“Are you having fun?” Jack asks, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his hoodie.
I can’t even try to lie to give him a hard time. I feel my smile grow before I nod because I am having fun.
“I want to hear you say it. You were right, Jack. I’m having so much fun because you’re so fun and the sexiest guy ever,” he says, attempting to mimic me.
Laughter sputters from me, and I gape at him. “I hope that isn’t you pretending to be me because it’s not something I would say.”
Jack’s deep laugh seems to echo with mine off the plexiglass. “I bet you can’t beat me,” he challenges, changing how he’s framing his idea. What’s even more annoying is it’s working.
I push him, catching him by surprise as I quickly take off for the other side of the rink. I’m almost to the goal lines when Jack blows past me, beating me to the boards.
“You cheated,” he says, and I roll my eyes.
“You still beat me.”
I’m fast on skates, but he consistently works out and is one of the fastest players in the division, if not the fastest. It’s honestly kind of a miracle he hasn’t decided to leave Wilder early to sign with the Dolphins.
“Did you want me to let you win?” Jack asks, smirking at me in the most infuriating way.
“Just a reminder, but you don’t ‘let’ me do anything.” I roll my eyes, flipping him off as I take off again.
At some point, Jack hooks his phone up to the speakers, and I’m stunned when my favorite song starts playing through them. I give Jack a questioning look where he skates next to me, and the only thing he says is that Ellie told him I liked this song.
I’ve lost track of time, just trying to enjoy being in this moment. I don’t attempt any jumps, wanting to spend more time in the gym to rebuild the body strength I lost.
“Thank you,” Jack says, pulling my attention to him. I’m glad I’m wearing my skates as well, because without them, I wouldn’t reach his shoulder anymore. “I meant it when I said I wouldn’thave passed the midterm without your help. You didn’t have to, but you are, and I really appreciate it.”
“You didn’t really give me much of a choice, but your persistence is one of your best and most annoying qualities,” I joke, trying to keep the air light because I don’t want Jack to look at me the same way Macy does when she thinks I’m not looking.
The tips of his ears turn red, and Jack rubs the back of his neck. “I could see on your face while you were skating that you loved it out here like I do. I don’t know what happened to make you quit, but I thought that maybe tonight would help you . . . I don’t know.” Jack sucks in a sharp breath. “I wanted to help.”
My heart jumps to my throat at the sincerity in his voice. If I didn’t know better about Jack’s stance on relationships, I’d almost go far enough to wonder if this were actually a date—except I know it’s not, and I don’t want it to be.
I am enjoying spending time with Jack, though.
“It’s complicated, but you’re right, I do love it out here. I just can’t go back to who I was before . . .” I trail off, my thoughts becoming a muddled mess. The pop music playing in the background feels out of place with the memories weighing me down.
“Before what?” he prods, his voice gentle, and for the second time tonight, Jack reaches for my hand.
For a brief moment, I let him, before pulling away. “Nothing. Before nothing.”
Before Bradley.
Before everything.
I turn away from Jack, but he catches my arm, trying to stop me.
It feels like an unavoidable car crash, experiencing that moment when everything happens in slow motion, like in an old film. Each second a frame of time before it all happens at thespeed of light, sending me straight into fight or flight mode as my anxiety spikes through the fucking room.
How I’m feeling must be reflecting on my face or something, because Jack’s eyes widen in blatant confusion, and he drops my arm.
It doesn’t matter, though. It’s too late, and my mind is struggling to differentiate between the two men while panic is coursing through my veins.
I’m here with Jack. I’m not with Bradley. Jack didn’t mean anything by it because he isn’t Bradley.
“Al? Fuck, what did I do? How can I help?” he asks, this time keeping his hands to himself.
I shake my head, trying to reason with myself, but my brain isn’t thinking logically right now.
