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She says that to all of us, and I don’t know about my other siblings, but I tend to believe that I am her favorite. But as she looks up at me, I can see her damaged heart in her eyes. I wish that my dad had been man enough to do right by her, but his wrongs have taught me how I can and cannot treat a woman. His wrongs also taught me that love isn’t just given to you, it’s earned, and I’m going to earn Baylor’s love.
But like my momma said, I won’t be a doormat.
She knows what I want—the puck’s in her zone, there are thirty seconds left on the clock, and it’s her play to make.
I’m just hoping I’m the winning goal.
“I heard you and Mom talking.”
Looking from my bunk, I watch as Jace puts his clothes away, and for a second I think I heard him wrong. “What?”
“When you were talking to Mom about Baylor,” he says, looking back at me. “She’s right. Don’t be a doormat.”
My brows come together as I look at him, confused. I don’t like that he heard me talking to my mom about a private situation. “Didn’t plan on it.”
“I don’t know. I think she’s got you all kinds of fucked up, and you still feel bad for what you said about her mom not wanting her, and now, with yo
u beating her.”
Leaning my shoulder to the bar of my bed, I shrug. “Maybe so, but I’m not gonna beg her to be with me, if that’s what you’re worried about. I have my pride, Jace.”
He scoffs as he shakes his head. “I just think that maybe you should let it be, ya know? There are plenty of girls out there. The dance tryouts are coming up, and I bet you can bag one of those girls. You’re not ugly.”
Laughing, I say, “Well, thanks.”
He smirks as he shrugs. “I’m just saying that she’s not worth it, you know?”
I completely disagree, though.
Glaring at him, I ask, “Why does it matter to you?”
“Because you’re Mom with a dick, dude, and it kills me to watch her be sad over Dad,” he says softly. “I just can’t do you too. It’s hard enough watching Lucy and Mom be heartbroken. It makes me not even want to fool with being with anyone.”
“Don’t worry about me, Jace,” I say softly. “I know what I’m doing.”
“Does anyone know what they are doing when it comes to loving someone? I mean, really, look at Jude. Manwhore turned one-woman dude picking out curtains. Love is scary.”
“Yeah, it is,” I agree. “But believe me, I got a hold on this Baylor thing.”
“You don’t have a hold on anything. That chick is like a bear. She isn’t sure if she wants to cuddle or if she wants to rip your face off.”
Scoffing, I nod my head as I come off the bed to reach for my bag so I can put my clothes away. “While you are completely right, I got it.”
“I hope you’re right,” he says, and then he reaches for the beanie that’s on the dresser. I know at first glance it’s Jude’s, and I reach for it. “Hey!”
“Hey nothing, that’s Jude’s good luck beanie. He wore it the day we won the Cup last year. He left it for the next captain.”
“That’s not fair! I want it,” Jace complains, but I stick my tongue out at him.
“Don’t care,” I say back just as the door opens and Markus pops his head in.
“Yo, we’re going out, you guys down?”
“Where?” Jace asks as I pull the beanie down on my head. I already feel luckier. “And who’s going?”
“The Gilroy,” he says and then starts naming off names. When he says Baylor’s, I look up. I really didn’t feel like going anywhere, but I haven’t seen Baylor since she walked away from me earlier this morning.
“Baylor is going?” I ask, and he nods.
