* * *
The next day, she texted him.
Maude: I think we should break up. Like a clean break.
Maude: I know you’re on the ice right now, I wanted to wait to tell you after your game so you wouldn’t be overthinking things
Maude: If you have feelings for him then you need to do something. If you love someone you can’t just completely ignore those feelings
Maude: Not that I’m insinuating that you’re in love with him lol
Maude: I know it’s cheesy but you look at him like he hung the moon
Maude: And he looks at you like you belong to him
Maude: Okay. sorry for the spam. I hope you can get your feelings sorted out. Thank you for a great two months. I’ll never forget you
He reread those messages over and over again, feeling like his biggest secret had been uncovered. He couldn’t sleep on the plane, even though he was exhausted. His mind was racing and he started to panic. Like he couldn’t breathe.
He turned the volume all the way up on his headphones, but they did a horrible job at distracting him when the reason for all his anguish and despair walked over and took a seat next to him. His heart clenched.
Fletcher wasn’t in the mood to talk after absolutely being read to filth, but the moment he saw Taylor, his anger melted into something else. He didn’t know what came over him.
* * *
“You look heartbroken, man. That girl really did a number on you.”
Fletcher let out a frustrated huff as he tried to throw Sánchez off his trail. “Nah. I’m just upset we lost tonight,” he lied. “I’m glad we have another game to redeem ourselves.”
Sanchez seemed to take the bait.
“Okay, man. I love you, hermano.” He slapped the side of Fletcher’s head endearingly.
“Te amo mucho,” Fletcher told him with a grin.
Later into the night, everyone around him was wasted. Fletcher wasn’t really in the mood to drink tonight, and he wasn’t enjoying himself at all.
He, Douglas, Sánchez, and Taylor had all decided to stay while the rest of the team opted to find a better club. He still hadn’t allowed himself a look of Taylor.
“Guys!” Corinna shouted. “Let’s play a game.”
“Cor, we arenotdoing this again,” Douglas began to protest. Corinna was a fiend for drunken games. The last time ithappened, she climbed on top of Douglas and made out with him. Someone must’ve taken a video and posted it to Instagram because the next morning it was all over the news. Douglas had a nice reprimand from Coach waiting for him at practice that morning.
“Wait, no I wanna play a game!” Emogen beamed. The random girl she had seemingly adopted into the group for the night agreed with her.
They decided on Truth or Dare. Obviously.
“Okay guys,” Sánchez said as he clapped his hands together. “You know the rules. Who’s gonna start?”
“I will,” Corinna offered. “Emilio, truth or dare?” She asked her cousin with a sneaky look on her face.
“Dare.”
“I dare you to kiss Briar!” She and Emogen both snickered. Sánchez shrugged and walked over to the girl. He cupped her face, leaned in, and kissed her. Everyone in the group cheered. Fletcher allowed himself a look at Taylor, who was also cheering his friend on. He looked way too good tonight. His hair was tied back and he had the slightest five o’clock shadow illuminated by the colorful lights above. He had an arm casually slung around Emogen. When Sánchez and the girl finally stopped kissing, she stepped back and stood a little too close to Taylor for Fletcher’s liking. He started to grow possessive but talked himself down the ledge as Taylor met his gaze and offered him a slight smile.
Sánchez was next. He dared Douglas also to kiss Briar. Corinna slapped a hand over her mouth out of shock as he leaned in and kissed her hard. “Garrick Douglas, you asshole!” She shouted with a huge grin on her face. Emogen folded over in laughter over the whole spectacle of it.
“Okay, Emmy. You’re kissing her next!” Douglas called out.
