Page 75 of Full Tilt
I go to respond, but she carries on, her excitement becoming increasingly obvious.
“We were thinking of throwing a house party at our place next week. The guys play on Friday night so we could hold it on Saturday. It could double as a celebration for you getting the captaincy too.”
Pulling back the phone, I check the time.
Twenty minutes until Tommy’s window closes.
Placing a flat palm against my forehead, I can feel the stress headache as it builds behind my eyes.
“I don’t want me getting captain to overshadow your news. Seriously, let’s just focus on your announcement.”
“But—” Kendra tries to protest, but I cut her off abruptly.
“But nothing. I was thinking of having a small celebration at my apartment at some point after the playoffs are finished. Hollie is still the captain right now, and I don’t want to step on her toes.”
Kendra goes quiet. She usually does when she knows I’m right.
“Why are you so grumpy?” Her next question is not what I was expecting. “You just ticked off two major goals in your career, and you sound anything but delighted about it.”
This is one of the reasons why I like Kendra, Collins, and Darcy so much—they aren’t afraid to speak the truth. I’ve met my fair share of people with an alternative agenda to last me a lifetime.
“I’m not grumpy,” I attempt to deny, checking the time once again.
“You are,” she volleys back, only sounding more and more determined. “I’ve felt like something has been going on with you for a while now, so tell me, is it to do with Holt?”
The temptation to lie is so great. I’m not a liar though, and Kendra doesn’t deserve to be deceived.
That’s not what good friendships are built on.
Maybe it’s the fact that I now have a little over fifteen minutes to save whatever it is I have with Tommy that drives me to be truthful. I don’t know. But when I close my eyes and let the words come, so does a sense of relief.
“It has to do with Tommy,” I tell her quietly.
Any background noise on Kendra’s end immediately stops.
“Tommy?” Her voice is cold and cutting. “What the fuck has he done now?”
I press my palm harder into my forehead, almost like I’m pushing the thoughts out of my brain and into the open. “He hasn’t done anything wrong.”
There are a few beats of nothing before Kendra speaks again.
“I’m confused, Jen. If he hasn’t done anything wrong, then what is the problem?”
Opening my eyes, I stare up at my white ceiling, the outdated textured pattern the previous tenant left blurring with wetness.
“Jen?” Kendra gently presses me for more information.
“I … I don’t really know what to say.” My voice is equally as soft.
“Can I ask you something then?”
I nod my head in an empty room, but despite my best friend not being able to see it, she continues with her question.
“Has something been going on with you two?”
I spent weeks dreading the thought of anyone finding out about me sleeping with Tommy, for fear of how my friends and Holt would react.
Yet, as Kendra finishes up her question, all I feel is more relief.
