Page 71 of Need You to Choose Me

Clarkson sets his drink down. “What happened?”

“A lot. I got drafted and moved.”

His eyes narrow. “It’s more than that.”

Perceptive fucker. “The casual part of the fling grew into more, and I couldn’t afford to have her in my life like that. I was leaving, so it made sense to break it off. She’s still in college. I’m here. It wouldn’t have worked.”

The captain shakes his head. “Sounds like you’re trying to convince yourself that. You don’t know any of that for sure.”

“I know that I said some pretty harsh things that I can tell still hurt her even after I’ve apologized. I suppose that’s my punishment to endure. Look, man. I have my reasons for doing what I did. But what’s yours? Belle seems like a nice girl. She’s successful. Attractive—Don’t give me that look. I’m pointing out the facts. I have eyes.”

He harrumphs but doesn’t say anything.

“So what if she’s your stepsister? It isn’t like you share any DNA. Do whatever is going to make you happy. Or at least do what makes you less of a pain in our asses. But take it from me. It’s never fun watching the person you care about move on with somebody else. So do something about it before this little game turns into something serious.”

I think about that picture of Olive and Bodhi. She didn’t say they were together, but didn’t tell me theyweren’t. Just because she knows I’m in this doesn’t mean she is too.

The only thing I can hope for if they are involved is that he never lets another fucking person talk shit about her, or he’ll have to answer to me. I have no issue throwing hands if it means making sure she’s treated right. Even if that means letting her go to be happy with someone else.

Clarkson scrapes a palm over his jaw thoughtfully, his square shoulders easing until he finally sighs heavily. “So what’s holding you back?”

My thumb taps against the tabletop. “There’s another woman who I need to put first. She takes up what little time and energy I have that hockey doesn’t these days. Being in a relationship with me wouldn’t be easy, and I don’t think I can give anybody the part of me that they deserve.”

The way Clarkson looks at me makes my skin feel itchy, but then he dips his chin. “That’s admirable, O’Conner. But I stand by what I said before. You should let people choose whether they want to be part of your life. Don’t you want someone who will accept all of you regardless of the bad parts?”

That’s the dream, isn’t it? But dreams aren’t real. That’s why people wake up from them and have to decide if they’re really nightmares. “I could say the same for you.”

Just as he answers, Belle shows up at the top of the stairs and looks between us.

I slide out of the booth. “Thanks for the talk, man. Good luck.” I dip my head in greeting at Belle. “He’s all yours.”

Her eyes widen a fraction before they dart from me to her stepbrother. Even in the dim lighting, I can see the pink on her cheeks.

“Bye, Alex,” she says, her eyes glued to my captain.

I chuckle to myself and wonder how long it’ll take before they’re doing anything other than talking in that booth.

When I walk out of Belle’s Place, I pull my phone out and search for Olive’s name in my contacts. Just as I pull up our old text thread, pain radiates in my head and sends black dots coating my eyes until black is all I see.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Olive

The thirty-pound boyattached to my hip feels more like fifty the longer I carry him. “I told you I’ve got it,” I reassure my best friend for the eighth time since showing up at her place.

DJ wraps an arm around Skylar’s waist and presses a chaste kiss against the crown of her skull. “She’s watched him before, babe. If you want to meet your parents, we should get going.”

I wave them off. “Go. I’ve got both your numbers,andyour parents’ numbers,andyour older sister’s number. Plus, I can dial 9-1-1 God forbid I need to. But Bentley and I will be fine. You said yourself that he’ll probably be napping most of the time anyway.”

Skylar frowns at her son, who’s already starting to nod off. “I know. I know. Okay, you’re right. We won’t be gone for long. We’re just looking at two places, and they’re not far from each other.”

She’s already told me that three times, but I go along with it like it’s new information. “Got it. But seriously don’t rush. I’m sure your family wants to spend time with you. Maybe go out to lunch after. House hunting seems stressful.”

DJ’s arm tugs her into his side. “Your mom did want to try that Indian restaurant, and you said you were in the mood for curry.”

I can tell Skylar is searching for any excuse to get out of going but comes up short. “We’ll see. Let’s see the houses first. I’ve already looked at the Zillow listings and did virtual tours of the properties, so—”

“Blondie,” DJ laughs, turning her to face him. He puts his hands on either side of her arms and looks like he’s about to give one hell of a pep talk. “I need you to take a deep breath. Today is supposed to be fun. We might be finding a new place to live. And your parents are going to look around the area too. We’ve wanted this since we found out about Bentley, remember?”

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