Page 60 of Breakout
“What do you mean it’s not? Isn’t she supposed to be gearing up for the Olympic team?”
“Not my story to tell.”
“Sounds familiar.”
“All right, stop talking my ear off. I have to study, or I’m going to fail,” Brett says, making me chuckle.
While things might not be perfect between us, at least things are a little bit better than when he sat down, and that’s all I can ask for. Now if only I could get Peyton on the same page as me, that would be great.
thirteen
Imight regret it, but I took the night off of work again. I’ve been doing it more and more. I find myself taking fewer shifts and spending more time with my husband. The same one who is supposed to be fake, but that I’m starting to feel real big feelings for.
Tonight is a special night, though. It’s the first game of the Frozen Four. The guys have been practicing their asses off for it. The entire team wants to win this for Clay since it’s his last year as captain before he graduates. Beckett even said there are going to be scouts there from PHL teams looking to draft him and Clay along with a few of the other players.
I have to be there for him. It’s the least I can do since he has shown up for me over and over again. Even when I’m a bitch and try to remind him that this is all fake, he doesn’t waver.
I hate to admit it, but he’s slowly changing my mindset. He’s reminding me of what it’s like to have people to depend on. Ihaven’t truly had that since I was a child. Or maybe I have with the girls, but I never allowed myself to accept it.
Stepping into my room, I’m surprised to find Cora there, picking up the room.
“Gosh, I’m sorry I make you live like this. I swear I’m not always a slob,” she says in lieu of a greeting.
“Girl, it’s no big deal. If something bothers me, I just push it on your side of the room and pretend it doesn’t exist.”
“Oh, I bet that’s how some of your discarded items ended up over here?” she teases, holding up the empty condom wrapper.
My face turns red. “Um. No comment?”
“Hey, none needed. I’m glad you are getting laid. You deserve to have a little fun.” She wiggles her eyebrows.
“I got the memo from you and Grace. I’m not even going to work tonight. See, I am having fun.”
“Ooh. What are you doing instead? Going out with the mystery guy? Or is it multiple? No shame, girl. Get you some.”
I roll my eyes at her. “I’m not that exciting.”
You’re the most exciting thing that’s happened to me.
His voice filters into my head unbidden. It has me fighting a smile on my face.
“Then what are your big plans?” She folds a sweater, setting it on her makeshift dresser.
“The hockey game.”
“Ooh. You got a ticket? When? Why didn’t you tell me? We could have gotten tickets together.”
She picks up my ChapStick that somehow ended up on the floor by her bed and shakes it.
“Top drawer, please,” I tell her as I pull my hockey jersey without a name on it out of the closet. “I figured you had family tickets. Beckett gave me one of his. Said something about him stabbing his eye out if he allowed his father to use the tickets. He practically begged me to take one off his hands. Pathetic, really.”
The truth is Beckett always leaves the family tickets on my nightstand. He secretly wants me there, but I usually don’t go. He doesn’t even know I’m going tonight. He thinks I have to work.
She slides the drawer open.“That’s nice of him. Hey, what are these paper rings in your drawer?” she asks, holding one up.
My heart warms as I look at them. Beckett has taken to giving me one every time he sees me now. He says it’s because I won’t let him give me a real one. He doesn’t like seeing my finger bare knowing that I’m his.
I’m really starting to think he is enjoying this more than he should. Yet, I don’t stop him. I take every single paper ring he slips on my finger and place them in my drawer. I really need to get a memory box for them because even after this is all over and done with, I plan to keep them. They are a memory of the happiest time of my life. The only ones I remember, at least.
