Page 76 of The Dixon Rule

“No problem. Tyreek seems like a solid guy.”

“Yeah.” Lynsey pauses. “Diana seemed cool too.”

“She is.”

“She’s very…loud.”

My smile springs free. “Nah. She just seems loud because you’re quiet.”

“I don’t mean loud as in volume. She’s just so outspoken. Seems like she has a big personality.”

Is that an insult toward Diana? Lynsey’s tone is completely benign, so I can’t be sure.

“Anyway, I called to say I officially filed the transfer paperwork with my Liberty advisor. I’ll be attending Briar in the fall.”

“Wow, okay, big move. What about housing?”

“When I did my interview, the department head told me there’re a few singles left in the senior dorm. Can’t remember what the building was called, but she said it’s where all the dance majors live.”

“You’ll be living on campus? Not with Tyreek?”

She laughs. “Way too soon for that. We’ve only been dating a month. Besides, I don’t want to make the commute from Boston. I know it’s only an hour or so, but it’s still kind of a pain in the butt. Why wake up early to commute when I can wake up early to rehearse?”

I admire her work ethic. I always have.

“I’ll have to figure out a way to rehearse with Sergei, though. Maybe find somewhere halfway between Liberty and Briar.”

“Right. NUABC. How are you two going to manage that?”

“We passed the prelim, so we’re already in the competition. I feel like weekend rehearsals should suffice. Or…” she trails off teasingly, “I could always steal you away.”

I bite my lip to suppress a laugh. “Oh, is that so?”

Okay, she’s definitely flirting right now.

“Maybe.” She pauses for a second. “Honestly, though…” Her tone takes on a bitter note. “I’m a little annoyed that you’re partnering with her when I asked you to do it every year and you said no every time.”

Regret tugs on my insides. I shouldn’t have lied about the competition. I think I got a little too into the role of Boyfriend. And, yes, I wanted to make Lynsey jealous. But I hadn’t been trying to hurt her, and her next question, soft and pained, tells me I did.

“I don’t get it. You’re suddenly interested in dance?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s…” I decide to lay the blame on Dixon. She won’t mind. “Diana’s hard to say no to.”

There’s a long, tense beat.

“Yeah,” Lynsey finally says. “It does seem like she has you wrapped around her little finger, the way she bosses you around.”

“She doesn’t boss me around.”

“Shane, she totally bosses you around. During our entire relationship, I don’t think I heard you argue with me about anything. Meanwhile, the entire night I was at your place, you two were bickering about something. That’s not healthy.”

“I guess.” I wrinkle my forehead. “We’re not actually arguing, though. It’s all in good fun—”

“Anyway, I like that you’re competing.” She cuts me off as if I hadn’t spoken. “It shows a lot of growth. Tells me that maybe now you’re capable of being there for someone else. Putting them first.”

Her comment triggers equal parts joy and annoyance. I like that she’s seeing something good in me, but it bothers me how quick she is to dismiss the times I was there for her. Just because I didn’t want to enter dance competitions with her doesn’t mean I wasn’t sitting in the front row at all her performances, cheering her on.

But maybe I could have done more. Tried harder. I’m probably more selfish than most people, but that’s because of hockey. It makes you selfish. You’re devoting all your time and energy to a sport and not a girlfriend. So she’s right. Maybe I didn’t always put her first. Maybe I didn’t quite find that balance between hockey and girlfriends, but given the chance, I know I can navigate those two worlds better now. I’ve seen people around me do it. Like Ryder, who only cared about hockey his entire life and yet was somehow able to convince a woman to marry him. And from what I can tell, the marriage hasn’t changed his performance on the ice, and the ice hasn’t affected his marriage.

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