Page 50 of Between the Blue

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“It’s barely 9:30.”

“I have early practice tomorrow,” I tell him.

“Yeah, so do I and half of this party.”

I glance around. He’s not wrong. There’s tons of other hockey guys we’ve played with over the years here. Still.

“You know this isn’t my thing, Sutty.”

He looks at me, nods slowly. Of course he knows. “You haven’t seen her around yet?”

I start to ask him who he’s talking about. But that’s stupid. Obviously we both know who. Guess I’m kinda bummed. Maybea little embarrassed. I’d never want to admit that though. Not even to Sutty.

But, of course, he knows that too.

“Sorry, man.” Rhett pats my back. “She’s in the usual group I sent the invite to. She normally doesn’t miss.”

“S’okay.”

“You know,” he says, “there are lots of other girls here. If you didn’t notice.”

“Yeah, I know.”

He waits for me to say something more, but I don’t. “And?” he questions me.

“They’re not her.”

Rhett’s lips press together. “Got it.” He nods. “Well, a few of the guys were about to start a table hockey tournament. Stay and play a round?”

“I don’t–”

“Just a round. Give me something, Jamesy. I’m a poor abandoned orphan this weekend.” He gives me a puppy dog frown.

Even though he’s joking, I know he’s also not.

“Alright,” I say. “A round.”

One round turns to two. And two beers turns to four.

But I’m having fun. And it’s gotten my mind off of her.

Until nearly an hour later.Wonderwallby Oasis is blaring at top volume. I glance up from the table.

And there she is. Across the room, drink cup in her hand, eyes on me.

Jules is standing right by the back door. And, as soon as I register it, she’s opening it and slipping outside.

I turn back to the hockey table. Tell myself to count to a hundred before I follow her. Make her wait like she made me.

I make it to four.

I step out onto the back deck, and just like before, there she is. But her back is to me.

“I’m getting worried you’re stalking me, Ben.”

I step closer to her, and the smell of menthol hits me.

I was at the party first, but I don’t say that. Because it doesn’t matter. She’s here now.

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