Page 94 of Collide
“Something about the scale I’m using,” she mumbles, putting her hair up. “I need to focus on some work. I’ll text you later?”
I don’t expect the jolt of irritation that hits me at her words. Being locked in her bathroom for an hour might have eaten at any patience I had left. “Why do you always do this?”
“Do what?” She’s barely paying attention as she makes her bed.
“You talk to him, and then you’ve completely withdrawn.”
Her movements pause. “That’s not true.”
“Don’t pull that shit with me, Summer. Why are you letting him control your life?”
She doesn’t make eye contact. “I’m not.”
“Really? Because you were just about to kick me out.”
“Because I have work to do.” She’s still fiddling with the sheets when I approach her. Slowly, she brings her eyes to mine, and the guard she keeps so high starts to slip.
“You can tell me.”
There’s an exasperated breath before she speaks. “Fine, yes, I pull away. But it has nothing to do with him. Every time I remember the project, I’m reminded of everything on the line, and I hate that I let myself get distracted.”
“You think I’m a distraction?”
“It’s not the insult you think it is, Aiden.” She sits on her mattress, defeated. “I don’t want either of us losing focus or shifting priorities.”
“Priorities change.”
“What are you saying?”
That I’m falling for you.“That I can focus on hockey and you.”
Turns out Kilner was right. Finding the balance depends on figuring out the things I consider priorities. She has quickly become one of mine, and that isn’t changing anytime soon.
“That’s not true. You can only focus on one thing effectively.” She drops her hands in her lap. “If this is about sex, I’m sure any girl on campus would happily give it to you.”
The words sound simple enough, but the damage they do makes me take a step back. I can’t even think about another girl when this stubborn one is the one I want. “This isn’t about that.”
“Of course it is! That’s all we do. It’s all we agreed on.”
My eyes narrow. “Then when’s the last time we had sex?”
“What do you mean? It was—” she falters, unable to find a reality where our relationship amounted to one thing.
“Exactly. Even you know our relationship isn’t only about sex.” I take a step closer. “We’ve been together every day for the past few weeks simply because we like to be around each other. Why can’t you just admit that?”
She bites the inside of her cheek, eyes set on her lap. “That sounds like more than I signed up for, Crawford.”
“Admit it.”
She releases a shaky breath. “I can’t, okay?”
“Why not?” I prompt.
“Because you’re ahockey player,” she says the last two words with disdain, like every other time.
My frustration grows heavy. “What do you have against us?”
“Nothing.” Her expression shadows with reluctance. “It’s not a very interesting story.”
