Page 29 of Breakaway Hearts

“I’d kill to see you play hockey,” I say with a smirk. “It’s ninety percent determination, so you’d kick ass in that respect. But I’m serious. Ever since we met at that summer camp, you’ve known what you wanted to do, and now you’re doing it. That’s amazing. You were a way better counselor than I was, because working with kids is your calling.”

“Thanks, Reese.”

She reaches over, taking my hand. I give it a squeeze automatically, my thumb running over her knuckles in a slow back and forth.

Silence fills the living room, enveloping us in a quiet little bubble. The TV is still muted, so there’s not even that sound to break into the moment as Callie looks over at me, her green eyes luminous and so full of emotion.

God, I hope she knows how incredible she is.

There are people who would’ve been wrecked by what happened to her today, who could never roll with the punches that life throws with the same ease and grace that Callie does. I don’t know if she sees that in herself, but I see it every day, and it’s one of my favorite things about her.

“It’s been a long day,” I tell her in a low voice. “You should get some rest. And so should I. I’ve got an early practice tomorrow.”

“Yeah.” Her hand slips out of mine, and I miss the warmth of it. “I’ll head up in a minute.”

“Do you need anything?”

She shakes her head. “The guest room looked great. Thank you.”

“Stop thanking me.” I grin at her. “Just standard best friend stuff, remember?”

My callback to what she told me the night I asked her to be my fake girlfriend makes her laugh, like I hoped it would.

“I think this is beyond best friend stuff,” she says, tilting her head. “Is there a level beyond that?”

“I dunno.Bestbest friend?” I purse my lips, considering. “I kind of want that on a mug, actually.”

“Well, now I know what I’m getting you for your next birthday.”

“Can’t wait.”

I chuckle, then tap my fist gently against her knee before rising from the couch. I down the rest of my beer and put the glass in the dishwasher, then start to head up to my room, but I stop at the base of the stairs in the foyer.

“Oh, and Callie?” I call.

“Yeah?”

“I sleep naked, so don’t come into my room in the middle of the night.”

She snorts, and I laugh along with her.

“And why would I do that?” she calls back.

“You tell me, you perv.”

“Reese Sutton, you—”

“Goodnight!”

I jog up the stairs before she can respond, grinning to myself. Hopefully, the laughter and the beer lightened her night just a little bit.

After brushing my teeth and washing my face in my en suite bathroom, I settle into bed just as Callie’s soft footsteps pad up the stairs. Her bedroom door closes a moment later, and I assume she’s going through her usual nighttime routine. Is she wearing my old jersey as a sleep shirt the way she told me she sometimes does?

Usually, I pass out pretty hard after a game, but tonight, I lie awake for a long time, strangely aware of my best friend’s presence right down the hall.

Chapter10

Callie

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