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Our eyes meet and I have the feeling that a chemistry is brewing. Small but palpable. He moves his hand to my ankle, and I shiver. I don’t know if he realizes his actions, if he knows the effect it has on my body. His thumb teases my sensitive skin, and when I watch his profile turn again on the TV screen, the reality check is brutal.
He didn’t pick up on my excitement.
12
Scarlett
“Tell me you’re not already on the road!”
Nolan’s panicked voice echoes through the Bluetooth speakers in Edgar’s car. I ignore the little crackle in my chest and keep my eyes focused on the direction the GPS was pointing to before my phone rang.
“Just get in! Why?”
“Damn it,” I hear him mumble on the other end of the line. “I forgot my mouthguard. I took it out of my bag on Friday to clean it, but I haven’t put it back in and I’m about to play a game without it and risk having my teeth knocked out by the guys from Durham. No one brought a backup.”
He’s ranting, and I imagine him going around in circles in the locker room. They left earlier than us for New Hampshire, with the team bus. Durham University made part of the rink available to them an hour and a half before the game, and when I glance at the digital clock in the car, I see that we risk missing the puck drop.
“Harriet can’t come over to the apartment?”
My voice stops imperceptibly at the mention of his girlfriend’s name, and I try to pretend I don’t see the girls watching me.
“She won’t be there; she has a homework due tomorrow. Never mind, I’ll do without. Sorry, Scar, for disturbing you while driving. Be careful on the road.”
I finally glance at the girls and they immediately understand my silent question. I take the first exit, a little too quickly for their taste because they cling to the handles above the windows.
“It’s okay, Nolan, I’ll take care of it.”
“Really? Damn it, Scar, I love you! Thank you.”
He hangs up and the GPS reappears. My heart, on the otherhand, has just lurched into my socks.
Scar, I love you.
It was spontaneous, natural, and it gave me a hell of a kick. My fingers are tight on the steering wheel, I drive fast, arriving home in less than ten minutes. I get out in a hurry, leaving the girls in the car to go up to the apartment. I storm into Nolan’s room, going straight to where I know he leaves his gym stuff. He has always put them in a specific place in his room, at his parents’ first, then in their old apartment, and I can easily find spare jerseys and clothes. His mouthguard is next to the pile. I open the box, verify it’s in there, and run back to the car. I find the girls right where I left them with the engine still running.
“Are we going to talk about it?” Paige tries as we finally get to the freeway.
The GPS indicates that we’ll be at our destination by 8:50 p.m.
Late.
I press on the accelerator. The girls tense up.
“There’s nothing to say.”
“No,” Carol adds. “It’s true that he doesn’t make you dowhat he wants.”
“That you don’t let him do whathe wants with you,” continues Paige, on my right.
“And he didn’t tell you he loved you like you were the most precious thing,” says Carol
“Does he even realize that he’shurtingyou?”
“When are you going to tell him that it’s not possible to stay in this situation, Scarlett?” Carol finally asks me. “He’s got a fucking hold on you and I’m sure Corey won’t last more than a month.”
“Leave Corey out of this. It has nothing to do with him.”
I have my foot almost to the floor and I pass several cars, paying attention to the time indicated on the screen of my cellphone. I’ve gained three minutes. At this rate, we will be a little ahead.
