Page 41 of Make You Beg

And those times on the roof—I felt like he saw me. The real me. The one who’s eager to be picked by someone. Not to be left behind, as all men in my life had done before.

Which is why, in retrospect, it doesn’t surprise me that he hasn’t asked for another meeting on the roof for over a month. This is how men in my life usually are—absent. What am I expecting from him, anyway?

That’s why seeing the puck here, in my friend’s hand, in my room, makes me spiral.

“Where did you find that?”

“It was here.” Kira points at my desk.

“Are you hooking up with a goalie or something?” Jasmin teases me.

I roll my eyes. “Shut up.”

Kira shakes her head in disbelief. “I feel like we’d know if she was seeing someone in our hockey team.”

“True.” Jasmin purses her lips. “Hold on. Is he in college?” she asks. “Or wait…Is he older?”

“Is he a coach?” Kira raises an eyebrow, playing along with Jasmin’s nonsense.

I scoff, flipping my hair to the back. “I’d never date a hockey coach.”

“Why not? They’re hot.”

Kira and I stare at Jasmin.

“Sometimes.” Jasmin bites her bottom lip. “In books.”

We let out a relieved breath and nod.

“We’ll let that one slide, because facts,” Kira says. “Okay, Maddy, details, please.”

My friends extend their attention to me.

The thing is, the puck wasn’t there. I know that.

Which can only mean one thing. Kayden came into my room and put it there for a reason.

My heart clutches at the realization he wants to talk.

I don’t know whether it’s on the roof or his room, but he wants to talk.

I snatch the puck off Kira’s hand. “I am not dating anyone, girls. Chill your vaginas.”

They both burst out laughing, and throw themselves on my bed.

“You could have just said no,” Kira says. “You’re still a virgin, aren’t you?”

“Still?” Jasmin asks.

I press both my hands to my hips. “We are only eighteen. No need to rush.”

Kira shrugs. She’s the serial dater of the group.

“She’s not completely wrong,” Jasmin says. “Maybe she’s waiting until we get to college next year. That’s when things are supposed to get wild anyway.”

“You bitches know I love to be ahead of everything,” Kira says. She’s also the overachiever among the three of us.

“That we do,” I say. “I’ll be right back, I think I left my favorite lipstick in one of the bathroom cabinets,” I lie. A white lie. They’ll never know. “Don’t go anywhere.”