Page 22 of Trust Me

I don’t understand a word of what he said, but it’s clear that Camille does in the way her eyes widen. I had no idea Camille spoke Italian as well, but there seems to be quite a bit I don’t know about her.

“Come fai a sapere?” she whispers.

“Io e vostra fratello Quentin siamo intimi. Il vostro segreto è al sicuro con me. Lei lo sa?” he says back.

I give up on trying to understand what’s going on as I begin to shove my things back into my bag.

“Grazie. Glielo dico stasera,” she half smiles, giving him an appreciative look for whatever reason.

I stand, done listening to them have their secret conversation right in front of me. “This has been fun,” I mutter. “But I have to go.” I stand from my seat and move to leave.

“Jas, don’t be mad. I’ll tell you everything, soon” Camille pleads, standing as well, her silvery eyes intent on mine.

“Why does he know?”

Elio speaks up this time, “Because I know everything. Might as well get used to it.”

“Not likely,” I respond, not turning to address him directly.

“See you later, roomie.” He winks, then struts out of the lecture hall with the utmost confidence.

I want to shoot the finger at him, but I think better of it. He’s the most aggravating person I know. One minute he’s being sweet, and the next he’s getting on my last nerve for a reason I can’t explain.

Camille and I exit in the opposite direction, heading to our next class that’s in twenty minutes. We may have made our schedules together so that we could study together and share notes.

Although we’re in the same program, we have two different ideal outcomes. Camille loves sports and hopes to work within the social media department for a professional team. Whereas I’m hoping to use my degree to open my own café.

Once our business leadership class ends, we walk to the parking lot together toward my car since Camille and I are riding home together. We call Aurora on our way, all of us catching up and gossiping until we get to our building.

In the lobby, Camille claims she needs a nap, and I agree that I could rest because the first day of classes always tires me out. We make plans to meet up later around six to order pizza and talk.

But once I get in bed, I can’t rest. Instead, I lie there, making a list of content ideas for the next three weeks, along with the groceries I’ll need to complete them.

From time to time, I find myself wondering what Elio’s doing and when he’s going to start helping me. And more often than not, my mind circles back to what he’s doing. I shake my head and tell myself that once this semester gets underway, I’ll be able to get him out of my mind.

I need to keep busy. That’s all.

Chapter 9

Elio

The boys from the team are off their game today, from what I’m assuming is the first day of school buzz. Many of them are goofing off, wasting ice time as they wait for practice to begin.

I used to hate those kinds of teammates, especially when I was in college, trying to get myself noticed and drafted. I pushed myself to be great, and since hockey is a team sport, I expected them to do the same so we could be great collectively. But that wasn’t always the case.

It’s even more frustrating being on the opposite end now because I can clearly see who’s trying, who didn’t practice at all over the summer break, and who needs specific skill drills.

Despite the frustrations of coaching, during the few practices we had over the last three weeks, I found myself enjoying the job. Being on the ice feels good. I can’t move like I used to, but I can still skate well enough to show these guys why I retired a hockey legend.

“Coach Mazzo,” Ned greets me as he skates across the ice toward me. “How was your first day of class after all these years?”

“It was okay, aside from our professor telling me things I already know.” I smirk at him, crossing my arms over my chest.

Ned rolls his eyes with a grin on his face. “Always so damn arrogant. How are our boys looking so far?”

“Not great,” I tell him honestly. “They need to get it together if we’re going to make it to the playoffs, let alone the championship.”

The last time RLU won was my junior year. I plan on winning again, this time as the assistant coach.

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