Page 57 of Enemy Games

“I saw you guys won. Well done. Were there any scouts watching you?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t usually ask.” It got in my head too much.

“Well, Bob Wager’s boy heard from a few interested teams last week.”

I really didn’t care.

“Just keep your head straight and play like you have been and it will all work out.”

“I will.” I hated agreeing with him, but it was the easiest way to end calls quickly.

“I saw Michael Stone this morning at the club. He said his daughter is playing at West Penn now.”

My heart rate picked up. Where was this going? “She is.”

“That must be a blast from the past.”

He had no idea. “Yeah, it’s been good reconnecting.”

“Now, don’t let a pretty face distract you. Keep her in your memories where she belongs.”

What was that supposed to mean?

“What’s wrong with getting to know her again?”

“You’re just like your mother,” he said it like a curse. “You’re both so sentimental, but not me. I let things go. I move on. Focus on what comes next. That’s what you need to do. The most important things to you are in your future. The past doesn’t matter.”

No part of me doubted he believed every word he just said. He could be mean and ruthless and heartless because it didn’t matter in the long run, as long as he got where he wanted.

For so long I’d listened to him. I’d believed him. My future had been everything, and it hadn’t mattered what I’d done to get there.

Now, that thought made me sick. Where was the accountability? Where were the consequences? No person should live like that, thinking their actions don’t matter. They could do whatever it took to get what they wanted, and they never stopped to look back at the damage they caused.

We ended the call, and I did my best to forget it. Over the next several days, I fell into my routine of practicing, sleeping, training, and going to class, but one thing never left my mind.

Presley and the night of the party.

She’d put her arms around me. She’d held onto me long after it was necessary, and I hadn’t been able to find a reason to draw my arm away from her.

Being that close to her felt more natural than anything else I'd ever experienced. More natural than stepping onto the ice or holding my hockey stick.

There was something about her that drew me in. I just wasn't sure if those feelings were reciprocated, or if she had reached out for me …not exactly on accident, but without thinking. Had she really been aware that it was me she was touching?

She had to have known.

But then I had to wonder why. Why did she reach for me? Was it just because I was close? Because we already pretended we were together? Benjamin and Reid were right behind us. She could have just as easily grabbed one of them.

I didn’t feel worthy of being in that position. There was still so much I hadn't said to her. So much I needed to fix. After seeing how Sadie had treated her and TJ had spoken to her, something in me snapped. She was so strong. She didn’t let anyone push her around, and part of that was out of necessity of what I put her through.

I saw first-hand how she stood up for people. How she stood tall against those who wanted to put her down. I didn’t want to be a name on that list anymore.

I wanted to be someone she trusted. Someone she knew she could always reach for, and I would be there for her.

After that night, for the first time, I allowed myself to hope that maybe she didn't hate me as much as I thought she did. That there was a chance we could move forward. She might never forget what I did when we were kids, but maybe she could forgive me somehow.

Was there a chance we could have a relationship? Did I want that? Did she?

The fact I was even considering pursuing her for real had to mean something. I didn't know for sure what I wanted to do, and it was keeping me up at night.