Page 20 of The Comeback

I dig in and pick up speed, taking sharp turns, but slowing as I go past her. I’m glad she’s got her skating legs back under her. She spent almost as much time at the rink as I did when we were kids. I can’t believe she stopped. That’s on me, too.

The ring and shush of our blades slicing across the surface of the ice takes over as she finishes another song. I cut back across the rink to her, and she turns her head up at me, pulling her lower lip between her teeth. So tempting.

“Can you do one more for me?” I can’t seem to help myself from touching her, so I run my hand down her arm in encouragement. Bad idea. A shot of need pulses through me.

Abby nods, pausing. Her eyes go from wide and frightened to steely and determined. The lyrics that spill from her glossy lips are unfamiliar and haunting. Is that…is that her song? I know she’s trying to kick this stage fright for a songwriting competition, and it doesn’t surprise me she’s an amazing songwriter. But this is beyond anything I could have expected. It’s sweet, and sad, angry, and hopeful all at the same time. The words reach deep inside me and tug at every corner of my soul, chipping away at the wall I’ve built around it.

I keep pace with her, skating backward again, too mesmerized by her song to pull away.

Silence falls when it’s over, and I come to a full stop. Her hands shoot out to halt her momentum since she doesn’t have the precision to stop on a dime like I do. The thud of her hands followed by her soft body barely rocks me, but my arms fold around her waist automatically.

“Sorry,” she says, trying to pull away.

“Don’t be sorry. That was incredible. Is that the song you wrote for the Hastings?”

Her cheeks flush to an even deeper red. “Yes. Me and Dax wrote it together. The words are mostly mine, though. It’s not one hundred percent ready. We’re still working on it.”

Right, Dax. I know she said they’re just friends, but a little hit of jealousy still creeps in. “Don’t sell yourself short. You’d win that competition if you sang it as is today.” I’m no music expert, but I know that the emotion she evoked with those words doesn’t happen every day. Hell, if she can make me feel something?

“No I wouldn’t. It’s still rough, but it has potential.”

She was singing about love and loss, and I can’t help but want to hurt the guy that made her feel like that. “Who is it about? Do I need to knock some teeth out?”

With wide eyes, she untwines herself from my embrace and glides off toward the exit, slamming into the boards to stop.

The look in her eyes and her hasty exit are like a punch in the gut. Did she write that song about me? She couldn’t have. Wow, I really am the arrogant jerk she thinks I am if I even entertain that thought. But that look in her eyes, and the way she took off. Could it really be about me? I guess I can try provoking Devlin. Get the hits I deserve, since I can’t knock my own teeth out.

Chapter 15

Abby

Thankfully,Sebastianseemedtounderstand my need for silence on the way home. He didn’t bother me with any embarrassing questions about why I fled the scene like a freaking psycho.

My visions of a quiet night at home get blasted apart the moment I swing the door to my apartment open.

“Absolutely Fabulous! You’re home.” Pink liquid sloshes over the edge of her cup when my roomie dances over, wrapping me up in an exuberant hug. If the goofy grin on her face and hot pink body con are any indication, she’s well past tipsy and on her way to full on dragging me out to a club.

I give her a squeeze before pulling away with a disapproving frown. “Ree, you know it’s a Wednesday, right?”

“I know, right?” She overemphasizes each word. “Sleek has cheap bar drinks tonight. C’mon, let’s get you ready.”

My resolve is standing at the edge of a cliff, ready to jump. I’m not usually one to go out drinking on a Wednesday night, but it’s early in the school year. I’m caught up on my assignments and readings. The deciding factor is the need to escape the itching heat of my skin. The adrenaline rush of singing, combined with Sebastian’s proximity have left me restless and ready to crawl out of my skin. Not that I want to go out and pick up a rando at a bar. Not really my style. But I want something. Maybe dancing will help scrub away the imprint he’s left on my brain.

“Fine.” Ree stumbles and spins around, dropping the arm she was using to drag me toward my room.

“Really?” The look of shock on her face steals a giggle from me.

“Yeah. That is what you want, right?”

“Of course. I thought it was going to take way more convincing, though. What’s going on with you?” She steps in and cocks her head to the side like an inquisitive little bird.

Uh-uh. Not going there. Going along with her Wednesday night dance club plans is supposed to help me escape all thoughts of he who shall not be named.

“Nothing. Just feel like having some fun.”

My nerves are on edge as I swipe through my limited clothing supply, looking for something club worthy. A sparkly silver halter top and a knee length black skirt will do. Ree won’t send me back to change in disgrace. I spin around in front of the mirror on my closet door, watching the skirt flare out around my knees as I spin. I pile my hair on top of my head in a quick messy bun and throw on a touch of mascara and silver eyeshadow. No need to get crazy. It’s Wednesday.

Ree gives me a sloppy nod of approval after running her eyes over me in a quick assessment. “That’ll do. I’d prefer something a little tighter. If I had boobs like yours, I would definitely show them off, but that’s acceptable.”

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