Page 20 of Wilder Puck
That thought is making my insides twirl around.
He rolls his head to me and shrugs. “You being here is enough.”
And there it is.
Sometimes throughout the years, I’ve seen glimpses of Ryan accidentally hinting that he’s into me. And honestly, with the look on his face, I think I’m reading him correctly right now. With his behavior lately, which has felt so clingy, to be honest, it’s like he’s going through something and needs me at his beck and call. Am I exaggerating this? I don’t know but he’s throwing fits like a child. He’s offering his guestroom like it's loose change. Maybe he’s having some sort of crisis. He seemed fine before I told him about my landlord’s email.No, I know.It’s me. I’m the problem.
Right when I think I’ve gotten to the bottom of this, he scratches his face while ripping his eyes from mine.
“I told my dad I have a girlfriend.”
His dad has no idea about Hailey. He knows his dad will get on his ass about it, so I smile, happy he’s finally being honest with him. “I wish I was there to see his face.”
“Oh, you should’ve seen it. I told him it was you.”
I nearly choke on the air I’m breathing. Our eyes connect, and I’m mortified right now.Ryan did what?I clear my itchy throat, trying to understand why Ryan would do that. “What?” I ask, the shock rolling out with my tone. Why the fuck would he do that?
He nods with confidence.
“Why–why would you do that?” I’m starting to choke on my words now.
“He was on my ass, so it came out of my mouth. I’m sorry.”
I laugh in disbelief. “What about Hailey? Yourrealgirlfriend?”
He opens his phone and throws it at me. “Read it.”
Chapter 8
Addison grabs the phone and reads the open text message. She stares at the text for a moment and then glances up at me.
“Are you okay?” she asks, handing the phone back.
The air feels dry and cold tonight. It’s constricting my throat. Addie must think I’m pissed off about the breakup, but receiving this text was a godsend. We had a minor argument over text about who was breaking up with who, but in the end, Hailey and I decided to end things. What I’m actually pissed off about is my best friend missing my game, so that she could work when she doesn’t have to fucking work. I have an endless amount of money that I don’t know what to do with. The least I can do is help my best friend financially.
And I did. I called her landlord, which was a pain in the ass. It took me an hour to talk to this man, haggle out a deal, bribe him to keep quiet, and all that just for Addie to say, “I made two hundred in tips.” I wanted to tell her that’s my fucking pocket change. But she wants to earn her money, and I guess that’s enough for me to keep my mouth shut because I respect it.
“I think I’m just in shock you would tell your dad you’re dating me. I knew you wanted to break up with Hailey, but I–” Addie trails off, halting my spiral. It’s even more annoying that she thinks my problem lies with Hailey. Hailey has barely been a problem. Actually, she was a fine girlfriend, and I wish her the best.
“Why me?” she asks.
I turn to her and say, “My dad brought you up. He blamed you for how shitty I played, so I said it to shut him up. He said he can’t believe that a grown man has a woman for a best friend, so I said you are more than that. Then he said, so she’s your girlfriend? And I said yeah.” I’m staring at the ground, but then I look up at her. “I’m sorry, Baddie. We had just lost the game and I was pissed off.”
She’s staring at nothing right now as I search her face for what she’s thinking.
“I’m sorry,” I apologize again.
“So, we pretend?” she asks, not a hint of anger in her tone.
My stomach curdles at that thought, knowing damn well that pretending is not what I want to do. In fact, I should tell her right now that I want the real thing. Lay it all on the line for her.
My phone rings, filling the silence. We keep eye contact for another second and then I glance at the screen and huff. “The guys are doing something tonight and they want me to go.”
“Are you going to go?” she asks, concerned.
I look over at her. “Only if you go.”
“Are you okay to go?” she asks in a protective tone.
