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For the first time since he summoned me into his office, the tension in my shoulders drains and the corners of my lips hitch.
“Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind.”
He nods. “You do that. Now get out of here.”
As I walk into the locker room, everything Coach said circles through my head. Ever since I was a kid and fell in love with hockey, it’s been my number one priority. What I’ve recently realized is that there’s more to life than school and the sport I love.
There’s Juliette.
Now that we’re finally together, the last thing I’m going to do is fuck it up.
But Coach is right.
All the other bullshit needs to go.
CHAPTER32
JULIETTE
Iyank open the door to the Union and rush through the entryway. Even with a winter jacket, scarf, and hat, I’m still chilled to the bone. The temperatures have dropped, and the wind is whipping through campus. The heat from the building isn’t nearly enough to warm me.
It’s a little before noon and the place is already packed with students looking to grab lunch before afternoon classes start up again. As I scan the tables, looking for Mom and Dad, I catch sight of Brooke and her boyfriend, Crosby. A smile lights up his face as he swallows up the distance between them and playfully nips at her neck. She squeals in response before shoving him away. Laughter simmers from both of them.
As soon as my gaze locks on Brooke’s, she lifts her arm in a wave. I return the greeting. Seeing them together makes my heart sigh. They’re so perfect for each other.
And to think…
It wasn’t all that long ago that she was dating his roommate, Andrew. Or, as I like to call him, Andrew the douche. At that point, she and Crosby couldn’t stand each other. Could barely tolerate being in the same room together. It just goes to show you how quickly everything can change.
I suppose Ryder and I are a perfect example of that. We’ve never really been friends and now…
Now I can’t imagine my life without him in it.
I refocus my attention on Brooke and her friends. The table is packed with football players and their girlfriends. Demi and Rowan, Sydney and Brayden, Sasha and Easton, Elle and Carson. And then there’s Asher Stevens.
There’s more than one girl vying for his attention.
I’ve known most of these guys since freshman year, and a good number of them have always been players. Now that they’ve found girlfriends, that’s all changed.
Well, except for Asher. Looks like he’s the last holdout.
I don’t realize I’m staring until our gazes catch. He gives me a chin lift along with a smirk. We had a few gen ed classes together sophomore year and have always been friendly.
Would I ever consider dating the guy?
No way in hell.
Plus, I don’t think he actually dates. He more or less likes to spread the love around, if you know what I mean.
I shoot him a smile and continue on my way before spotting Mom and Dad at a table off to the side near a large picture window. Even though Mav isn’t here yet, a handful of his teammates are crowded around Dad. Everyone knows who he is, and a few are even repped by his management agency.
Mom quickly rises to her feet and pulls me in for a warm embrace. She’s always been affectionate but is even more so after battling cancer. It’s like she wants everyone in her life to know just how much they mean to her and how loved they are.
For just a second, I squeeze my eyes tightly closed and sink into her warm embrace before unwrapping myself and giving my father a hug.
“Hey, pretty girl. How’s everything going?” Dad asks.
“Good. How about you?”
