Page 60 of Scoring with my Bestie's Ex

I don’t want to have this continual confusion about what I want with my relationship—whatever that may be—with Aaron.

Focus on getting the show done.

Focus on moving on from Steven.

Focus on being happy for Ellen.

We agreed neither of us were ready for a relationship. So it’s high time I stop acting like Aaron is my boyfriend and treat him as I would any other friend instead.

Chapter twenty-two

Aaron

Two more days until the Dance for Castleton event. Nearly everything is in order, despite a few last-minute hiccups.

I almost wish things weren’t quite so well organized.

The night Ellen and Mike announced their engagement, I received a late-night text from Bella. She thanked me for everything I did for her, then said she needed a little space.

I answered that I would give her that space, then asked if I could reach out to see how she was doing.

Her answer still plays in my mind. I appreciate the thought, but right now I think it’s best if you wait for me to reach out first.

It’s hard, but I’m respecting her wishes. I want to ask what changed for her, but I’m respecting her wishes and keeping quiet.

So yeah, I wish something was going wrong to push thoughts of everything else from my mind.

Even practice isn’t enough to completely distract me from this uncertainty with Bella.

“You’re going to get kicked off the team if you keep playing that way,” Coach threatens after a very poor performance on the ice.

“You could always clobber me over the head. Put me in a coma, make it so I can’t play. Would be great publicity, too,” I suggest.

Coach rolls his eyes. “Smartass.”

I smirk. “Sorry, Coach. I’ll do better next practice.”

“You better,” he grumbles, but concern pinches the corners of his eyes. “Is everything okay with you? You haven’t been acting like yourself.”

“It’s this charity ball,” I lie. The last thing I want to admit is that I have girl trouble.

He pats my arm. “Just get your head in the game, okay? Don’t want to lose you to LaLa land. Now go hit the showers.”

I nod and go into the changing rooms. The shower feels good on my aching body, and I yawn.

When I’m done and out of the rink, I find Mike loitering in the lobby, giggling at his phone. Actually giggling. I know what that means—he’s texting with Ellen.

“Ready to go?” I ask.

“Mind if you drop me off at Ellen’s rather than my place?” He looks up eagerly, then slyly grins. “You could just happen to stop by and see Bella, too. Ellen says she’s working all day and night and could use a distraction.”

I shake my head as I head outside. “She asked for space.”

Mike hurries after me. “Why?”

“My guess is that she just has a lot going on right now,” I mumble, my shoulders sagging. “But I’m worried that maybe she’s hoping I’ll chase her. She did it before, where she said one thing and hoped I’d do the opposite.”

“Dude, you don’t want to start playing those sorts of games.”

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