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She kicked me out. Rose couldn’t even look me in the eyes. Her mother had asked me to leave. Ren and Nash too. I wanted to beg her to let me stay, but I didn’t. The look of pain in her eyes kept me silent.
We haven’t seen or heard from her in two months. My father won’t answer a single question about her, and Terry just says not to worry.
“She’s safe, being cared for, and getting better. She needs space and time, Holden, don’t worry.”
How can I not?!
I skate off the ice and into the Sin Bin. I got a penalty. Again. Coach threatened to bench me for the rest of the season if I got another one.
We both know he won’t. Or he wouldn’t have if I showed any self-control. Which I don’t. Because in the next second, some fuck is smashing Nash into the glass. Before I know it, my gloves are off, and I’m on the ice. I’m not sure if I even tackled the right guy, but it doesn’t matter.
My knuckles bleed as my fists connect with bone.
“Number thirteen, you’re done! Get the fuck off the ice!” Someone screams as I’m dragged off the guy I beat bloody.
I move on autopilot, not even aware of my actions, until I’m back at the frat, and the phone in my hand rings.
Outgoing, not incoming. I dialed Rose again. It rings twice before going to voicemail. Fuck, where is she, and why won’t she fucking answer!
I’m losing my fucking mind.
Everything is crumbling around me, and I don’t know what to do…
CHAPTER FORTY FOUR
“harder to lie.” by elijah
NASH
Holden and Ren are wrecks…
I’m no better. Holden got banned for the rest of the fucking season, right before Championships.
Fuck!
I can’t reach Rose. My calls don’t go through. My messages and emails go ignored. Nissa and Sadie claim they don’t know where she is, but Nissa’s been Rose’s best friend since second grade. I considered stalking her.
The rational part of my brain convinced me that was a poor choice, though.
That didn’t stop me from begging Rob for information. He either knows nothing, or Nissa isn’t telling him shit.
Walking out after that shit show of a game, I’m stopped halfway to my car when I see a familiar face.
“Mom?” I pause, staring at her like she’s about to catch fire at any second.
“I came to watch you play,” she sighs, shaking her head. The game was only thirty minutes from her…she hasn’t watched me play since I was a kid, though. And that was only once.
“I don’t have time for this.” I push past her, not interested in her drama.
“When you weren’t fighting, I thought you played quite well,” she calls out, making me halt midstep. “What I mean is, you clearly take pride in your…game.” I spin, slowly, facing her as she cringes.
“What?” I ask, squinting at her. “Was that a compliment?” I give her a look that probably screams what the fuck? “Body snatchers? Aliens? Clone?” I ask, looking her up and down. She’s so out of place in her white pants suit. She’s surrounded by a sea of blue jerseys.
“Oh, Nashville. I… I’m trying,” she huffs, throwing her arms out.
“Right. You keep doing that.” I frown, shake my head, and then turn away from her. She’s done this before. Pushed me away until I broke, and then love bombing me like she’s the kind of mother who gives a shit. She doesn’t even try to stop me.
“Holden!” I hear a screeching voice shout as Amy walks through the crowd searching for my best friend. I’m too distracted by my mother's sudden appearance to warn the guy his crazy ex is lurking. She won’t find him. He’s long gone by this point.
