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I arch a brow. “You think I shouldn’t?”
He presses his lips together before jerking his shoulders. “I don’t know, man. It kind of seems like you’re just as mopey as she is. So, if neither of you want to be apart, then maybe you should be together.”
Even though he makes a fair point, I need time to think it through. As much as I want Juliette in my life, I need to do what’s best for her.
Am I what’s best?
That would be the million-dollar question.
CHAPTER36
JULIETTE
Nerves dance at the bottom of my belly as Carina and I walk up the concrete stairs to where both my parents and Ryder’s are camped out in the bleachers. We stopped at the concession stand on the way in. So, my roomie is set for the game with a box of popcorn and a drink.
I hug my parents and then greet Sadie and Cal. I’ve known them for as long as I can remember and they’re like second parents to me. I love how close our families have grown throughout the years. When Mom was sick, Sadie cooked meals for us and brought over a diffuser to use with essential oils that were supposed to help with nausea and pain.
As soon as Carina and I settle on our seats, she immediately digs into the popcorn before holding out the box. I shake my head as my knee bounces a steady tempo. The game hasn’t even gotten underway, and I already feel sick to my stomach. The buttery saltiness will probably make me throw up all over the place.
After a couple of minutes tick by, she leans closer. “Are you certain about going through with this?”
Hell, no.
At the moment, I’m not sure about anything. I could end up making a huge ass out of myself in front of an arena full of fans. And you know damn well that people will whip out their cell phones to video the entire thing.
With my luck, it’ll go viral.
That thought makes me nauseous.
For all I know, Ryder has moved on.
Or worse, I really hurt him, and what I say won’t mean a damn thing.
I’ll have single-handedly thrown away the best relationship I’ve ever found.
Or will find.
The fear that grips me is almost paralyzing. Thick emotion clogs my throat as the Western Wildcats take to the ice, circling their half for warmups. As soon as Ryder skates past our seats, my gaze latches onto him. He’s the only thing I’m cognizant of.
I’ve missed him so much that my heart aches.
My gaze licks over him greedily as he skates by. It feels more like weeks or months rather than days since I last laid eyes on him. It doesn’t make sense that I’ve known him my entire life and we barely had anything to do with each other, and in the span of a few short weeks, he’s become my everything.
“Are you all right?” Carina asks softly.
I rip my gaze away from Ryder long enough to meet her concerned eyes before they bounce back to him. Not once has he glanced in this direction, and I know that has everything to do with the fact that I’m sitting here. He understands that no matter what happened between us, there’s no way I’d miss Maverick’s game.
“I think so.”
“When were you planning on doing it?”
I jerk my shoulders and gnaw my lower lip. “I’m not sure. When the time feels right, I guess.” That thought has a horde of angry butterflies winging their way to life inside the confines of my belly. Any moment, they’ll escape.
“Do your parents have any idea what you’re up to?”
I shake my head.
“Well, this should definitely be interesting,” she says, tossing another piece of popcorn into her mouth.
