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“Of course, it does!” Paige exclaims. “You’re dating Corey. When are you going to give him the chance he deserves?”
“Don’t say that you know very well that I giv—”
“Stop it,” she cuts me off. “Scarlett, I love you. You are my best friend, but I think you need to open your eyes right now. You and Nolan, it’s impossible. That you were in love with him during middle school it’s cute, that you continue to be crazy about him the first year of college, it’s okay. Today? This is a big deal. For you, for your life. You are closing yourself off from others.”
“I’m dating Corey!”
“Because I challenged you to talk to a guy at this party. Otherwise, you would never have done it!”
“How do you know?” I snap.
Paige sighs, resting her head in her hand, her eyes glued to the miles that pass by.
“I like Corey,” I say calmly. “Okay, I know that Nolan takes an important place in my life, but I’m notclosingmyself off. You don’t teach me anything when you tell me that the story is doomed, but please… I just want you to be on my side. Without judgement.”
“We’re worried.”
I look at Carol in the rearview mirror.
“I know.”
“I’m sorry,” Paige whispers. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, it’s just…”
They worry.
“I know,” I say simply. “I just need time to get my bearings. I promise you everything will be fine.”
Then, after several minutes in dead silence, we finally relax. The miles go by, and the tension built up by the slippery subjectNolan Jonesdisappears in favor of a pre-game euphoria.
***
“We’ll meet in the bleachers,” I blurt out as I got out of the car. “The guys have reserved the usual places for us.”
The girls nod and we separate. I drove pretty fast, and we have seven minutes to spare. The players are supposed to arrive on the ice five minutes before face-off, so I start running towards what I imagine is the entrance to the locker room. A security guard straightens up when he sees me arriving at a whirlwind and stops me in my tracks.
“I’m with the Boston Terriers, I have to see—”
“Scarlett Martin?”
“Yes!” I exclaim, out of breath.
He shifts and shows me a hallway with a limp hand.
“Second on the left.”
I thank him by starting to run towards the indicated place and knock before storming in. The room seems empty to me, and as I look over, I notice a silhouette wrapped in a bright red jersey sitting down. His face straightens when he hears me coming and a wild smile greets me.
“You’re here!”
Stay unmoved.
“Here.”
He rushes over to me and grabs the box I hand him, and he pulls out his mouthguard.
“You are a lifesaver. Thank you!”
The announcer’s voice rumbles through the crowd and I step back to clear the way for Nolan to join his team. He doesn’t look the least bit uncomfortable about having his feet stuck in skates. With the extra height he stands a well-built six-foot-five, towering over me. His broad shoulders are hidden under thick padding and stiff protections.
