Page 30 of Unrecognizable Player

“You okay?” I step closer, but stop myself from getting close enough to touch him.

He swallows and nods, but he looks shaken up.

“Sure?”

“Yeah, thanks, I’m really sorry.”

“Stop apologizing.”

“I woke you up.”

“No you didn’t, that asshole did.”

He starts biting the nail on his thumb. “I didn’t ask him to come here.”

“I know that.” I shrug. “Doesn’t matter, if he bothers you again, you tell me okay?”

He frowns. “Why?”

“Because you’re my roommate, that’s why.”

He still looks confused. Have I been that much of a dick to him that he doesn’t think I’d have his back? I had his back in the street that day before I even knew him didn’t I? So why wouldn’t I have it now?

“Okay, thanks.”

I head towards my room, think about going back to bed, then change my mind. I’m way too hyped up to sleep right now. “You want coffee?”

“Let me make it.” He says.

“No, you sit down, I’ll make it.”

He does as I say. Sometimes I don’t realize I’m using my captain voice off the ice.

“So what happened?” I keep my back to him so he can’t see how hot my face has gone. It’s none of my business, I tell myself that, but I feel like I need to know.

“He cheated on me.”

I hiss.Where the fuck did that come from?

“That why you moved out?”

“Yeah.”

I spin around, not caring if my face is red. “He kicked you out?”

“No, it was his dad’s place.”

So he’s a rich asshole then. Even worse.

I turn back to the coffee to distract myself from wanting to hit something.

“You okay?”

He hesitates before answering and I hope to fuck for that asshole’s sake he’s not crying.

“I’m fine. Thank you.”

“Your friend, Alice, she knows about this?”

---