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“Oh?” She chuckled, her brow arching with mild amusement. “I’m right, though, aren’t I? There’s something.”
“Yeah,” I whispered, feeling a stab of shame, “there’s something.”
“Well, when you’re ready to talk about it, call me.”
“Just like that?” I asked, dumbfounded. “You barely know me.”
“I know Ella vouches for you. That’s good enough for me.”
“Why?”
“Because college can be a scary place. Especially for people like us.”
People like us.
She made it sound so easy.
“Listen, I know we don’t know each other very well, but take it from someone who knows a thing or two about what it’s like to fight your own mind day in and day out. Whatever your something is, it doesn’t define you, Aurora. It might be a real fucking pain in the ass sometimes, but it doesn’t define you. Think about it.” She smiled, turning to go back into the bar, but I called after her.
“Jordan, wait.”
“Yeah?” She glanced back at me.
“Thank you.”
“Anytime.”
I watched her go, feeling oddly hopeful. Things with Austin were strained to say the least, and I still had Mom to deal with. But I’d made friends. I’d stepped out of my comfort zone and pushed myself to get out there and meet people.
Even if things with Noah fizzled out once the hockey season got underway, I was confident I could make life at Lakeshore U work. Because Jordan was right, my past—my problems—didn’t define me.
I just had to believe it.
“And then this one had a total bi-awakening, and the rest, as they say, is history.”
“I don’t remember it quite happening that way. But I won’t steal your thunder.” Noelle grinned at Jordan, the two of them lost in their own little world. “What about you, Aurora?” She turned her attention to me.
“One ex, and no, I don’t want to talk about him.”
“That bad, huh?”
“It wasn’t good.” I reached for my glass, draining the contents.
We’d moved to a more relaxed seating area a while ago, and the drinks were flowing.
A little too easily.
I didn’t make a habit of drinking a lot, but I felt surprisingly at ease in their company. It also helped that there wasn’t a puck bunny in sight.
“I like it here,” I said. “It has a nice vibe.”
“Yeah, we come here when we want to avoid the regular crowd,” Ella said, shooting Jordan a knowing glance.
“And be graced with my presence, you mean.” Jordan smirked.
“Jordan doesn’t frequent The Penalty Box anymore.”
“Go on, El, tell her why.”
