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I glance toward the couch, where Mason has finally looked up from his phone.
“Uh, I guess so. I’m Rylan. Nice to meet you.”
Rather than respond, he stands and walks this way. His eyes are focused on my legs, which makes me glad I still have my winter coat on. “I’m Mason.”
“Nice to meet you, Mason.”
He walks over to the fridge and pulls another can of beer out. “How ya liking Holt?”
“Good, thanks.”
“Heard your dad coaches the hockey team.”
Only a matter of time, I guess, until that became common knowledge.
I nod. “Yeah, he does.”
“Does that mean you have a thing for hockey guys, like the rest of the girls at this school?”
My stomach roils unpleasantly when he winks.
Chloe makes a face, possibly taking the question as a personal insult. Dakota snorts, still focused on her nails.
“It means my dad coaches the hockey team,” I say cooly.
I’m liking Mason less by the second. At least he takes the hint and heads back to the couch with his fresh beer.
“Gonna go study,” I tell Chloe.
She nods, then tilts her head toward the couch and mouthsIgnore him.
I nod back, then head down the hallway to my bedroom. Change into comfier, warmer clothes before settling at my desk to get some work done.
Instead of starting on any of my assignments, I unlock my phone.
Stare at Aidan’s latest message, in what’s become a familiar routine.
He hasn’t texted since, and I don’t know what that means. Has he already lost interest? Is he annoyed at me for not replying? Is this a game to him?
I shut my phone off and open a textbook, focusing on this week’s problem set. Abstract Algebra seems less complicated than thinking about Aidan Phillips.
CHAPTER TWENTY
AIDAN
The pain intensifies as soon as I move my arm.
I hiss, shifting so that the ice pack is back in place before attempting to text her again.
AIDAN: Can’t make tutoring tonight.
AIDAN: Sorry.
AIDAN: LMK about rescheduling.
The last message I sent Rylan wasThey’re not you.
A text she never replied to, so I try to strike a more detached tone this time around rather than that of a desperate dog begging for a pat.
