Delicate Us

Chapter 6

Syler

Syler plodded through security, still kicking herself over impulsively telling Trace to stop kissing her, fueled by embarrassment from making the first move—from him not knowing how authentic it was with the contract hanging over her head. Now she was showing up to his game with this pit feeling that he didn't want her there. She had rejected him. She could see a twinge of hurt in his eyes when he had pulled away.

Security led her to the luxury box where she could watch the game separated from the general public. Upon entering, her eyes scanned the small gathering of people she didn't recognize. She stepped down the few stairs and took a seat at the front window, looking down at the field where she'd see Trace playing soon. The butterflies in her stomach were electrified as their wings fluttered in all the corners of her body.

In her peripherals, a person, a bit shorter than Syler, slowly scooted herself into view. The woman faced her, raven-colored hair shining in straight lines over her shoulders and long, dark lashes hovering over her green eyes, the bright pigment reminding her of Trace's. The woman's plump, ruby lips parted as the corners began tipping upward.

"Syler Trixie." It was a statement as the woman opened her mouth and squealed. "I'm your biggest fan. Hi!" She reached out a hand for a shake.

Syler smiled at the adoration plastered on the woman's face. "You're so sweet. Thank you for saying that!" A smile widened on her own face like the woman's energy was infection. Instead of shaking the woman's hand, Syler opened her arms and brought the fan in for a hug.

The woman pulled away from the hug and uttered, "I'm Trace's sister, Lucy."

That pit in her stomach suddenly became heavier. Trace's sister. She was meeting his family. "Oh! Hi!"

Lucy leaned in, adjusting her red Breaker's jersey at the hem. "Just so you know, I know about the contract," she whispered.

A rolling began in Syler's stomach, alarm bells blaring. The contract clearly stated no one except the parties involved shall know about the contract. And Syler tended to be stickler for abiding by the rules, especially with the consequences of a breach being so high. But the breach in the contract didn't seem to have the impact that she thought it would have. Trace told his sister about her. It meant he was thinking about her. She was important enough to share, and that felt like it mattered more. In the past, she hadn't felt that way—that safe to anyone else.

"But don't worry. My lips are sealed."

Syler realized she had an ally and that soothed the ache in her belly. "Thanks."

Lucy giggled with that same magical sparkle glittering in her eyes that she loved about Trace. "I know every song of yours. Thank you so much for the music."

She grinned, and wrapped an arm around Lucy again. "Thank you. That means the world to me."

Lucy nodded her head to the right of Syler. "Come, come, meet our mom, Barbara."

The loudness of the alarms blaring in her mind struck Syler with a warning that meeting his sister and his mother meant she was suddenly too deep. That meant it'd be more difficult to untangle herself from her feelings about Trace beyond the contract. It was as if meeting his mother was a contract of its own. Keep Trace's heart safe.

Lucy grabbed Syler's arm and tugged her to the right of the front row where a sweet woman with graying blonde hair sat overlooking the football stadium, green eyes scanning the crowds forming below. A red jacket in support of her son was covered in Trace's name and his jersey number 13, and she wore a matching hat with metal pins of his team. She was completely decked-out and showing her support, while she hadn't thought that far ahead. Syler only had on a black tank-top and white pants that now she realized aligned more with Trace's opposing team.