It’s probably wishful thinking, but I’m hoping Jack and his buddies have decided to go somewhere else tonight, sparing me the agony of spending more time with him.
I grumble under my breath, kicking a loose pebble with the toe of my shoe. I want to be at home instead of shivering while cold air seeps through my layers after the significant drop in temperature since the sun went down hours ago. I tucked my hands into my sleeves at the beginning of our hike to the bars, but my fingertips are beginning to go numb.
Of course, we justhadto go to the scene of the crime I committed only a week ago, even if it feels like it’s been way longer than seven days.
In my head, I’m throwing knives at the back of Chad’s head, trying not to gag when he opens the door for her and she melts, giving him one of her beaming smiles that feels like a direct ray of sunlight. I’ve learned the more I tell Macy how much he sucks, the less likely she is to listen to me about it.
I mumble a quiet thanks to Chad when he holds it for me, and the heat welcomes me like a warm hug, thawing my fingers immediately upon entry.
I do not want to be here.
The bar is just as loud tonight, and the smell of alcohol and sweat is strong. I expect Macy to make a move toward the bar, but instead, she makes a beeline for the loudest table. It only takes me half a second to recognize Jack, and now I’m wondering what else Macy didn’t tell me about tonight.
Scanning the rest of the table, I’m relieved to see Ellie, and it makes me feel better she looks as confused to see us walking toward them as I am. At least she wasn’t in on whatever this setup is.
Jack stands up, hugging Macy, and my jaw drops.When the hell did they become friends?
Macy says something to him before turning around, hooking her arm with mine to pull me toward the bar. “Maybe we should get you a drink before we go sit down,” she says, and I would call that an understatement.
“Maybe we should just order a bottle of vodka, and you can pour it down a beer bong for me before we go sit down,” I retort, and her eyes widen.
“I don’t think hanging out with Jack and his friends for one night is going to kill you, but that absolutely would.”
“They’re hockey players, Mace,” I argue, and at least this time she has the decency to appear like she feels bad.
“I know, but I ran into Jack this morning before your class together when he was getting you coffee, and he invited us outtonight to prove to you he’s worth being friends with,” she says, and I sigh, twisting one of my curls.She’s a sucker.
“Fine, forget the bottle, but I’m not paying for my rum and coke,” I say, and she smiles.
“I’m proud of you, babe,” Macy says, and I try not to think about how Jack’s eyes lit up earlier when I smiled at him after he handed me the cup of coffee.
“If you’re proud of me, then make it a double please.”
Thankfully, the bartender makes mine first, and I take a long sip, trying to prepare myself, but I have a feeling this won’t be as terrible as I’m hoping it will be. Maybe that’s what I’m most afraid of—seeing my dad’s players as people instead of something he’s picked over me, time and time again.
It’s easier to hate them when I think of them as assholes and playboys, but Jack is doing everything possible to prove me wrong.
The table is lively and roaring with laughter as we approach, and Jack smiles, his goddamn dimple winking at me. “Hey, Al,” he greets, “happy you made it.”
I smile back faintly—it’s hard not to when he smiles like that. “Didn’t have much of a choice, but I think you knew that since you didn’t say anything in class,” I say, adding a smile so he knows my claws are retracted.
“I think what she means to say is thanks for the invite,” Macy adds, giving me a look as everyone shifts around to make room in the circular booth.
“That’s what I heard,” Jack says, winking at me, and Ellie rolls her eyes, patting the seat next to her.
“Ignore him,” she says, and I feel my face start to burn from the number of eyes staring at me.
“You’re the tutor?” the guy sitting next to Jack asks, peering at me.
“You’re a hockey player?” I counter, tilting my head back at him. He laughs, flashing me a pretty smile.
“Feel free to ignore Dylan too,” Ellie says, and I stir my drink with the straw before taking another sip.
“Hey, Coop,” I say, giving Ellie’s brother a smile, and he tips his beer at me in return. The guy to his right is the sucker stuck in a conversation with Chad, and I feel a little bad for him because I’ve always thought conversations with Chad were as interesting as talking to a wall. But to each their own.
“Sara, have you met Al?” Jack asks, motioning to Ellie’s best friend on his other side.
“Dude, I hate to break it to you, but you, Dylan, and Nate are the only ones who haven’t met her,” Sara says, giving me a warm smile. I usually see her once a week or so whenever she comes over to hang out with Ellie.
