Page 94 of Crossing Lines

JONAH

After practice and showering, I slipped my athletic shorts up my legs, then shucked my team shirt over my chest. Something wasn’t right with Ryan. He’d barely looked at me the last few days. I knew he was upset over his mom’s new cancer diagnosis, but it felt like something more was going on. I picked up my duffel and glanced at Archer. “Hey.”

“Yeah?” He dressed across from me.

“I need some advice.” I stepped close to him. He knew better than anyone what it was like having a sick parent. Okay, and what it was like to lose a parent.

After pulling his shirt over his shorts, he faced me. “What?”

Looking around the room at all the guys, I grabbed his elbow and pulled him into a corner. I didn’t need the whole room hearing me. My breath caught. But shit, should I even tell him what was going on? Nobody knew.

“What?” He smoothed his blond bangs off his forehead.

Leaning close and in a low voice, I said, “Ryan’s mom has cancer again.”

“She does?” He dropped his jaw.

“Shh.” I covered his mouth for a beat, then released him. “Yes. He’s probably going home to be with her after the FrozenFour.” I wrung my hands together. “But he’s been distant with me. Should I say something? I mean, I don’t want to bother him.” And if I went with him, I risked not finishing my finals and not graduating.

Archer relaxed his shoulders and breathed in deeply. “When my dad was in the hospital, the first thing I did was call Leo.” He winced. “Leo was there for me took care of everything. I barely had to think. It was great.”

“So, should I be doing that for Ryan?” Shit, how would I even do that? I studied him.

“I don’t know.” He shrugged a shoulder. “I suppose everyone is different and this is a bad situation. I found out before the holidays when I was going home anyway. This is happening right before the biggest games of the season.” He tapped his lips. “I guess if I were him, I’d be under a lot of stress. Maybe you could see what you could do to take some of the stress off him.”

I nodded. “Yeah, okay.” I’d text him and see if he’d let me come over. Even if it was to just to have dinner together, maybe it would help. My gaze met his. “Hey, not a word of this to anyone.”

“You can count on me, man.” He hugged me to his side.

I stepped to my duffel bag, fished out my phone, then texted Ryan.

Jonah

Hey, can I see you tonight?

My phone buzzed.

Rhonda

Shouldn’t you be studying? We have some busy days coming up.

I snapped my brows together. Didn’t he want to see me? Pain sliced through my chest. Were we falling apart? Fuck. I covered my lips with my fingers. No, we were solid. He was just goingthrough some shit. I thought a minute. But shouldn’t this make us closer? I tapped my phone.

Jonah

I have time. We both need to eat dinner anyway.

Shit, I sounded a little desperate. But then I sort of was. The little dots popped up on my screen. What if he said no?

Rhonda

Yes, please come over. I miss you.

Warmth fluttered in my heart. I hadn’t lost him. He was stressed out like Archer had said he might be. I’d do what I could to help him.

I pickedup some Thai food on my way over to Ryan’s apartment and made my way through his parking garage with the food bags swaying in my hand. He’d said to meet around six, so here I was. I scanned around me. Was Owen still hanging around? No one had caught him skulking around the rink as of yet. Hopefully, the asshole had finally given up. Maybe he was too busy with finals too.

I used my keycard to unlock the door to Ryan’s building, then made my way up the elevator and down the hallway to his place. When I got to his door, I stopped and knocked. I was never sure if I should just go in or not.

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