Page 115 of Broken Hearts
Mav and I get back to Valley Wednesday night and the rest of the week I’m playing catch up on my classes. It has been a crazy month but luckily my professors are as eager for the semester to be over as I am and I didn’t miss any quizzes or major assignments.
And without Rhett or skating to occupy my time, by Friday evening I’m caught up and bored. I finally meet up with the girls at the dining hall. I knew they’d have a million questions and I’m not disappointed. The second we sit down at a table, they start asking me questions about Rhett.
“You went all that way there and then didn’t even go see him?” Ginny asks.
“I couldn’t. I wanted to, but I just couldn’t.”
“Have you heard from him?” Reagan smiles sadly.
“Just a couple texts.” I shake my head. “Hopefully he’s dealing or doing whatever he needs to.”
“It’s only been a week,” Dakota says.
A week that has felt like an eternity. I hoped that from afar maybe he’d open up more, but it’s been radio silence while he deals with this on his own.
“Yeah.” I sit taller. “I know. I just miss him.”
“I can’t believe you drove all that way,” Reagan says.
“It wasn’t a total loss. I got to meet Elias finally, and the Wildcats roster. I’m not sure which was more exciting.”
Dakota leans forward. “I know Elias is your best friend and all, but the locker room of men. One man is never better than a hockey roster full of them.”
“Except when it’s the right one,” Reagan says.
With a roll of her eyes, Dakota says, “Well, until then…” She waves her hand. “I need details.”
I tell them everything I can remember about Maverick’s new team and the giant arena where they practice. I leave out that he’s going to be playing for them sooner rather than later. As far as I know, Maverick hasn’t told anyone else about his decision to leave Valley and go pro next year.
Eventually Reagan and Ginny leave us to sit with their boyfriends.
“Are you aware that Mav thinks you were sexting him while we were gone,” I tell Dakota as we leave the dining hall.
“Umm… what?”
“The picture you sent him with Charli. He has this whole theory on how sending a picture with his dog is better than sending dick pics.”
She stares blankly.
“As in, more effective at getting him laid.”
“So that’s why he keeps sending me photos of him and Charli.”
We both laugh.
“What’s your night like?” Dakota asks. “Wanna hang out?”
“I’d love to, but I had to trade some classes while I was gone. Tonight I’m teaching two beginner-level yoga classes.”
“I’ll come with you. I was going to run at the track, but the last class I took with you kicked my ass. How long have you been doing it?”
“Yoga or teaching it?”
“Both.”
“My mom was always doing yoga around the house when I was growing up. I would do a pose or two with her, then get bored and go do something else. Then when I got to Valley I took a more advanced yoga class. It was so hard, but I loved the challenge, and it really helps with skating.” I swipe my card on the door reader to let us in the locked room. “And I started teaching when I realized I could get paid for doing something I was planning on doing anyway.”
She laughs. “It doesn’t suck the joy out of it for you being a job?”
