AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You shouldn’t be on the ice,” Knox says, redirecting my attention. “And confronting her like this?”
I shrug. “You get to hit people on the ice. I missed it.”
His expression flickers. Sadness enters his eyes, and he pulls me into him. He wraps me up in a hug, kissing my temple. “I know. Now let’s make this a bit more civilized, hmm?”
I scoff. “Good luck with that.”
Still, I’m curious what he means. I collect the stick and puck and meet Knox at the doorway. We go to the locker room, where Greyson, Steele, and Miles all stand around. Beth is sitting on one of the far benches, a wad of paper towels held to her mouth.
“Where’s Jacob?”
“Running an errand,” Miles answers. “That was a good punch, by the way.”
I beam. “Thanks. Learned from the best.”
“Me,” Knox interjects. “When we were kids. Because I was the one getting into fights on the ice, not Miles.”
“Because no one touches a goalie.” Miles rolls his eyes. “Well, until I get dragged into a fight.”
“Like you don’t enjoy it,” Steele mutters.
“Okay, let’s focus.” Greyson frowns. “Aurora, you have more to say to this one?”
I like that he doesn’t name her. Because as of right this moment, she’s never going to have a name in my head again.
I throw back my shoulders and walk to her. She has the good sense to cower, because I’m tempted to punch her again just to break her nose.
“Tell us everything.” I sit across from her. “And maybe you can salvage the rest of your face.”
Knox snickers.
She glares at him, then focuses on me. Her eyes are bloodshot and tear-filled, and when she lowers the paper towels, her split lip is revealed. Her teeth are stained pink from blood.
“I’m sorry, Aurora. My jealousy got the better of me. And then, it seemed to do more harm than good?—”
“No shit.” I undo my laces while I listen, replacing them with my street shoes.
“I was coming by your house to drop off homework. You were out because of those doctors’ appointments, remember? And then I saw through the window you were hugging Miles, and he put his shirt back on. He came out, and I—” She sucks in a breath. “I asked you about it. About Miles. You said you were just friends, but then you smiled.”
“You decided to ruin my life because Ismiled?”
“He was shirtless in your living room, hugging you! What was I supposed to think? Knox was coming back for winter break, and I just figured you had moved on in the months he was away?—”
“Asshole,” Knox whispers to Miles.
“Shut up,” Miles returns. “I spilled pasta sauce on my t-shirt and took it off to put my hoodie on instead.”
“Because you regularly dined with the McGoverns?” She-who-shall-not-be-named asks, her voice cutting.
“I did when Knox was away. Because Aurora was lonely.”
“Okay.” I clap my hands to get their attention. “Right. So. You saw something. And then you held on to it until the end of break to say something? Not to me, though. To Knox.”
“Because he was flirting with you! And acting like nothing was wrong!” She bursts into tears. “And then you were crushed when he left, and I vowed to never talk about it. I thought you were over him, Aurora. And we stayed friends, even after going to different colleges, and then you met Joel, and got engaged and moved out here?—”
“Jesus.” I pinch the bridge of my nose.
I moved my entire life across the country because I wanted a change, and my fiancé living in the same city as my best friend seemed like fate. It was the change I so desperately wanted. And Iwent. I left everything I’ve known, I left my father with hisnew girlfriend, I left my doctors and job—well, okay, the job was ending anyway because of the book—and now I’m here.
