Page 14 of The Comeback

Chapter 10

Sebastian

Thisistheperfectsolution. She deserves to be up on the stage, and I can help her get there. And there’s no way I’m getting through this class alone. It was supposed to be an easy A to get me through the semester and keep me on the team. There’s also that distraction Coach said I needed. Helping her get out of her own head on stage will help me get out of mine on the ice. Win, win.

There’s serious doubt in her eyes, and I can’t blame her. I blew her off hard in high school and deserve all that mistrust. All I can do is hope that I can earn it back. If it would help, I’d let her throw a punch, but somehow, I don’t think that’s her preferred method of revenge.

“Seriously. I can help you. I know you don’t trust me, but why would I let you down when I need you to help me pass this class?”

She tilts her head at me. “Why do you need help with it? I know you were never a straight-A student, but you did fine.”

I blow out a breath, leaning back against the seat. I’ve been trying to forget all the bad shit from last year down. “My grades slipped last year.” Slipped is an understatement, nosedived is a better description.

Her eyes soften. “The injury?”

That’s the easiest answer. It was more the mental spiral I took that I’ve only just started pulling myself out of. “Yeah, and this class was supposed to be about bands and history and stuff. This prof has actual music theory and shit on the curriculum. Not my thing at all. And I’ve gotta get my grades back up or I could get kicked off the team. Doesn’t matter if you’re playing like a rock star, they’re strict about academic success.” And even if they did make exceptions, I haven’t been playing well enough to get one of those.

“Why don’t you just drop the class and switch?”

I’m not going to lie to her. I did look. “Nothing fit in my schedule that would work. So, you see. It’s not just for you. I need your help.”

I can see it. Her resolve weakening. She’s always been a sucker for anyone in need. There was that Blue Jay with the broken wing she rescued from my backyard when we were ten. We spent a good chunk of our summer vacation nursing the thing back to health. Or the transfer student in grade seven that was getting bullied. She made friends with him, welcoming into our little group. The only person she couldn’t stand up for was herself, so I’m going to do that for her now. Like I should have done in high school.

“Ok, fine. I’ll do it.” She reaches out a small hand and I clasp it in a firm grip. The heat that’s been building in me since I first saw her at the pool ignites as soon as my palm meets her soft skin.

“It’s a deal.” We pump hands a few times. Am I fighting the urge to yank her in to seal the deal with a kiss? Yes. Am I going to ignore that impulse? Also, yes.

I drop her hand, shifting in my seat to ease the pressure in my jeans.

“I should probably get back to my place.” She glances everywhere but at my face, and I wonder if that touch hit her as hard as it did me.

I stand up to follow her out of the cafe and my hand lands on the small of her back, guiding her through the scattered café tables.

A shiver rips through her at the bitter gust of wind that greets us as we push through the front door. Should I offer her my jacket? Any other girl and I’d just drape my arm over her shoulder and pull her into my side to share body heat, but this is Abby. I doubt that my touch would be welcome. Hand on the back was pushing it.

“How are you getting back to your place?”

She tilts her head to look up at me and then pulls her phone out. “I’ll book a ride.”

“I can drive you home.” Even if she says no, I’ll wait with her for the car, but I’ll feel better knowing that she’s home safe, plus I wouldn’t mind knowing where she lives. I’m sure I’ll be spending some time with her there this semester working on our music stuff.

“It’s fine. You don’t have to worry about it.”

“It’s not a problem, Abby. Where do you live?”

She hesitates for a moment before rattling off the address of an apartment building not too far from campus. A lot of students live there. It’s a little farther out than my house, but I’d drive her to the next town if she let me.

“C’mon. My car is in the south parking lot.” She follows my lead along the brick lined path across campus. It’s a wind tunnel along here, and the trees lining the path are dipping and swaying.

I pull my fleece-lined jacket off, holding it out to her.

“No, no. I’m fine.” Her chattering teeth tell a different story, so I drape my jacket over her shoulders and her long lashes drop over her eyes in relief.

The sight of her in my Lightning jacket, Fleet 59 embroidered on her chest, does things to me. I’ve gotta shake this thing, whatever it is. As much as I want her, she’s not the kind of girl I could treat casually. We have way too much history for that. And I don’t have time with my hockey schedule for anything more, even if I wanted it. As if she’d want me, anyway.

Chapter 11

Abby

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