Page 91 of Unlovable Player

“Maybe, sort of.”

“So it might take a bit more convincing, fine, I can be patient.”

Austin keepshis hand on my knee under the desk all through class and I can’t hear a single word the professor is saying.

I don’t want to think about anything outside of this. But as soon as we get out of class, I’m reminded why we can’t just stick our heads in the sand and act like there isn’t a whole world out there.

“You’re coming to practise.” Austin says.

“I quit the team remember.”

He takes my hand, but I wriggle free.

“You should think about this before you commit.”

He steps closer and touches my face. “If people have a problem with us, it won’t be your fault. And with or without you, I’d still be bi.”

“Now you’re making me jealous.” I pout.

He laughs and shoves me gently. Pulling me back in by the sweater, he ruffles my hair. “Come to practise with me, please.”

I butt my head against his chest a couple of times and he laughs and hooks his arm around my neck.

“I love you idiot, come play hockey with me.”

“If Coach will take me back.”

“He didn’t accept your resignation in the first place.”

My head shoots up. “What?”

“Come on.” He grins and starts walking backwards. “We’re gonna be late.”

He keeps his hand on my knee for the drive, and when I park up outside the rink, I brush it off and get out of the car. I keep my distance as we walk inside and tell him to go ahead while I speak to Coach.

Without him beside me, I feel untethered. But I know I have to do this myself. Austin can’t just fix everything with his magic dick - no matter how nice it is.

Coach brightens when he sees me. I take the seat he offers me and clear my throat.

“If it’s okay, I’d like to come back to the team.”

“I was pretending you’d never left, so there won’t be a problem there.”

Fuck, there’s that lump in my throat again.

“Thank you Coach.”

“Have you decided about the internship yet?”

“Did Austin tell you I got it?”

“He did.”

“I want to Coach, I really want to.”

He smiles. “When do you have to get back to them?”

“By the end of the week.”

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