Page 65 of Don't Puck the Wrong Brother

I smile, replying:Don't get ahead of yourself, Sanderson. 8.7 is still within the margin of error.Goodnight, puck boy.

I fall asleep with a smile on my face, the complications of our situation temporarily forgotten in the warmth of a perfect—nearly perfect—night.

The next morning, I'm practically floating through my classes, replaying moments from last night in my head instead of taking proper notes. I can't remember the last time I was this distracted, this…happy.

It's a dangerous feeling, one that makes me vulnerable in ways I'm not entirely comfortable with. But I can't seem to stop it, can't turn off the little flutter in my chest every time my phone buzzes with a new text from Sanderson.

I'm walking across the quad after my last class when someone calls my name. I turn, expecting to see Lennox or maybe one of my study group partners.

Instead, it's Cade.

My stomach drops as he approaches, his expression hard to read. We haven't spoken since our disastrous breakup and seeing him now—knowing what I've been doing with his brother—sends a wave of guilt through me.

"Cade," I say cautiously. "Hi."

"Can we talk?" He doesn't wait for an answer, just gestures toward a nearby bench.

I follow reluctantly, hyperaware of the students passing by. This isn't a conversation I want to have in public, but refusing would only make things more awkward.

"How are you?" I ask as he stands in front of me, keeping a careful distance between us.

"Cut the small talk, Hannah," he says, his voice tight. "I know about you and my brother."

My blood runs cold.What?

He scoffs when he sees the look on my face. "Don't play dumb, Hannah. Sanderson told me last night."

"It's not—" I start, then stop. What can I say?It's not what you think?But it is, isn't it? Maybe not yet, not physically, but emotionally? I've been connecting with his brother in ways I never have with Cade, never have with anyone.

"It's not what I think?" Cade says bitterly, almost laughing. "You dumped me and ran straight to him. Was that the plan all along? Trade me in for the hotshot hockey player?"

"That's not fair," I protest. "It was a series of events that were bizarre, Cade! It’s not just something we can brush off. And you cheated on me, remember? With Anna?"

"That was one fucking mistake because you wouldn’t put out!" he counters, almost yelling. "I really––it was one fucking night that you seem to want to forget, so let’s fucking forget about it, Han. But instead, here you are fucking my brother!"

The sound of that makes me shiver. I glance around at all the eyes staring our way and tears pool to my eyes. The shame and embarrassment start to eat at me. This man standing before me had been a fun boyfriend, but with Sanderson it’s different. He sees me, understands parts of myself that I barely do.

"I didn't mean for it to happen," I whisper, trying to swallow in air that’s refusing to enter my lungs. "I do want to forget that night ever happened, but––"

"Then let’s fucking forget about it and move on, Hannah! Don’t date my fucking brother!" He throws his arms. "Are you out of your mind? He’s just with you to get back at me, you realize that, right? He can’t fucking handle knowing that he doesn’t deserve you, so he’s going to butter you up and then spit you out when he’s done. If you continue doing this with him, do you have any idea what that says about you?”

I freeze, starting to tremble from within. A shiver that starts in my heart and travels outward. Is he really saying this right now? Is he really making me doubt his brother’s intentions, pointing out what could be so obvious? I glare at Cade, not knowing if I can trust him. I’ve never known him to be untrustworthy, but Sanderson seems transparent and genuine. I’m confused, but as the confusion tries to keep my mind spinning, the anger I feel from my last encounter with Cade burns through me. Cade stoops down to levels I didn’t think he ever would.

So, I snap.

"You made it very clear what it says about me, Cade. I’m a ‘whore’, remember? And you know what? All of this can't just be forgotten. You lied to me, made me think you were home when you weren't. Then you calledmea whore when I broke up with you. I broke up with you because it was the right thing to do!"

He scoffs, "The right thing to do, Hannah? You fucked my brother in my bed. My bed! I have to sleep in that fucking room every night, knowing that you seduced him while he was asleep because you were too much of a bitch to admit in person that you wanted to sleep with me!"

"Great, so I’m a bitch now?" Tears fall down my cheek, but I quickly wipe them away.

Someone approaches us, and Cade warns them with his hand. More people walk over, trying to protect me from him. Suddenly all eyes are on him like he’s the bad guy. I don’t agree, so I push past them and shake my head. Cade is hurt, and I am the one who hurt him.

Cade almost laughs at all the faces staring his way. He shouts, "My girlfriend fucked my brother, everybody!"

Some glance my way, and my stomach is in turmoil. I can’t help myself, I yell back, "And you fucked Anna!"

Cade laughs. "She’s a lot fucking hotter than you in every way."

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