Page 46 of Enemy Games

“Four.” So we had two hours to get something to eat.

“Well, your dad has to go back to the office, but I was thinking we could grab something, and I could drop you off. Chris, can you come with us?” Mom asked.

Chris took a step back. “I’ve actually got some homework I need to finish and submit before the game, so I can’t, but I appreciate the offer.”

I waved to her as she headed inside then waited for Dad to come back. He was all grins until we were in the privacy of the car.

“He’s grown up to be such a nice young man. He had very nice things to say about you and how well you were playing.” Dad looked at me through the rearview mirror.

“How kind,” Mom said, and I caught the corner of her lip lifting. What was it with men and short memories? Dad had known about all the mean things Shaw said and did when we were young. He even called him out for it a few times.

But now he’s a nice young man?

“I’m sorry I can’t join you ladies for lunch. I’ve got a meeting with a client I can’t miss.”

“It’s okay, Dad. I understand. We can get dinner after the game.”

He shot me another look. “Aren’t you meeting up with your friends?”

“Maybe tomorrow,” I lied. Michelle was the only one I was interested in seeing, and I automatically included her in dinner.

“Sounds good, then. I’ll make reservations somewhere near campus.”

He dropped Mom and me off at home so we could get her SUV. The second we were alone, she turned to me. “So are you going to tell me what really happened?”

Of course, she could tell there was more to the story. She was my best friend and confidant. I hadn’t caught her up on the drama with him because I knew I was coming home. Plus, I was still trying to sort things out for myself. I didn’t know how I felt about everything that happened and where things stood.

We went to our favorite cafe and soon sat with sandwiches between us.

“So, how did it really go, running into Shaw? Hunter?” she corrected.

My hands hovered as I was about to take a bite but set the turkey sandwich down. “He didn’t recognize me. We met a few times and even studied together without him remembering me at all. It wasn’t until he took me to the hospital to get my wrist checked out that I told him.”

She covered her mouth with a napkin while she laughed. “Why did you wait so long?”

I shrugged. “I kind of wanted him to remember. To feel guilty or something, anything, about what he did, but he barely remembered the things he did or said back then. He didn’t even remember me being friends with some of the girls he dated in high school. It really bothered me that someone that had such a negative impact on my life could simply forget that I existed. It doesn’t make sense.”

She nodded and swallowed. “I understand that. His words really affected you back then. You had to overcome his teasing and make the decision not to give up hockey just because it was uncommon for girls. That’s a huge deal. A boy teasing a girl to get the approval of the kids his age? That wasn’t as monumental to him. He was just trying to fit in.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You’re defending him?”

“Not necessarily. I’m just pointing out the differences.”

I understood. It was hard for me back then, but now I was making it hard for him.

“But now that’s it all out in the open, can you move on?”

I considered that while I finished eating. There wasn’t a simple answer. Did I want to? Because right now, I wasn’t letting go. I wasn’t forgetting.

Right now, there was no way for us to move forward. Reminding him of all of the bad choices he made in his youth wasn’t the best way to form a friendship. Not that I was sure that was what I even wanted.

Or had I already got what I wanted? For him to acknowledge what he did, even if he didn’t remember until I jogged his memories.

And now he was avoiding me. Or giving me my space. Not that I could blame him.

I was a walking, talking representation of his mistakes. If I were him, I’d avoid me too.

It was easy to hold onto a grudge. It was just unfortunate for me that he didn’t seem to be that person anymore.