“You were always good at pretending nothing happened.”
My blood runs cold and all color drains from my face as I turn towards her.
The woman standing in front of me is familiar. I haven’t looked up anything about hockey for years, yet I know her.
My voice breaks. “Nadia?”
“I knew you couldn’t forget.” Her smile widens showing her sharpened teeth like a bear ready to devour its prey.
My stomach drops.
“I saw the look on your face,” she continues, stepping closer. “Back then. When your dad?—”
“Stop,” I whisper forcefully through gritted teeth.
Her eyes flash.
“Tell your new boyfriend everything,” she says, her tone low and cutting. “Or I will.”
My heart slams. “Please don’t.”
“You don’t deserve to be happy when you don't have to pay the price.”
“I paid the same price as you,” I argue.
“You could have stopped it. You didn’t,” she bites back, then turns and slips out the door. And I’m left standing there, shaking.
When I walk back out, my senses are overloaded with sounds and lights. It’s too much.
“Anna?” Parker’s voice slices through the noise.
I don’t realize how bad I look until everyone’s staring at me.
“What happened?” Noelle asks, her voice full of warmth and concern.
“I’m fine.”
It’s a lie and Parker knows it.
“Let’s get you home,” he says, guiding me out. His hand steady on my back.
In the distance, I hear, “Feel better. Let’s do it again next week.”
I barely remember the drive. Or getting inside. Or sitting on the edge of his bed while he presses a glass of water into my hands. “Drink.”
I do. Because it’s easier than thinking.
My head is spinning like I’m drunk. I’m not.
Did I have a little buzz going on before seeing Nadia?
Yes, but once she spoke, I sobered.
Parker sits close beside me. Wrapping his heavy arm around my waist and pulling me flat against his side.
“You know,” he says gently, “if there’s more you want to tell me… I think I’ve proven you can trust me.”
My throat swells. I can hardly swallow.
