“You could have told me I was the worst person in the world, and I still would have taken care of you. Friends don’t let friends walk away drunk. I wasn’t going to leave without knowing you were safe.”
I can tell by his expression he’s serious. “I thought we just became friends?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood.
Jack shakes his head. “Darlin’, I’ve been your friend, even if you weren’t mine,” he says, and it’s so brutally honest, it renders me speechless. “Are you feeling better?” he asks, and I twist my damp curls around my finger.
“The spins hit me again this morning, but I should be good,” I say, leaving out the part where it was in the middle of my shower.
He laughs, the sound resonating through me. “I’m shocked you had anything left in you to throw up.”
My cheeks flush because last night really wasn’t my finest moment. “Me too.”
I catch the way his eyebrows narrow and his lips purse before the uncertainty melts from his handsome face. Am I allowed to think he’s hot? I’d have to be blind not to be aware of his attractiveness, and it’s not like it’s something he doesn’t already know.
“What?” I ask, and Jack raises an eyebrow, flashing a crooked smile.
“What?”
“You made a face. What is it?” I ask, wondering if this is something I should be asking.
“Who were you running from last night?” he asks, and the question lingers in the silence of the empty rink.
“Nobody,” I answer, swallowing the lump forming in my throat as I look away, recalling the ghost of my former self who didn’t know what it felt like to lose the thing she loved most.
Maybe she’s still there, flying across the ice, and I just have to find her again.
CHAPTER 8
Jack
“Al,”I whisper, trying to get her attention, but the lecture hall is so quiet I can hear the clacking of the keys on Alondra’s computer next to me as she takes notes. I should be taking my notes, but I can’t sit still anymore.
She sighs, pursing her pretty pink lips, which I’m trying not to stare at because I’ve just convinced her to be my friend. The last thing I need is for her to catch me thinking about kissing her. Al brushed me off earlier when I asked if she needed to borrow one of my extra jerseys for our game on Friday night, but I think it was pushing it too far to ask her to go.
I don’t actually have anything to ask her, but the more she ignores me, the more I know I’m getting under her skin. I lean in, catching a whiff of strawberries, and it makes me want to bury my nose in her curls.
They suit her—perfectly unbound and messy, matching Alondra’s fiery temper. I never know what’s going to come out of her mouth, and I’m drawn to the chaos.
“Alondra,” I whisper, and the corner of her lip tugs, and I know she can hear me. “Al, stop ignoring me.”
God, I should be paying attention because our midterm is next week, and with hockey in full swing, I know my scheduleis insane. My brain is overwhelmed by the thought of what will happen if I don’t pass, and it’s stressing me out to the point where I can’t even try to focus on piecing everything together.
Keri chuckles on the other side of Al, and I smile. “Hey,” I whisper, and Alondra huffs, but still doesn’t look at me. “Darlin’,” I drawl, and my smile grows when she shifts in her seat.
Al turns, her hazel eyes narrowing as she frowns. “Shut up, please,” she whispers, but while trying to get her attention, I inadvertently attracted the attention of our GTA, Maggie, as well.
“I’m sorry, am I boring you?” she asks from the front of the auditorium, and every head in the room turns in our direction.
It’s tempting to blurt out yes, but it won’t help the situation.
I clear my throat since Alondra’s rendered speechless next to me, trying to maintain my casual demeanor instead of letting Maggie think she’s winning by embarrassing me in front of everyone. “Sorry, I was asking Al a quick question about something you said a few minutes ago,” I say, leaning back in the small seat.
“Next time, raise your hand, or see me after class,” Maggie says, crossing her arms over her chest, and Al’s scowl deepens.
Yeah, won’t be doing that.
I didn’t want to tell Al that part of the reason my grade slipped so much is was that I stopped attending the study group Maggie leads and her office hours when I realized she was going to spend the whole time trying to flirt with me instead of listening to or answering any of my questions. I’d rather fail than have anyone accuse me of passing because they think I’m fucking the GTA for extra credit.
The next few minutes pass painfully slowly, and I don’t miss Alondra glancing at me. If I had just sat here and left Al alone, Icould’ve avoided pissing her off again. Why can’t I just leave the fucking hornet’s nest alone?
