This Winter

Chapter 9

"So what changed from two weeks ago?" Harmony asked as we sat in the stands while the boys ran up and down the field. 

"What do you mean?"

 "Two weeks ago I would've had to beg you to be here but now here you are on free will not only showing school spirit but wearing Devin's jersey. Interesting."

 "So what? Your wearing Josephs jersey."

"I'm also his fiancee so unless there's something you're not telling me.." She trailed off waiting for me to provide the information she needed.

"Devin and I are just friends."

"I call bullshit, there is no way you two are just friends." 

"Harmony, men, and women can be friends you know," I reminded her and she rolled her eyes. 

"Of course I know that but specifically this man and this woman can't be just friends. No way."

 "Devin and I are just friends right now," I repeated hated the sound of the words escaping my lips. 

"So are you going to sit here and tell me that you have absolutely no interest in Devin Mckell?" I opened my mouth to agree when harmony crossed her arms giving me the 'don't give me any bullshit' look. 

"Okay so maybe I like him a little." 

"I knew it!" Harmony cheered loudly earning glances from close by fans of the game happening. "Mind your business, damn." 

"Harmony I appreciate your worries but right now Devin is the least of my concern," I mumbled honestly. Ever since Emmanuel had re-entered my life it had become a lot more complicated. 

"Still trying to figure out whether or not you're going to visit Emmanuel's mom?" 

"Yeah, I mean she has cancer, the least I can do is visit her after everything she did for me. Hell, she's the reason I'm still in school." 

"So you're going to visit her?" Harmony asked and I shrugged. 

"If I do that means I have to go through Emmanuel to get any information about where she is and he'll just use that as an excuse to try and spend more time with me." 

"I don't even know why you dated him."

 "He was sweet." 

"He was a cocky asshole then and an even bigger one now." 

"The why didn't you stop me from dating him if you knew so much miss wise one?" I asked with a small laugh. 

"Oh I did but you were in love so I let you be and now look where we are; you are living with one of the sexiest athletes in our entire university." 

"Did I hear someone mention Devin Mckell?" Candy, who I had started to despise asked as she took a seat beside us. "He is too fine and you know the other day when you got hurt he was so checking me out."

"I bet," I mumbled rolling my eyes.

"You know what I heard?" Harmony interjected faking sincerity. "Girl I heard he's been talking to this girl and he's really feeling her."

"Your lying?"

"Nope and I heard she really cute too," Harmony said shooting me a wink.

"She can't be badder than me," Candy said flipping her hair over her shoulder. "I'm the woman of pleasure."

"I don't know girl, I saw them the other day and he looked like he was in love with ole girl."

"Oh hell no! Not my man. Thanks for the heads up," she said before rushing off the bleachers and off the field. Harmony and I burst into laughter before we finally calmed down.

"You were wrong for that."

"What? I thought the girl needed to know what she was up against."

"Devin is not in love with me."

"Not yet but give it time you two just met."

"Harmony.." I started but stopped when she raised her hand to silence me.

"Don't question it, girl, just go with it."

"Your wrong but think what you want," I replied before the ref blew his whistle signaling the end of the game. The guys had beat the other team by one touchdown and Devin and Joseph was celebrating with the rest of the team by breaking into dance. I shook my head at the sight in front of me before Harmony and I headed onto the field. 

"We might want to stay together since it's pretty crowded," I told Harmony before turning to face her just to realize she wasn't there. Great! 

"Leila!" Devin's voice called from my right side as he waved and I smiled and waved back before he started making his way closer to me.

"Leila!" Another voice called that I recognized as Emmanuel who was walked towards me from the opposite side as Devin. This wasn't going to end well. I stood nervously waiting for the both of them to reach me and the aftermath. Devin reached me first and pulled me into his embrace as he celebrated his victory.

"You know, I think you may just be my good luck charm."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because every time I looked at how sexy you looked in my jersey sitting in the stands, I scored a point for the team."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, so you know what that means?"

"What?"

"It means that I should keep you closer, with you around you never know what might just happen," he mumbled causing my heart to race. Oh my gosh. 

"Isn't this cute?" Emmanuel's pissed voice said and I mentally groaned. How could I have forgotten Emmanuel was walking over here too?

"Here to take your defeat like a man for once?" Devin asked wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

"You guys didn't win, I was distracted by the thoughts of Leila and that sexy body. Wassup Lei?" Emmanuel said with a smirk when he noticed Devin's grip on my get tighter.

"You know what--"

"Stop," I said cutting off Devin. "This is getting ridiculous. Emmanuel, there is nothing between us. Not ever. So let's just get this over with. I want to see your mom tomorrow around 3pm, make it happen," I finished dismissing him before turning to Devin and giving him a small kiss. "And as for you, I'll see you at home alright?"

"Sounds good," Devin said looking slightly shocked at my boldness but hell so was I. Walking away from the two I headed to my car knowing one thing for sure; It was time for me to throw caution to the wind and just enjoy life starting with Devin.