Page 68 of Lucky Hit

THIRTY

OCTAVIA

With Christmas come and gone, life continues on just like it always does. Students start returning to their classes and everyone goes back to work. New Years brings in exciting resolutions for everyone to commit to until February when they begin to neglect them. Christmas trees are shoved into their boxes and hidden somewhere until next year. No more joyful music plays in coffee shops.

The world has gone back to normal, whether I like it or not.

The hockey season is now in full swing. Playoffs are approaching at an alarming rate and tensions are at an all-time high. The Saints are holding the top spot in the league—for now, that is. The only thing that could make the team stronger is if the tension between two of their starring forwards finally dissipates, which is why I'm visiting Adam.

Nervous butterflies flutter in my stomach as I will myself to knock on Adams's door. I take a few deep breaths, desperately trying to relax before my fists meet the wood. I'm not sure why I'm so nervous; Adam is my best friend, not some serial killer.

The door swings open, exposing a dishevelled Adam. His eyes widen at the sight of me on his parent's doorstep. To be fair, I usually only come here when he's having a party.

I raise my eyebrows pointedly at his appearance. He's only in a pair of plaid boxers and white socks—quite the outfit.

"Who is it, babe?" a vaguely familiar voice squeaks from somewhere in the huge house.

Adam pushes past me, closing the door behind him and leads me out onto the driveway. "What are you doing here?"

I smirk, wiggling my eyebrows suggestively. "Who was that?"

"Nobody, just some girl from the bar," he stammers, not maintaining eye contact. "Why are you here? We don't have plans, do we?"

"No, I came here to talk. If it's a bad time, I can come back," I offer, feeling hurt and dismissed. Adams's never usually so cold towards me.

"No, it's fine. Just let me change and we can go get coffee or something," he protests, making his way to the door. "Stay here. I'll be right back." He rushes inside, disappearing from my view before I can suck in another breath.

What the hell just happened? He's never had any problem parading his conquests before. Why is he being so dismissive and secretive?

The door swings open again and I have to suppress a gasp.

"You," the girl sneers, stepping out onto the patio. Beth Winston is the last person on earth I expected to come out of Adam's house wearing nothing but a baggy t-shirt.

I scowl at her. "Beth Winston, what a pleasant surprise. I thought I recognized your squeal."

"You should have been here last night then. You couldn't have missed it."

I don't know whether to laugh at how she agrees that her voice sounds like a squeal or gag from the mental image of what they did here last night.

"If you wouldn't mind, I have something important to talk to Adam about. If you could scurry off I would appreciate it," I say coldly, crossing my arms against my chest.

"Adam can decide that for himself," she protests, smiling smugly.

"Beth, leave. I'll call you later," Adam says from the doorway. He's fully dressed now, in his usual jeans and long sleeve combo.

I stifle a laugh when she flushes.

"Please. I'll call you tonight," he promises, sincerity colouring his tone. What is going on with him?

"This isn't over, Octavia." She glares at me and stalks off towards her car, still in Adam's t-shirt. Classy.

"You have a lot of explaining to do," I huff and push past him through the open door. With a sigh, Adam leads the way through his house.

"Want anything to drink? We have Ginger Ale."

"Of course." I follow him into the industrial style chef's kitchen. I sit down on one of the leather bar stools in front of the marble island and crack open the can handed to me, taking a gulp.

"She's not that bad," he says after a few moments of uncomfortable silence.

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