Page 37 of Unsteady

“What?”

“Fucking puck bunnies ruining my life,” he moans, ripping off the rest of the pretzel like a caveman, shoving it into his already full mouth. “Paloma’s story is making me regret listening to you two idiots.”

Bennett’s nostrils flare, jaw locking as he bites back a retort. Usually, this would be the minute I bring in some settling peace chat to the group, but I’m distracted by the video playing on a loop off the screen of Freddy’s phone.

Not the blonde in the face of the camera, spinning in a little circle so the entire frat house party is displayed, but by a familiar brunette in the light of the flash as it moves over her too quickly.

It’s only there for a brief second, before the image moves on to several snapshots of shot glasses and toasts, and before I can think better of it, I snatch his phone off the table and click on the left screen to go back, pausing the video with my thumb pressed down hard.

It’s her.

Sadie, sitting on the arm of a questionable-looking red sofa, her posture terrible and slumped so her chin rests on her palm, nails tapping against her cheek as she empty-stares at the guy sitting on the actual cushions next to her, with his hands drifting up and down her calves.

She looks terribly bored and so beautiful, with the frown I’m now so used to playing across painted lips. She is close enough behind Paloma that I can see her entire face, smoky colored eyes, her hair slicked back into a pretty braided ponytail with a gray slinky dress that looks like it’s for a sophisticated night out and not so much a frat party just off campus.

My chest aches, a strange bleed of panic working its way down my spine.

Don’t mention it. It was good.

That’s what she’d said. Not good enough, though, as she didn’t seek me out again. Didn’t show up at our morning skate or the second night of Learn to Skate.

I don’t blame her. I know I’ve been a husk when it comes to desire or passion—too afraid to try anything withmyself, let alone another person.

I’ve thought about it, but the emptiness and depression gnawing in my gut overcame any want. Even in the shower, when I tried once or twice, the pain rushing in my head and lack of anything to think of that felt even remotelygoodmade me just feel more broken.

Pathetic.

But, Ididfeel something with her, something real and warm that chased every scrap of darkened shadows away from me while I focused on her. Just her.

“Jesus Christ, Rhys,” Freddy barks, shaking my shoulders and grabbing his phone from my too-tight grip. “You good?”

My breath comes out a little too loudly for my preference, kicking up at the concern already splayed across both of my friends’ faces. Bennett’s brow is somehow furrowed deeper, a bit of frustration and anger blending with the distress.

“Are you hooking up with her again?” Bennett asks, his voice low and quiet.

It takes me a moment to realize he isn’t talking about Sadie, because of course he isn’t. He doesn’t know her, let alone anything that happened between us.

No, Bennett is asking about Paloma, puck bunny extraordinaire and a previous go-to of mine. It was only for a few weeks, and I could count the times we’d actually slept together on one hand, but everyone talked about it for months, as if Paloma Blake had officially achieved her ultimate form of bagging the captain.

“No.” I shake my head, gripping my thighs under the table to quell the tremors now rocketing through them. “No, I’m not.”

“You know her? Sadie?”

My head whips to Freddy, giving me an instant headache at the too-sudden motion. His eyes twinkle, as he screenshots the frozen screen and pulls up the photo, tossing his phone to a curious but quiet Bennett.

“How do you know her?” The words spill out before I can stop them, muscles too tight as I wait for Freddy’s answer.

“I barely know her; I’ve just seen her at a few parties, is all.” He waves me off, before smirking too wide. “Now, how do you know her?”

She pulled my body off the ice after I had a goddamned panic attack just trying to skate, which I can’t really do anymore without losing my shit, then flirted and smiled at me until I could breathe right.

She kissed me to the point that I almost felt like I wasn’t broken anymore.

“Yeah,” Bennett adds, now finished with his perusal of Sadie, sliding the phone back across the crowded table. “Considering you’ve been locked away all summer.”

I wince, but let it roll off my shoulders just like every shot Bennett takes. I deserve it. “She’s a figure skater—”

Freddy snaps his fingers and points at me. “I fucking knew I recognized her from somewhere.”

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