Page 68 of Until We Burn
“Yeah, you’re right.” I rake a hand through my hair as a taut breath pushes out of me. Talking about the internship feels like lifting a heavy weight; exhausting and draining. But it’s a weight I need to shoulder if I want to keep my parents happy so I can keep playing on the ice.
“I know it’s not what you want. But it won’t last forever. You’ll prove yourself to the NHL, get signed to a team, and you’ll end up…who knows where?” Diana smiles faintly.
I nod, forcing a smile on my face. “And you’ll be taking over your dad’s company.”
“Depends,” she huffs, “If I can find a way to clear my name.”
“Still no luck?”
“No.” Diana pinches the bridge of her nose. “It’s already the middle of October. That leaves eight more months to win my father’s approval, get back on, and do something to persuade the board and our partners that I’m a good fit. Not to mention, put out any fires my siblings plan to light my way.”
“You’re going to do all those things,” I assure. “I know it. You’re more fearless and capable than you realize, Di.”
Diana smiles, a real one that makes her face and her eyes soften. “Thank you.”
I nod, as my heart aches to stay one more minute. “You’re welcome.”
Diana’s eyes drop to my lips. My breath catches in anticipation. My hands flex at my sides, desperate to rise and hold her face and kiss her. That’s all I’ve been thinking about while I was gone.
Except you shouldn’t be. You can’t give her what she wants nor can she give you what you want. All of this—the secrets, the sneaking around—is all you can have from each other.
I step away and snatch my backpack from the cubby. “I’ll see you on Saturday night?”
“Mhm,” Diana promises. “I’ll be there.”
I can still feelDiana’s touch linger on mine even when I leave the newsroom.
It burns like a damn beacon to the point where our secret arrangement always feels like it’s on the brink of being exposed.
“Fancy seeing you here.”
Dread sinks into my stomach. With my fucked up luck, Jonathan, Gregory, and Sophia are waiting for the elevators. They stand out in their bespoke clothes and stylishly coiffed hair in a crowd of sweatersand sweatpants. Sophia, as usual, is the only Huang in bright pink. She stares back at me, looking bored and unbothered.
My fingers tighten over my backpack strap. “I had a radio interview.”
“If Diana was the one in charge, I hope it wasn’t too much of a trainwreck,” Jonathan chortles.
Imagining their heads getting crushed by the elevator doors doesn’t do much except provoke my anger. I ignore them and force myself to keep walking.
“Sorry about what happened at the dinner party, by the way.”
I pause, glaring over my shoulder.
Jonathan persists with that entitled drawl in his voice. “The apology is long overdue, but I thought you deserved to hear it.”
“You must know, our family is intent on working with the best,” Gregory chimes in. “We don’t hesitate to cut out weak links.”
I know. That’s why you barely flinched when you cut down your own sister.
But I can’t say shit like that. They can’t know that I care about Diana like this.
I shrug. “Consider it water under the bridge.”
The elevator draws open and the Huangs step on.
“Oh.” Jonathan twists around and smiles at me. “If you run into my sister in the newsroom again, give her our best, will you?”
Gregory chuckles. “Lord knows she needs it.”
