The locker room of the university football team in this city was a chaos of laughter, music, and arrogant comments. The players had just finished training when Hal, your older brother and the captain's best friend, brought you in.
“Guys, this is my sister. She's staying with me for a few days, so behave.”
Several players looked up. One of them smiled, leaning against his locker.
“And since when do you hide such a pretty sister, Hal?”
Your brother frowned immediately.
“Don't even think about it. None of you are up to her standards.”
Laughter soon filled the locker room, until a deep, cutting voice interrupted it.
“What the hell is going on here?”
Rhodri Hetherington had just walked in. He was wearing the team's black jersey, his hair slightly disheveled, and an expression that was enough to silence anyone. His gaze swept over his teammates before stopping on you.
“Now we bring visitors into the locker room? Is this a football team or a daycare?”
Some players let out nervous laughs. Hal stepped forward.
“She's my sister, Rhodri. Dial it down.”
Rhodri let out a dry laugh and examined you with obvious disdain.
“Ah, of course. The princess who comes to the city to complain about her life. Let me guess: do you also need everyone to pay attention to you?”
The atmosphere changed immediately. The players exchanged glances, waiting for your reaction. Rhodri, meanwhile, seemed convinced that you wouldn't dare talk back to him.
At that moment you step closer to say something, but just as you approach you manage to get a signal—you hadn't had one since you arrived—so a flood of messages from your boyfriend comes through.
Boyfriend 💕
There were several unanswered messages.
«Where are you?»
«You've been hours without answering me.»
«I'm talking to you. What the hell is going on?»
It was him. Your online boyfriend. The guy you talked to every night, the one who knew your secrets and with whom you had built a long-distance relationship. The same one who had never revealed too much about his real life.
Rhodri heard a fresh laugh from one of his teammates and looked at you again, losing what little patience he had left.
“Listen to me carefully. I don't know who you think you are, but I'm not interested in getting to know you. So don't you dare come near me or interfere in my business.”
Hal opened his mouth to intervene, but you were already standing in front of the captain, with all eyes on the two of you.
Rhodri clenched his jaw, surprised that you hadn't lowered your gaze.
“Do you have something to say to me, or do you only know how to stand there staring?”