Page 55 of The Comeback

"What about you, Abs? What's up with you and hockey boy." I drop my head back on the comforting weight of the arm she's slung over my shoulders.

"That's over." The vice squeezing my heart twists a notch tighter.

"Noooo. What did he do? Where is he?

"You don't remember last night all do you?"

"Yeah, no. Not so much."

She takes a minute to think before responding after I fill her in for the second time. "Don't take this the wrong way, but are you doing the best thing for yourself? Is this what you want, or are you just running scared?"

The thing about her question is.... I don't know. "I'm not sure, Ree. I used to love him so much, and I feel like it would be so, so easy to love him even more, but it didn't turn out so well last time." And I’m not sure I’ll be able to put myself back together a second time.

"Well, I'm not going to tell you what to do. You know that best thing for your own heart, but think about how you're feeling. Are you happier when he's in your life or when he's not? And do you think you can trust him? Seems like he's changed since high school, but if he's not willing to fight for you he might not be worth it. You're worth fighting for. I'd fight for you. Literally. If you want me to fight him I will. He might be a big tough hockey bro but I've got a black belt." She jumps away punctuating her words with a spin kick, always knowing how to make me smile.

I throw my arms up in front of me in mock defense. "I don't need you to fight him, but I think you're right. I do deserve someone who will fight for me."

It’s starting to dawn on me that it would be life changing to find someone strong enough to fight for me, but I need to find the strength to fight for myself as well.

Chapter 42

Sebastian

Asharpchillhassettled in the car, and the sky is growing darker as I sit here drumming my fingers on the steering wheel. A tap on the front door has me jumping in my seat. An freckled face is visible under a cloud of fiery red hair. Jordan. Crap. She caught me out here stewing about going in to talk to her boyfriend.

She backs up so I can open the door, stepping out.

How long have you been sitting out here, Sebastian?"

The breath I blow out hangs in the frosty air for a moment. "Too long."

She laughs. "Don't be scared of Aspen. He doesn't bite." Something sparkles as she winks and I realize she's got tiny crystals surrounding her eyes. And she's wearing a full on emerald green renaissance style ball tied up the front.

"Cosplaying Arwen?" I just assume all elves come from the lord of the rings.

She scoffs at me, hands sitting on the dip of her hips. "Arwen does not have red hair. Besides she's an elf. I am fae."

If she was trying to make me laugh, it worked. "Sorry to offend you milady. I know naught of the fae. I assume it's some sort of bookish reference I wouldn't understand."

She dips in a curtsy. "Twould be correct."

"Where are you going all dressed up?"

“I've got a book launch at Top Shelf tonight. I decided to go in full character. Gotta fit in with the crowd you know."

"I'm pretty sure you'll stand out no matter how everyone else is dressed." I've known Jordan since the very beginning of my college career. Her and Aspen have always been a package deal. They've both been amazingly happy since they finally got their shit together and hooked up last year, and I'm happy to see them both so happy. Jordan's been good to me too even during my dark days when I wasn't my best self she was always kind and concerned.

"Awwww, Sebastian." Her hands are clasped together in front of her. "I won't tell Aspen you were so nice to me. He might start thinking untoward things and your face is so pretty I'd hate for him to break it."

"Oh I think he's going to break my face whether I'm nice to you or not." Not to mention my face is not as pretty as it used to be. My hand reaches up to run along the jagged scar that trails down my cheek, and I turn away because I can't bear the sympathy in her eyes.

"I heard you were a bit of a dick at practice today."

"Might be an understatement." I wince.

"Well then shoo. Go apologize and beg his eternal forgiveness. If you need to complete some sort of labor to make amends I've got some old stock in the back room that needs sorting. It's a nightmare. I have no clue what my mother was thinking when she ordered 150 copies of How to Bombproof Your Horse."

"What? You know I'd come help at the bookstore anytime you needed it." Me and all the other guys are happy to do her bidding not just because Aspen is our captain. Jordan is a genuinely delightful person.

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