Page 55 of Breakaway Hearts

There’s a cluster of picnic tables by the arena. I’ve been working there while Jay’s at practice, so we can get dinner on the way, and because he worries when I walk home alone after dark, but he’s been coming out progressively later compared to the other players. It could mean nothing, because goalies are known to be slow coming out, but I know it’s because he’s making friends. Talking to them. And I’m trying to be happy for him. But mostly I hate it.

“You coming to the house? I’ve gone to at least one new ‘hot spot’ every weekend, and as much as I hate that it means tailing my brother, so far Ivy is by far the best. Food, music, drinks…I can hear the person I’m talking to without screaming…and every guy is either an athlete or putting in the effort to compensate for not being one. It’s a buyer’s market.” She winks, clearly teasing, but that probably would have been enticing before Trevor broke me.

“I’ve got a ton of work to catch up on.”

“Mad,” Owen says with a bright smile when he sees me, like I just made his day.

It’s infuriating.

I sigh. “Good game.” I sound about as sincere as I did when our right winger moved to the other side of town, had to switch teams, and beat us in the championships.

“Appreciate that, but it was a team effort.” He winks. “This guy was the real hero.” He grabs Jay by the shoulders.

“Told you,” I agree.

“I was just telling Hargraves we’re having a party at Ivy. You’re both invited.”

Jay looks to me and probably sees that I would rather be locked in a box with snakes than a house with hockey players.

“And I told him I’ve got an exam to study for,” Jay assures me.

“That’s what Sundays are for,” Owen argues.

“You can go if—” I start, but Jay shakes his head.

“I prefer to spend mine not hungover,” he teases.

“Mad?” Owen turns to me.

For a second time, Jay raises his eyebrows at the new nickname, but says nothing.

“She also says she has work.” Tab rolls her eyes before giving me a smile. For a brief moment, she looks between me and Jay, as if trying to figure out if there’s something there…and why we’d hide it if there was, before she dismisses it.

“Bummer.” Owen sighs before leaning close. “You know you’re always invited, even without an escort?”

“I’ll take that into consideration,” I assure him.

I’m relieved as Jay and I walk home together, with him rehashing the shots that almost went in, but I think a part of him wishes he was doing this with the guys…or adoring fans at a hockey party.

“What are you doing?” I ask Jay when I come out of the bathroom on Sunday afternoon and find him pouring Cinnamon Toast Crunch into a large mixing bowl. My Lucky Charms are beside a much smaller cereal bowl.

“It’s my cheat day,” he defends himself through a full mouth of what looks like peanut butter.

“Shouldn’t you be at the hockey house?” I rephrase, but he looks at me like I’m insane. “Team Dinner?”

“Not going.” He struggles to swallow.

“It says mandatory.” I pull out my phone to show him. I’m usually the one who regrets our shared calendar.

“It’s a fake mandatory. Guys can miss it for school projects or dates…Coach won’t even be there,” he dismisses my concern. “I was thinking we catch up on our shows, then popcorn and a movie?”

That sounds amazing. If this was any other night, I’d grab the Lucky Charms and join him, but team chemistry is important, and theirs is suffering. Maine scored this afternoon off a rebound from one of the Wolves, which shouldn’t happen.

“I have that research paper,” I remind him. Because I do. But I was also almost late for the game earlier because ‘just a few things to look up’ takes a lot longer when the last person to use the reference book spilled coffee on it and they’re not getting a replacement for at least a week. “I was going to finish it at the law library, since you’d be gone anyway.”

“You’re going out?”

“I showered,” I motion to the towel holding up my hair.