“There. Now you have mine too.”
“Perfect. Have a good rest of your day, and let’s do something together soon!”
“Yes, please,” I sing as I head back to my table.
Suddenly, my phone buzzes in my hand, and I see Cole’s name come across the screen. Swiping the call, I hear noise and music blaring loudly in the background before I answer.
I plug my other ear as I say, “Hello?”
“Hi, baby.” Cole slurs his greeting.
“Hi, babe. What are you doing?” I ask, trying to hear anything that doesn’t sound like random noise.
“The guys and I are out, getting a couple of drinks to celebrate our win. What about you?”
“Just about to head back to my apartment.”
His voice turns cold on a dime, unrecognizable. “Where are you right now?” Distrust seeps into his every word. “Who are you with?”
“I’m by myself, and I’m just at the coffee shop next door. Why?” I ask, my stomach twisting into knots.
He forces out a chuckle. “I’m just checking in on you. Making sure you’re safe. Is that okay with you?”
A girl’s voice cuts through the noise, and I hear it clear as day, as if she’s right by the phone. “Where are you going, baby?”
“Who was that?” I ask, my mind spinning with hypotheticals.
He responds instantly, but I don’t miss the edge of panic in his voice. “Just some drunk chick, looking for the bathroom.”
“Oh, okay,” I murmur softly.
“You don’t trust me, Lain? Are you serious? What do I have to do to make you feel safe in this relationship? After all this time, you’re still questioning me.”
He’s angry now, and I knew I shouldn’t have said anything. My comments only make his temper worse.
“I do feel safe, Cole, I do! It was just my insecurity talking—I know that. I’m sorry.”
He sighs. “It’s okay. I know this separation is going to be hard. But we’ll be fine.”
“Of course. I love you.”
“You’re breaking up. I can’t hear you. I’ll text you soon,” he murmurs into the phone.
“Oka—”
He ends the call, cutting me off.
I gather my things and head back to my apartment, waiting every step for a text to come through.
But even as I make my way upstairs and inside my unit, nothing comes, nothing but a sinking sensation in my stomach that makes me want to hurl.
CHAPTER 10
JENSEN
I slapmy stick on the ground, calling for the puck, and Burnsy passes it to me on cue. I can see the play in my mind and the weaknesses in their defense, all at once. As soon as it reaches me, I kick the puck over to Reed, who slaps it toward Kos, deflecting it straight into the net.
“Yes!” I scream, the blade of my stick flying in the air as we all skate together in celebration.
