her forehead. "I’m sorry. It got into my head."

Dylan went quiet again, and Roxie let him be angry. He had every right to be. If somebody had called Angela or Karen asking questions about Roxie behind her back, she would have been furious too.

"I want to know why you suddenly decided I was sitting around waiting for Zac," Dylan finally said.

Roxie got off the stool and carried her glass to the sink because sitting still was making her feel worse.

"Karen slipped that you used to like him."

"I’m going to kill Mason."

Despite everything, Roxie almost laughed. "Apparently everybody wants to kill Mason today."

She turned on the faucet and stared at the water running into the glass.

"We were already fighting because Zac barely spends any time at home. Then I found out you used to like him, and suddenly I started looking at how much time you two spend together differently."

Dylan gave a humorless laugh. "We train together. We have meetings together. Half the time Zac is around me, we’re doing football shit. You’re making it sound like I’m taking him away from you."

"I know you’re together because of football. I’m not an idiot."

"Then what are you mad about?"

Roxie shut off the faucet and left the glass beside the sink.

The question hurt more than it should have because she had already asked herself the same thing too many times that day.

"I’m mad at him."

Her voice came quieter this time.

She bit her lip and stared down at the counter.

She was mad at Zac for spending less time with her. Mad because he had his own life that kept getting bigger while she felt like she was standing still beside it. Mad because for months Zac had been there almost constantly, and maybe that had spoiled her more than she realized.

She understood football was his dream. She knew he was working for the future he had talked about since high school. She knew she should be proud of him.

She was proud of him.

That didn’t stop it from hurting that their lives suddenly felt like they were moving in different directions.

A tear slipped down her cheek before she could stop it.

Roxie wiped it away quickly and let out a shaky breath. "I’m sorry."

Dylan went silent.

She hated that she was crying now. It made everything feel even more pathetic when all Zac had really done was work hard for something he loved.

After a moment Dylan said, quieter, "You need to talk to Zac."

Roxie gave a humorless laugh. "And say what? Stop going to football practice because I want you sitting beside me? I’m selfish, but I’m not that selfish, Dylan."

"So you did all this because it was easier to blame somebody else than be mad at Zac?"

Roxie sank back onto the stool.

The words hurt because there was enough truth in them.

"I’m sorry."

"Roxie, you knew he was going to work his ass off for football."

"I know."

"The least you can do is support him instead of making everything harder when he’s already got enough going on."

Roxie looked up.

That one stung differently.

Was that what she was doing?

Was she making Zac’s life harder because she wanted more of his time?

Was wondering about Dylan selfish?

Was wanting to make sure there wasn’t something she should be worried about really that unreasonable?

Her guilt started mixing with something hotter.

"Fuck no."

"What?"

Roxie wiped the last wetness from her cheek and sat straighter. "I know I fucked up calling Mason. I know I got jealous and let it get into my head. But don’t sit there and make it sound like I’m some horrible girlfriend because I miss him."

"I didn’t say that."

"You basically did."

"I said he needs support."

"And I support him. I moved here with him. I sit through football shit I barely understand. I wait when practice runs late. I rearrange plans when Coach changes something. I’m allowed to be pissed sometimes without that meaning I don’t support him."

Dylan went quiet.

Roxie’s breathing was heavier now, guilt still sitting in her chest but anger finally pushing through it.

Then another question came out before she could stop herself.

"Why did you tell him how you felt when we broke up?"

Silence.

Roxie frowned. "Why did you wait until we were done before you told him?"

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

Dylan’s voice rose immediately.

"I’m asking."

"I told him because he was lonely, Roxie. He felt like shit. He thought nobody wanted him around. I told him somebody did. I wasn’t sitting there waiting for my shot at him."

Roxie went quiet.

That wasn’t how she had pictured it.

She knew Dylan confessed while she and Zac were broken up. Zac had told her that himself. What she hadn’t known was that Zac had been sitting there feeling unwanted when Dylan said it.

That bothered her, even if she knew Dylan probably hadn’t meant anything bad by it.

Dylan exhaled hard. "And if you really don’t trust me around your boyfriend, tell him not to come to my apartment anymore."

Roxie froze.

"No."

"Then what the hell do you want?"

"Hey, Dylan, I didn’t mean that."

"I have my own problems, Roxie. I don’t need this shit. I don’t need to wonder every time Zac comes over whether you’re sitting at home thinking I’m trying to steal him."

Roxie’s guilt came rushing back so quickly that the anger disappeared.

That wasn’t what she wanted.

The last thing she wanted was Dylan pulling away from Zac because of her. After everything that had happened with Dylan’s family, Zac had stayed beside him and vise cersa. Roxie knew how much that mattered.

"I’m sorry. I really am. I got jealous and insecure and did something stupid. This isn’t about you trying to take Zac, and it isn’t because I think Zac wants you."

Dylan didn’t answer.

Roxie gripped the edge of the counter.

"I don’t want to come between you two."

Another silence.

"Please don’t start avoiding him because of this. He needs you too."

Dylan sighed. "You’re giving me a headache."

"I know."

"You need to talk to him."

"I will."

"Actually talk to him, Roxie. Stop calling everybody else."

Despite everything, she gave a small laugh. "Trust me. I learned that lesson."

Dylan stayed quiet for another moment before finally saying, "I’m not going anywhere. Just deal with whatever is happening between you two first."

Relief loosened something in her chest.

"I will. And I’m really sorry."

"Alright."

Roxie let out a breath and rested her forehead against her hand.

For a few seconds she thought the worst of the conversation was over.

Then Dylan spoke again.

"Also, Zac knows about the call."

Roxie slowly lifted her head.

"What?"

"Mason called while we were still together. Zac heard enough to figure out what was going on."

Her stomach dropped.

"You’re fucking kidding me."

"Nope."

Roxie closed her eyes.

Perfect.

She had already fought with Zac about Dylan before lunch, demanded to see his phone to prove Coach had actually called, then gone to the restaurant and called Mason asking whether Dylan still had feelings for him.

From Zac’s side, this was going to look horrible.

"How much does he know?"

"Enough."

"Dylan."

"He knows you called Mason asking whether I still liked him."

Roxie covered her face again.

"Fuck."

"He left a few minutes ago. He might already be on his way home."

Roxie immediately looked toward the front window.

"Great."

"Talk to him."

"I will."

"And Roxie?"

"What?"

"I really don’t want Zac."

Roxie looked down at the counter.

This time there was no question in her mind.

"I believe you."

"Good."

The call ended a few moments later.

Roxie lowered the phone slowly and stared at Mason’s name sitting in her recent calls. She was going to kill him later.

Much later.

Right now she had a bigger problem coming through the front door.

She set the phone beside her laptop and wiped her face, hoping the redness around her eyes would disappear before Zac arrived.

Headlights swept across the front window.

Roxie froze.

A car door shut outside.

"Fuck."

Keys scraped against the lock a few seconds later.

Roxie stayed beside the counter as the door opened and Zac stepped inside with his training bag over one shoulder.

His eyes went straight to her.

She swallowed.

He knew.