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“I’ll never know since he told me I shouldn’t call him anymore.” I hug a pillow to my chest. “I’m running in circles, going nowhere. How can I face him after this? All my friends in Toronto are connected to the freaking team now. I built this whole network of support, and now it’ll be super awkward.” I lift my head. “What time is it? They have a game tonight.” I left my phone in her bedroom because I didn’t want to obsessively check my messages or be disappointed by the lack of contact from Tristan.
“It’s eight.”
“Shit. The game’s already over.” I set my wine down and hop off the couch. Hammer and I were talking about this game. They played Colorado, and they’ve been on a winning streak. Toronto was hoping to be the ones who broke it.
I pull up the team social media feed. “Yes! They won!” My smile drops when I realize I can’t message Tristan to congratulate him. I message Flip instead.
Flip
Thx. Hammer said you’re in Vancouver. And Tristan said you’re not dating anymore? WTF?
Rix
I’m with Essie.
Flip
For how long???
Rix
¯\_( ????? ??)_/¯ Have fun celebrating.
Before I toss my phone aside, I do something stupid. I check my brother’s social media. And my poor battered and bruised heart takes another hit. Because the first image to pop up is one of Flip and Tristan, amidst a group of bunnies.
“Uh-oh. What happened now?” Essie asks.
I toss the phone on the cushion so she can see. “Looks like he’s already over us.”
Maybe it’s time to consider moving to Vancouver.
CHAPTER 28
TRISTAN
We won again tonight. No thanks to me. I’ve been playing like shit since I ended things with Bea. But going home to my empty condo didn’t seem appealing, so I’m out with Flip and the rest of the guys, celebrating even though I don’t feel like it. At least we’re in the VIP section with a table of our own and a bottle of scotch that Flip surprisingly paid for.
Two days ago, I found out Bea went to Vancouver. It’s my fault she’s there. I broke up with her like an idiot, and the first thing she did was hop on a plane. I sip my scotch. I hate my life.
“So why is my sister in Vancouver?” Flip asks. He’s been texting her the past couple of days, but I guess she hasn’t given him much information. And Hammer and Hemi are pissed at me. All I’ve gotten from them are side-eyes and middle fingers. Shilpa won’t even acknowledge my existence.
“Because Essie is there.” I’ve said this half a dozen times already. I don’t know what else he needs me to say.
“Yeah, but what happened between the two of you that she went there with no warning?”
I’ve been pretty vague about things. Mostly because I don’t want him to punch me in the face again, even though I deserve it. “Bea misses her. They say it every time they talk on the phone. They’re always planning visits and talking about portals or whatever. And her boss already said there’s a position out there.”
Flip frowns. “She seemed perfectly happy in Toronto. She and Hammer and Hemi and Tally are like the four freaking Musketeers.”
I drum on my knee. “Yeah, but who knows where I’ll be next year. It’s not like she needs her life upended. Especially not because of me.”
“Well, didn’t you just do exactly that by breaking up with her?” Roman asks.
Flip uncrosses his arms and reaches for his glass. “Dude. This isn’t about you and where you’ll be next year.”
“Then what’s it about?”
He drains his drink and refills it. “Your mom.”
“I haven’t spoken to my mom in years.”
“Exactly.”
“Oh, fuck this.” I start to stand, but Flip puts his hand on my shoulder.
“Listen, man, that shit fucked you up. She was a coward and a garbage mother. Her leaving the way she did, how it all went down, it wasn’t cool, man.” I don’t know how to deal with the empathy in his tone or on his face. “You’re in love with my sister, and you’re projecting your issues onto her because you’re fucking terrified of losing someone else you care about.”
“That’s not?—”
“It is. That’s exactly what this is about. It’s why your relationships don’t last more than a couple of months. And why you rolled with all the fun times before Rix moved in with us. The same night Nate tells you he and his girlfriend broke up, you end things with Rix.” He makes a circle motion with his finger. “It’s all connected. You think because Nate couldn’t make his relationship work, you won’t be able to either.”
“That’s not… It’s more than that,” I say.
“Of course it’s more than that,” Flip says with a sigh. “Nate’s breakup is just a piece of the puzzle. You broke up with Rix because you went into a panic spiral. You possibly being traded at the end of the season—which, based on stats and logic, isn’t probable—is a convenient excuse.”
