Page 97 of The Drop

We listen to some music and sing along before we get to the bar. It's so busy that we have to muscle our way through, and I spot Megan with some other girls I haven't met before.

"Girls, meet Brooke," Savannah announces, holding her hands out like I'm part of her magic act, making me laugh as Megan pulls me in for a hug and hands me a cup of the mixer on the table before adding. "She's the boss babe behind The Drop."

"Wow, that's not embarrassing at all." I laugh at her and wave awkwardly at the other girls.

"Oh my God, no! Own that, please, we love The Drop!" one girl gushes at me. "I can never get anything that sells so quickly."

We chat about school and fashion trends, as half the girls are majoring in it, when a cheer goes up at the front of the bar. We all turn as some of the hockey team pour in, most with their heads down. I hadn't checked the score again, but I'm guessing they lost.

"Going to go say hi?" Savannah nudges me, looking towards the team; she knows I'm close with all of them, so she's probably confused why I didn't head straight over.

"Um, no, I'm kind of staying away for a bit." I smile tightly, and she gets the message and wraps an arm through mine.

"Want to talk about it?" she squeezes my arm before refilling our drinks, and I decide to tell her because being the only person with the complete picture is useless when everyone else won't hear you out.

"Then he told me he wasn't having fun anymore, and he needed to focus on hockey, and that's it. He's not speaking to me, and Cami won't even look at me," I finish sighing as I take a sip of my drink.

"Oh, Brooke," she wraps me in a hug, and I feel like I could cry because I have finally said the whole thing out loud. Someone had listened, and it didn't sound as messed up as I had made it in my head. It was just complicated, "so you haven't spoken to him at all?"

"Nope." I pop the p and shake my head. "Or Cami, I've just been a hermit," I snort.

She laughs along with me before pulling me into her side, "You can always call me, or no, that's stupid, I can call you, I should call you!" I hug her back because it's not always as easy as reaching out when I feel crummy.

"That means a lot, Savannah, thank you" My eyes are watery, and I try to blink them back because I've had a drink and I'm all emotional.

"We're friends. Call me Sav.”She winks and knocks her drink against mine a little too hard, and we spill some on the floor, before I get a chance to grab napkins to clear it up, I hear a whine behind me, "Brookie."

Turning to find Adam and Bear carrying a pitcher of beer and another cooler.

"Boys!" I throw my hands up and hug them both. I've barely seen them. Between hockey and keeping the peace, it doesn't leave much hang time for us.

"We've missed you," Adam says, swaying with me in his arms. "Sorry, it's been tense lately."

Bear rubs my head, and I throw his hand off. "But we brought a peace offering."

He extends the cooler, and Megan grabs it. "You're forgiven," she says over my shoulder and smiles at me before handing me a cup.

"Hmmm, I was going to make you two sweat a little longer," I huff, but sip the fruity drink. "I guess I can let it slide."

A cough comes from next to me, and I turn to Savannah and smile.

"Boys, this is Savannah." I gesture to her, and my eyes narrow at Adam. "Off limits," I hiss at him as Bear introduces himself. "Ha, sure she is." Adam nudges me out of the way to talk to her, and she smiles at him as they chat.

Now I know how Cami must have felt when I met Grant. I feel like I've just fed a goat to a T. Rex.

"You know Cami's just as miserable as you," Bear nudges me.

"You think I look miserable? Gee, thanks, Bear." I nudge him back, trying to steer the conversation away from the subject. I don’t want to talk about Cami again because it will just make me sad, and that's not why I came out tonight.

He laughs and pulls me in for a hug.

"I wish I could fix this," I mutter into his side as he embraces me. "It's not like I haven't tried."

"We know, trust me; it's just that she's stubborn." He pulls back and looks down at me, and I nod in agreement before taking a long sip of my drink and sighing. "But that's part of the reason we love her, right?"

"Sure is." He smiles, winks, and squeezes my arm one more time before letting me go. I’m about to ask him about the game when I hear someone behind me. "Grant, let's dance," I bristle at his name, let alone that it's a girl saying it.

I get nudged forward, slipping on the drink I spilt and my current drink tipping down my front.

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