Page 22 of The Comeback

Her black hair falls in a silky curtain over my shoulder as she leans in close to my ear to be heard over the noise of the club. “Yeeees. You sure you don’t want to come with? He’s roommates with that guy you were dancing with.” She pulls back and bounces her perfect brows at me.

I could. I could go with them and get lost in a stranger’s arms. Forget about that other one who won’t get out of my head. That can’t happen if I value my heart. But no. “Nah, I’m gonna go home.” I have to raise my voice to a yell to be heard. “But be safe.”

“I always am. I know him from that philosophy elective I’ve been taking. You ok to get home on your own?”

“I’m good. I’ll call an Uber.” She pulls me up into a sweaty hug. “Seriously. Be safe.”

Her fingers dance in a goodbye wave as she heads back for her man of the evening. I’m sure he’ll be trailing after her with a broken heart within a week. Poor guy doesn’t know what he’s in for. My lips curve up in a small smile as I tap away on my phone to call for a ride.

Chapter 16

Sebastian

Theguysonmyside crowd around and pull me in for a celebratory hug after my second goal of the game. Sure, it’s only a pickup game to practice, but I finally feel like I have my confidence back. I’ve almost been back to my old self for the first time since the injury. Ever since.…ever since that day I skated with Abby. I don’t want to read too much into it, but that day was the first time I felt fully confident since I got back on the ice.

Maybe it was skating for pure pleasure instead of training. I love playing hockey. That hasn’t changed. But the pressure to perform has been like carrying an extra fifty pounds on my shoulders every time I gear up since I started working on my comeback. If I don’t get my shit together, my dream of playing pro is going to vanish. Maybe it was her. Maybe it was just the time I’ve been putting in. What does it matter as long as I’m getting it done.

“Fanfuckingtastic, bro.” Jackson slaps me on the back as we glide off the ice. “At this rate, with this team, we’ve got a chance.”

He doesn’t say the words. Us hockey players are way too superstitious to jinx ourselves like that, but this could very well be our year to win it all. If we do, that’ll guarantee me a shot. Don’t think too much about it.

“Yeah, great practice, man.” I slap him on the back as we hop off the ice to hit the showers. I’ve never been happier to walk the tunnel to the locker room.

“Whatever you’re doing, keep it up.”

Dev rocks into me from behind when I freeze up at Jackson’s words. “Sorry, dude,” I mumble, forcing my legs to move. Keep it up. Keep hanging out with Abby? Kissing her? My eyes roll back in my head at the thought of her lush lips that tasted like strawberries. I shouldn’t be thinking about her like that. It’s not good for either of us. I need to leave her alone. But that’s not going to happen, is it? I’ve already committed to helping her with her stage fright, so she can help me with that freaking music class that was supposed to be an easy A for my last year. I groan. How am I going to spend all that time with her and keep my hands to myself?

“Yo, Fleetsy. You lost or something?” I shake myself free from my thoughts and turn a dark glare on Jessup.

“Fuck off.”

“You look like a little girl who dropped her ice cream. What’s with you? That was an amazing game.”

“Yeah, it was, and yours truly scored two goals, so you can fuck right off.” Sometimes the only way to fight macho is to posture right back. That’s how I survived high school.

“Don’t let it go to your head. You just stopped playing like shit. You’re going to have to keep it up for more than one practice game before you earn your first-string spot.”

“Thanks for the reminder, Beau.” I glare at him. Like I need it. He doesn’t understand what it’s like. All the pressure to perform. To succeed. To make it. I don’t have anything if I don’t achieve my goal. School has never been my priority, and my mediocre grades show it. All my focus, all my energy, has been sunk into this dream. If it fails, I’ll end up working at a fast-food joint. Beau’s family is rich. Like homes in multiple time zones rich. He has no clue what it’s like to be so hungry.

“Don’t be such a dick, man. He played well. We’re all on the same team.” Jax jumps to my defense. That’s why he and I have been tight since first year. He gets it.

***

After tossing some food wrappers and Gatorade bottles into the back seat, I settle into the passenger seat of Jackson’s beat up old Malibu.

“Dude. Your car’s disgusting.”

“Shush. You’ll hurt Mabel’s feelings.”

“If you cared about her feelings, you wouldn’t leave trash all over her.”

“Gives her character. You can get the fuck out if you don’t like it. No one forced you in here.” He flashes me a grin.

“Whatever.” I drop my head back against the cracked leather of the headrest.

I grabbed a ride with him today, so my hands are free, and you know what they say about idle hands. My fingers are fidgeting with my phone in my pocket until I finally give in and pull it out.

Me: What’s going on Elsa?

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