Paul claps once, “Luce! What did I tell you?”
Miranda gasps.
I want to melt into the ground as Will shouts over the mayhem, “–I snuck into her room last night.”
I don’t know who screams, “What!”probably my mom. I cover my face with both hands, I can’t deal with this right now.
My dad’s voice cuts through the cacophony, “My daughter!”
“I’m dating Liam,” Miranda tosses out.
“What the fuck?” Will exclaims next to me, “Since when?”
“Watch your mouth!” Paul shouts.
“A hickey Kennedy? Really?” Lucy says, sounding so disappointed.
Will rubs a small circle between my shoulder blades. “Mom, don’t even start.”
“Since September,” Miranda says.
That catches my attention, “What?”
“You know how trashy I think it is!”
I sink down further, I want to die. Please, someone send an asteroid down to this cabin and take me out.
“How did this happen?” My mom asks.
“Diane, I think you can figure that one out–”
“That’s not what I meant!”
Will leans down and whispers into my ear, “Everything’s okay.”
Paul lets out, “I hope you two are being safe. You’ve gotta think about next season,” I can’t stop the squeak of shock that flies out of me. My hands are still on my face, I can’t face anyone in this house ever again.
“Paul, enough,” Lucy says, cutting off his lecture about my potential pregnancy ruining Will’s pro hockey career. I’m going to run away and change my identity.
My dad’s, “I need a minute,” followed by a handful of steps and then a door slamming shut seems to end the chaos, silencing the room once and for all.
Will clears his throat, “Well, that didn’t go at all like I originally planned.” I pull my hands off my face and send him my surliest look. He palms the back of my head, kissing my forehead. “I’m gonna take a shower and then I’m taking Kennedy on a date,” he announces. He raises his eyebrow, glancing around the room as if he’s waiting for anyone to question him about it. No one does. In fact no one says anything. He threads his fingers through my hand, then pulls me forward out of the barstool. I trail behind him up the stairs and right into his bedroom.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Will
Kennedy shuts the door behind her before moving to the edge of my bed. I remove the rest of my gear. It's onerous and annoying, but I always practice in all my pads. It's best to run drills that way–makes you a better player.
“Probably not a good idea for you to take a shower with me, huh?”
She sends me a look of pure irritation and I can’t stop the bark that comes out of me. “Not funny,” she huffs, crossing her arms over her chest. “I'm also really mad at you.” She turns her face away from me, lips turned down in a frown.
I stand in front of her, stepping between her legs, “It's a little funny.” She rolls her eyes before covering her face once more and flopping backward, hair fanned out behind her, looking beautiful and wonderful. “Don't be mad at me. They were going to find out one way or another.”
She sends me a surly look and I hold my hands up in surrender. “You could have announced it in literally any other way and it would've been better than that. My dad's all pissed off now, and everyone knows. It was humliating, Will!”
I don’t even care that Mark’s pissed, I’m thrilled, down right exhilarated about our relationship being out in the open. I feel like I’m a million feet tall, she’s my girlfriend and everyone knows about it. But she's right. I should've had a little more tact.
