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I don’t answer that. Mostly because it’s hard to tell whether or not him cheating on me would’ve changed anything.You’re in love with Jake Larson. Nothing can change that.I need to get out of my head. Jake Larson and I are over. In a way, so are Nick and I.
“Nick...don’t get me wrong, I was very upset with you after finding out you cheated on me. I wished every bad thing would happen to you.” He flinches at that. “But I’ve known you sinceninth grade. We have so much history, and I still see you as a good friend.” This visibly doesn’t sit well with him. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but my feelings for Nick are no longer existent. And I really wish he would understand that. “Nick...”
“It really fucking sucks to hear you say that, Leia. But I get it. I had a feeling I’d lost you a while ago when Larson came into our lives.” My heart stops when his name is brought up. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid. “I love you, Leia. There’s no denying that.” My jaw drops. “I always have, ever since I laid eyes on you freshman year. But I get it. Your heart belongs elsewhere. I just hope he treats you right.” He gives me a small smile, and I feel for him.
“In order for him to treat me right, we’d need to be together.”
This confuses him. I don’t want to get into that tonight. I’m at the Malibu Princess, and the holiday spirit is contagious. I just want to enjoy my Friday night.
“What happened? You guys broke up?”
It feels weird to be talking about another guy with him. For the last four years, it’s just been me and Nick on and off. He’s had my back, and I’ve had his. While the prospect of us getting back together and being a couple has a bittersweet ending, he’ll always be a friend. The fact that we decided to be a couple brought the worst out in both of us.
“We did, but I’m not really into talking about it tonight. Can we just enjoy the rest of the night?”
He gives me a big smile as he hands me his mug of hot cocoa. I look at it, confused.
“As long as you drink some.” I laugh. I take a sip and hand it back to him. “Now, as long as we can also hold hands, I’d be happy with enjoying the night with you.” I smile and kiss him on the cheek. I missed this. I missed my best friend. “Which booth are you feeling now?”
That’s a dangerous question to ask a girl in the holiday spirit.
JAKE
‘Tis the season to screw yourselfmonumentally. I royally fucked up.
It’s supposed to be the time of year to drink eggnog, hot chocolate, go to holiday parties, and see your family. Incidentally, I’m not in the mood to do any of that bullshit. I got suspended from the hockey team. After our last drug testing, once we landed back in the States, Coach had to report it, and now I’m without a hockey stick and the sport I love for the remainder of the year.
“What does it matter, Larson? You already have coaches knocking down your door. Plus, Draft Day’s in a few months.”
Hunter’s right. It just sucks that I can’t spend the rest of the year playing hockey. It’s my own damn fault.
“I know, dude. It just fucking sucks,” I mutter. I don’t even know what I was thinking. I smoked too much overseas, and it showed when I slept the entire time, getting back to the dorm after the plane ride. It was long as hell, but the weed and other bullshit I did is still in my system. I screwed up my chances to help my team make it to the playoffs at the end of the season.Two differentplayoffs, might I add.
“Yeah, well, you fucked up quite a bit back in Slovakia,” he mutters back.
My head whips around to him. He’s been a pain in my ass for the last few weeks after landing back home. “Do you have a problem with me, Rosen? Because these underhanded comments are starting to get old.”
“So are your life choices, dumbass.”
“What the fuck doesthatmean?”
“You know what it means.Everybodywants fucking King Larson. And King Larson gives them a good time. Leave some ass for the rest of us.”
This pissing contest is giving me a headache. I can’t even tell what he’s mad about anymore. “Is this aboutTaya, dude?”
“That’s exactly what this is about! She was mygirlfriend! What the hell?”
“Dude, you fucking cheated on her. This is a pointless conversation. And she kissedme!”
“Whatever. I’m over it.”
I can’t help but laugh at that. “Bro, I’m not a genius, but you’re definitelynotover it.” He grunts at me as he settles on a beer from the fridge and shuts it. “Look...I’m sorry. I told you not to cheat on her, though.” The truth hurts, but he caused his own downfall when he locked lips with a Slovakian girl.
“Seriously, it’s whatever. You’re right, I was an idiot.” I just blink at him. “What?”
“Are you taking responsibility for your bullshit? That’s a first.”
He gives me a mocking laugh before rolling his eyes.
