Page 107 of Goalie's Obsession

“You’realreadyin it. Both of you.” My voice cracks, and I hate that it does. “You think you’re helping by keeping me out, but after everything I’ve done—after walking away from my parents just now, standing up for Ethan, holding my breath through this entire goddamn media tour—youbench me?”

Connor steps forward, hands up in that stupid peacekeeping way, but I take a step back.

"Nope. Not now, Connor."

My arms cross tightly over my chest, that old, ugly burn of humiliation creeping up my spine.

He was supposed to be the one whosawme. The one person who never made me feel small.

“You don’t get to decide when I matter, Connor,” I whisper.

I pace the living room, heart pounding against my ribs like it’s trying to crack its way out. The walls are closing in—Connor’s voice still echoing in my head, Ethan sitting there like this is normal, like this is fine.

It’snotfine.

"Lucy, please—"

“No, Connor! You don’t get to decide this isn’t my problem,” I snap, turning on him. “He’s mybrother. This is myfamily. This is what I do, alright?”

“I know,” Connor says, trying to stay calm, but it just fuels the fire burning beneath my skin.

“No, you don’t,” I spit. “Because if you did, you wouldn’t be trying to fix this for me.

He steps forward. “I’m just trying to protect you, Lucy.”

I let out a harsh laugh, rolling my eyes so hard they might get stuck. "Yeah, just like my parents did an hour ago. Just like everyone has my entire life." My voice cracks, but I don't care anymore. "And look where that's gotten me?"

I throw my hands up, gesturing at the disaster around us—at Connor's pristine apartment now littered with Ethan's clothes, at my brother hunched on the couch like a ghost of himself, at the mess we've all become.

"My brother might have gotten me fired from the only job I've ever actually wanted." My gaze cuts to Ethan, who at least has the decency to flinch. "And my parents?" I press my lips together, fighting back tears. "They couldn't give a single fuck about any of it unless it affects their precious reputation."

The silence that follows feels like glass about to shatter. Connor takes a step toward me, but I hold up my hand.

Maybe it’s not fair, maybe none of this is.

But I just walked away from the two people who gave me life. I stood in front of them and told them I wasdone. And I meant it.

I picked Ethan.

I picked Connor.

I pickedus.

And now they're both shutting me out like I’m fragile? Like I can’t handle this?

Tears sting behind my eyes, and this time, I can't stop them from falling. So I grab my coat and turn for the door.

“I need air,” I mutter. “I need—space.”

“Lucy,” Connor says, low, pleading.

But I don’t stop.

I don't even remember driving to Chapter & Grind. The streets blur past in a haze of streetlights and neon signs, my hands white-knuckled on the steering wheel.

When I push through the door, the bell chimes overhead and Emma takes one look at my face and drops the book she's shelving.

"Lucy?"

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