Page 33 of The Comeback

“No. It was…” The words don’t even get a chance at life. He’s right. She’s the one who helped me get my old self back. Fear rises up to the back of my throat. Does that mean I’ll lose it again if I lose her?

“Don’t overthink it, Fleet. I can see that brain of yours whirring away.” He drops a hand on my shoulder. “She’s been good for you and your game. I suspect you’ve been good for her singing. Just enjoy each other and leave it at that. No need to make anything bigger out of it.” I’ve always admired the way Jackson can just breeze through life letting everything roll off his back.

He’s right. No need to make a big deal. Except. I kinda want to. In spite of all the years apart and the shitty way I treated her in high school I don’t think I ever stopped loving Abigail McCloud. The revelation hits me like States bearlike D man slammed into the boards. I love her. And not just as friends. That’s why I’ve been trying so hard to spend time with her this year. That’s why I’ve never maintained anything more than a casual relationship with anyone else. I’ve regretted pushing her away ever since that painful day in high school and that ache has never gone away.

Sure it was for her own good. To keep her away from my family, the man my mother married. If you can even call him a man. But he’s not in control anymore. I’m in my last year of school. Bria starts next year so I can stop stressing so much about her. As for my mother. Well she made her own choices. She chose him over her own kids and she has to live with that. I’m going to sign a contract, then I can pay for Bria’s education so she won’t have to rely on him either. I’ll look after her and never look back. Abby and I can be together. That is if I haven’t driven her too far away. So far that I’ll never get her back. I’ll just have to convince her. Get her to trust me again. Get her to fall for me as hard as I’ve fallen for her.

***

A wall of damp heat hits us as we walk from the frigid night air outside into the dark bar. Students are already jammed into every crevice of Wright’s, and cheers ring out when we get spotted. My eyes pass over all the eager fans ready to congratulate us scanning for the face that’s been haunting my dreams. Haunting is probably the wrong word. Ghosts don’t really get me going. Abby on the other hand? Well let’s just say my dick comes to attention anytime she makes an appearance in my subconscious.

My stomach drops and I glance behind me to the door. If she’s not here than I’m not sure I even want to stay. The adrenaline is seeping away like a bath tub with the plug pulled and the noise of the crowd is a bit too much. The guys will expect me, though. We always celebrate after our first game. It’s tradition.

Jackson and I make slow progress across the bar as we’re stopped and congratulated too many times to count. We’re almost to the big booths in the back that are reserved for the team when a soft hand falls on my bicep. Fed up with the touching, I pull my arm away and spin around to see who’s accosting me this time. Sometimes it feels like being on the hockey team and well known on campus makes us public property or something.

All the irritation evaporates and my face softens as soon as I lock eyes with the only person I really wanted to see here tonight.

“Fab.” The old nickname slips out in my surprise. “I didn’t think you were here.

She tossed a thumb in the direction of the restrooms. “Just in the bathroom. It took a while to get to you once I spotted you. You’ve got quite the fan club.”

“Yeah, comes with the territory.” I could care less about the rest of them now that she’s here. I slip my hand into hers with the easiness of old friends. The shock that warms my palm when her hand touches mine is new though. “Come. Sit with the team.” I jerk my head in the direction of the rowdy group crowded into the booths. A burst of laughter and some colorful language rises above the noise from the rest of the crowd.

She hesitates, glancing over her shoulder.

“If you want.” I pull back a little. Maybe she didn’t come here for me, but to hang out with her friends. Or even some other guy. An angry beast inside raises its head at the thought.

“No, I just don’t want to lose Aura.”

Right. Her most helpful friend. “She’s more than welcome to join us.” After all she’s the one who let me know they were at the game. Seems like she might be onside.

Her eyes light up and she lifts a brow. “She’ll love that. Just be prepared. Your guys might not be ready for the likes of her.

I laugh. “She a heartbreaker? Don’t worry. I think those fools can handle it.”

The Mona Lisa smile on her face is one of my faves. “Something like that.”

The tall beauty that accompanied her to the game strolls over. Abby is right about that. The girl’s a show stopper with her long straight black hair and lithe body. But she’s got nothing on my girl. Nope, not your girl. At least not yet. But if I have anything to say about it won’t be much longer.

“Aura, this is Sebastian. Sebastian, Aura.”

The brilliant white smile that spreads across her face as she eyes me up and down could power a small planet. She holds out a hand. “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much.”

I close my hand around hers and slide my gaze back to Abby. “It’s great to meet you, too.” I flash a quick grin.

“Excellent. You’ll do. I’m going to make some new friends now.” She struts over to the booth and settles into the conversation as if she’s known those guys as long as I’ve known Abby.

Abby shakes her head and a laugh bubbles out of her. “That’s, Aura for you. She can make herself at home at a table of hockey players just as easily as she could among a group of farmers at a pub in Scotland.”

“Sounds nice.” I’ve always had trouble fitting in. I’m much better off with a small group of close friends then in a crowd. My teammates are the exception. You get pretty tight when you spend every day together working out and working together. It’s like a family. One of the things that has always drawn me to the sport. That feeling was always lacking at home.

“I know, right. I have no idea how we ended up friends. I think she took a liking to me and let me her into her house like you would a stray cat.” She does understand. We were always similar in that way. In elementary school it was her, Tristan, and I against the world. I’m glad she managed to find some close friends to look out for her now.

I can’t resist lifting a hand to brush a stray curl behind her ear. Her eyes turn up to me with a midnight gaze. “I don’t know, Fab. You’re pretty amazing. I can’t see why she wouldn’t want to be your friend.” Hope wells within me when she doesn’t deny my use of her old nickname.

She gives me a soft shove with her free hand, but her lips curve up at my words and she leaves her hand to linger on my chest. I have to take a few deep breaths to avoid getting too worked up at the mere touch of her hand. I shift my weight to try to ease some of the tension.

“Where exactly do you think that flattery is going to get you?” she asks.

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