Page 33 of Boarded Hearts

I don’t say anything, instead letting his advice sink in. He’s right; I know he is. Still, it doesn’t make putting myself out there for her any easier. I’ve never dated a woman in my adult life, let alone gone after someone for a full-blown relationship, and to be brutally honest, anything less than that with Felicity won’t be enough for me. All my instincts tell me she’s everything I want, everything I need.

Placing my half-finished beer back on the table, I decide to enter potentially dangerous waters. “So how are things with Amie?”

Zach scoffs, tipping his head up to the ceiling, “So Jensen told you then?”

I’ve no idea what he’s talking about. “No, told me what?”

He looks genuinely surprised I don’t know but answers me anyway. “Rumor has it she’s been seen out in New York with Alex Schneider.”

My jaw hangs open. What the actual fuck. “Fucking Schneider. Where did you hear this?”

He drains the last of his beer, and I can tell he’s starting to feel its effects. “Well, I say rumor. Apparently, he posted a photo of her and him getting cozy in some club downtown last night. The photo was up for all of five minutes before it was taken down, but the damage was done, screenshots taken, and I’ve seen the evidence. She was blowing my phone up all night, denying there’s anything going on before I switched the fucking thing off, so you’re lucky you got hold of me. I was ready to throw it out the window.”

I shake my head. I mean, I’ve always had bad vibes from Amie but cheating? On a guy like Zach, with a scumbag like Schneider? That’s lower than I thought she’d ever go. “Shit, man, I’m sorry. You’re sure she’s been playing away?”

Nodding, he replies “She sat on his knee, arms wrapped around his neck, so yeah, it seemed pretty damning.” Zach continues to stare absent-mindedly at the TV, the game footage having stopped several minutes ago.

I feel like the shittiest friend. Here I am coming to unload my issues onto him when the guy’s girl has just been caught cheating on him with the worst possible person. It’s clear Schneider is using Amie to get to Zach off the ice. He’s that sort of person.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you, man; I’ve had my head so far up my ass.”

“It’s okay, not like you could do anything or change the fact that she’s a cheating bitch.”

“You really cared about her, huh?” I can see how much this is tearing him up. Now the beers, drawn blinds, and pitch-black apartment make sense.

“Yeah, I thought she was the one, but like I say, I’m no expert in relationships.” He blows out a humorless laugh. “Just goes to show what I know.”

“Never blame yourself for trusting the person you love. She’s the one at fault here. Other than that prick.”

Zach’s jaw pops. “Yeah, and you’ve probably done me a favor tonight. I was googling flights to JFK when you called. Ready to track him down and beat the living shit out of him for touching my girl but…” he pauses, “that’s probably what he wants.”

“Yeah, you got that right, and she’s not worth it. Hurts like hell now, but in a few weeks, you’ll wonder why you ever bothered with her.”

My best friend stands, swiping his bottle from the table. “Yeah, and on Saturday night when we crush Dallas, I’m heading out to celebrate with a puck bunny or two.”

I want to tell him that searching for affection in empty hookups isn’t the answer, but who am I to talk?

“Anyway, fuck it, whatever. You down for some Warzone?” Zach thrusts a PS5 controller in my hand.

“Yeah sure, but I’m not taking it easy on you.” I clap a hand on his shoulder and come to sit next to him.

“Likewise. Just stop pussy footing around Felicity, yeah? It doesn’t take a genius to work out that women like her don’t stay unclaimed for long, and if you’re as serious about her as I think you are, then you need to lock it down.”

I smile, recalling how her skin pebbled under my touch. “She’s all I want.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

FELICITY

Kate

I’m wearing my favorite jersey for tonight’s game ;-)

Me

Oh yeah, whose day are you making?

That’s for me to know and him to find out.

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