Chapter 29

**Royal**

I looked at my watch. It was a quarter after three. He was five minutes late. I knew it was still kind of early to be upset, but Zander was never late. Saint said something about him having to take Winter home, but that shouldn’t have taken him so long. It shouldn’t have at least. Unless. No nothing could have happened with Winter. We had agreed to let her little stunt go. It was small and she didn’t get far. Saint also assured us he had already done what needed to be done. He didn’t go into detail, but I trust he did what he needed to to make sure she didn’t get brave again. She needed to learn where her place was here. She needed to know we weren’t the type to take this lightly.

“You still waiting for Zander?” Saint asked me when he walked up to me. Another five minutes had passed and still nothing. Saint had his gym bag in his hands. He must have been heading to practice. I needed to get to my own practice. It took me a bit longer to get my ice skates on and I hated to be late. You didn’t get to be the best player by being late. I rarely even missed a practice. I had to be deathly ill to miss a practice. When I sprained my wrist in a fight on the ice, I still made it to my practices. I didn’t want to miss a thing.

I nodded. “Yeah, I don’t know where he is.”

“Did you text him? He was supposed to run Winter home. Something might have happened to his car.”

“Maybe,” I said pulling out my phone. I was just about to text him when Zander pull up in his car. He parked right nearby where Saint and I were standing.

“Where have you been?” I asked when I saw him get out of the car.

He smoothed down his messy brown hair as he walked up to me. His hair was a little more messy than normal. Did he stop and see Amber on the way here? I was still kind of ticked. He could have told me he was going to see her. I wouldn’t have minded as much if I had known that was who he was going to see.

“Where have you been? I asked as I walked up to him.

He shook his head as he grabbed his bag out of the trunk of his car. “I told you, I had to take Winter home before I could come here. It took a little longer than I thought it would.”

“What in the hell takes so long to simply drop her off?” I asked raising an eyebrow. It wasn’t like him to be like this. Something was for sure up with that.

“She didn’t want to come. She wanted to wait for her mother, but I had to tell her she wasn’t going to come. It took some convincing for her to come with me.” he shrugged. He was acting like nothing was wrong. I wanted to throat-punch him in the face. He knew we were supposed to meet up. The least he could have done was text me. I knew Winter coming back was going to end badly. I really knew it. She always created problems. This time she was actually trying to create the problems too.

“You should have told me. I wouldn’t have waited for you. I have a practice to get to.” I told him crossing my arms.

“Well, I am here now. What did you need to talk about so badly? You didn’t even have to wait for me. It most likely could have waited.”

He wasn’t getting the point. That wasn’t the point at all. It could have waited of course. That wasn’t what I was getting at. What I was getting at was is he doing exactly what he used to do. He is falling in her trap, but this time this trap is going to hurt him even worse this time around. If Amber knew. Who knew what could happen. I know Hailey would be after my ass and Winter’s if she knew what happened in the alleyway, but that was one mistake I wouldn’t make again.

“It could have waited sure, but that isn’t what I am getting at.”

His eyes narrowed at me. “If this is about Winter, it was nothing more than me dropping her off.” He crossed his arms. I couldn’t tell if he was lying or not. I wanted to believe he would tell me the truth. It wasn’t like there would be a jealousy issue…maybe a little. Why does he always get to have her? Is it because I won’t indulge in her? Is it because I think too much instead of just letting her take from me? I could have her more if I was like Zander and just let my feelings be swept away like nothing. I could. I knew it was wrong though. I knew I had to fight to keep my place in this world. It could all slip through my fingers. Someone like Winter could destory me.

“Why don’t I believe you?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I don’t know. Ask yourself that question. I told you there was nothing between us and there isn’t. That should be enough.”

I shook my head. “You are really going to deflect this aren’t you? You are going to act like nothing happened when we both know that is far from the truth.”

“There is nothing to tell you so why wouldn’t I?” he simply shrugged. He was going to become a pain. “Now what do you have to tell me. I am going to be late for practice. You know how couch is.”

“Forget it,” I said as I pushed passed him walking into the locker rooms. I couldn’t stand to look at him anymore. What kind of friend lies to another friends face?