Page 93 of The Risk

“Sort of? It’s not exactly ghosting, because she didn’t disappear without a word. She ended it to my face, but it was kind of a vague breakup.”

“Breakup?” Hazel echoes in surprise. “How long have you been seeing each other?”

“Honestly, not long. A few weeks.”

She starts toying with her thumb ring. Hazel wears a lot of chunky jewelry, mostly rings and bracelets, and the one she’s playing with now was my Christmas present to her. The silver band winks in the overhead light as she spins it around her thumb.

“And you’re this attached after a few weeks?” she finally says.

“Well, she’s been on my radar for longer than that. But we only recently started going out.”

“Have you been on a date? Like, an actual date?”

“Yes.”

She spins the ring some more. “Was it good?”

“Really good,” I confess. “I don’t know, we were really hitting it off and she just bailed.”

“Then she’s a moron.”

“Nah, she’s not. She’s cool, actually. I think you would like her.”

“What’s her name?”

“Bre—” I stop abruptly.

“Breh?” A groove appears in Hazel’s forehead. “What kind of name is that?”

I hesitate before deciding to be honest. Hazel’s not part of the hockey scene, anyway, so I can’t see her putting two and two together about Brenna.

“Her name is Brenna,” I reveal.

“That’s a pretty name.” Hazel tips her head. “Is she pretty?”

“Gorgeous.”

“I guess she has to be, right? I mean, you can’t be a scrub and capture the heart of the elusive Jake Connelly.”

I shrug. “She hasn’t captured my heart and I’m not elusive.”

“Dude, every girl in high school wanted to be with you, and not a single one was able to lock you down. You are unquestionablyelusive. Like an eel.” She starts toying with her thumb ring again. “Tell me about this Brenna.”

“Nah, let’s not do this.”

“Why not? We’re not allowed to talk about relationships?”

“We never have before.”

“So?”

“Fine. You go first,” I challenge.

“No problem. Let’s talk about my relationship.” Hazel smirks at me. “I don’t have one. Your turn.”

I can’t help but laugh. She got me there. “I dunno, what do you want me to say? Her name is Brenna. She’s amazing. We’re broken up. Or maybe on a break. That’s really all there is to know.”

“Does she go to Harvard?”

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