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“That means you’re going to have a lot of parties at your house. And what do parties have?”
“Sleepless nights?” I try.
“Guys!” Paige exclaims. “Parties always have guys all over the place.”
“And Harriet,” I mumble.
The girls roll their eyes, and I forced a laugh.
OK, I have to stop thinking, talking, breathing Nolan.
“New rule,” says my best friend. “Since you have decided to have some at your place, we’re also going to throw some.”
She cuts me off before I even protest and I frown, resigned.
“You have to talk to a guy at the party who isn’t your brother, Leo, or any guy from the hockey team. Deal?”
I sigh, aware that for Paige, talking isn’t just exchanging a couple of words. No, knowing her, she’ll even change the rule along the way so that I have to leave with thenumberof the guy in question.
She did this to me in France. I woke up one morning with ten messages from strangers. At the time, it made me laugh.
And then if it makesme thinkabout somethingother than Nolan and his girlfriend, let’s go!
“Deal!”
5
Scarlett
I keep my eyes on the hockey puck violently sent back against the Boston Terriers’ sticks, who have been relentless on their opponents since they stepped on the ice. It would have been a waste to miss this game out of pride. Not wanting to come and watch the guys’ first game of the year, just because one of them, who just got out from the sin bin, is hurting my heart without even realizing it? If I wanted him to stop, I would know very well what to do: confess my feelings to him. Knowing him, he would immediately stop talking to me, distance himself just to be sure not to hurt me. Except that the prospect of him disappearing from my life is even more painful than the prospect of him being part of it without ever being mine.
I love ice hockey. Not coming anymore would be ridiculous. Especially since I would miss a huge opportunity: that of seeinghimget smashed by the other players. Hockey is a violent sport. Edgar has come home countless times with bruises the size of my fist plastered on his white skin. The idea of knowing that tonight Nolan will have a sore body gives me a certain satisfaction. A sort of karmic payback feeling, for all the times this week that he has hurt me with his words and his action.
I start screaming along with the crowd, as the puck crashes into the net, putting Boston up by one. The bell announcing the end of the game rings outs almost simultaneously, and we all start screaming the name of the player who has just given us the victory.
Martin.
Hands pressed against the Plexiglas that surrounds the rink, a proud smile on my face, I watch the team rush with joy on my brother before he skates up to me. He bumps his fist into mine through the glass and gives me a quick wink before joining theother players near the exit doors.
“Damn! It was a crazy game!”
Carol puts her palms on my shoulders and shakes me like a rag doll, excited as well. I burst out laughing as I pushed her away.
“And it’s going to be a crazy night,” adds Paige, clapping her hands. “This back-to-school week couldn’t have endedbetter!”
We start to follow the crowd, emerging from the crowded stands to reach the exit of the covered stadium.
“Do you need a ride, Scar, or are you waiting on the guys?”
“No, I’m going to get Edgar’s keys. He’ll probably want me to pick up some booze for tonight.”
“Do you want us to come with you?” offers my best friend.
“It will allow us to also take some things to drink.”
“OK, wait for me at the car. I’ll be right back!”
I give them a quick wave and walk towards the locker room. The security guard, sitting behind a desk, smiles at me as I enter. Having seen me waiting for my brother outside the locker room last year, he doesn’t even ask me for my student ID anymore and just gives me a polite nod. I walk along the empty hallways, attracted by the sounds that echo from the last door on the left. The Boston Terriers’ den where they are celebrating their first win of the year, probably all half naked.
