“Did you watch?” The words barrel out.
Her fingers wrap around her ponytail, playing with it as she responds, “When I could. Mostly on the screen.”
“Great,” I say, as I shift the weight from my left to my right foot. I should go. I’m way too pissed off at the world right now to converse.
I can’t believe my dad showed up tonight with his usual bullshit, screwing up my postgame high.
I take two steps forward, passing her, but then stop in my tracks. I turn to face her. “Does it ever feel like, whatever you do, you won’t be good enough for some people?”
She blinks twice. “Yes. Every day.”
“Really?” I take a step closer to her, and she does the same.
“Yeah. You can do everything perfectly, and it’s never enough.”
“Yeah,” I say, my throat feeling tighter. “Exactly.”
“But you’re Dallas Dawes. I can’t imagine that someone wouldn’t be impressed with you.”
A snort comes out. “You’d be surprised.” I pause, not sure if I should continue. “Uh, my dad.” I pause again, but she just stares at me, waiting for me. “He’s not happy that I play for Bristol Bay.”
“Really?” Her words sound genuinely surprised. “Bristol Bay is a great school, and their hockey team is one of the best.”
“But not the best.”
“Ah,” she says with a small nod.
“He wants me to transfer to Chestnut Hill University.”
“Near Boston? But that’s, like, thirty minutes from the ocean!” she protests.
A chuckle pops out at her indignation. “I know, right? I can’t just walk down to the beach whenever I want.”
“Not many colleges can say that.” A smirk fills her lips and the corners of mine tip up as well.
“Very true.”
That smile remains on my face, feeling much lighter than I did ten minutes prior. I’m comfortable and happy around Ella, I realize. I’m begging to breathe the same air as her and take up the same space.
BBUGirl flashes in my mind, and I automatically take a step back.
Shit.
I can’t be hung up on two girls at once.
And this is only the second time Ella and I have conversed.
I’ve spoken with BBUGirl for months, every single day. The night on the beach still haunts my dreams, and I’m still searching for her.
Aren’t I?
I take another step back away from her and move towards my car.
“It was great to see you tonight, Ella. See you around.”
My hand grips the strap of my bag, and I stride over to my car and hop in quickly.
Once alone in the dark quietness, I lay my head on the steering wheel before starting it up.
