“I know.”
“No, like, this is really—”
“I know.”
She studies my face for a long moment. “So what are you going to do?”
“I have no idea.” I press the book against my chest again.
She laughs, reaching over to squeeze my hand. “You're allowed to like him, you know. Even if it's scary.”
“It's terrifying.”
“Yeah.” She smiles. “But I’m guessing he's just as terrified of you.”
I don't know what to say to that, so I just nod.
“You should probably sleep on it,” Lyss suggests, standing up. “When do you see him again?”
“Friday.”
“Good. That gives you time to process.” She heads for the door, then pauses. “For what it's worth? I think he's good for you. You've smiled more in the last few hours than you have all week.”
She leaves me in the room with no clearer a head and the weight of what comes next.
Three days to decide if I'm brave enough to let this become something real.
I pull the book closer to my chest and close my eyes.
The problem is, I already know the answer.
I just don't know if I'm ready to admit it yet.
Chapter 9
Hendricks. Hendricks. Hendricks. Hendricks.
The rink is full; the crowd is chanting as the arena lights bear down on me. I take a sip of my water, watching the play on the ice as sweat drips down my forehead. We’re up 3-1 against Rome U with eight minutes left in the third period.
The lead is comfortable, but I’m not because I can’t keep my eyes from flicking to the stands.
Not because Laura’s here.
She’s not.
Nope. I gave her that book and hugged her on the porch three weeks ago, and somehow, she’s been able to act like none of it happened. She sat next to me in class, sat next to me in the library while we finished our first assignment, and she’s giving me nothing.
Absolutely nothing. Not even an accidental foot brush.
Fucking best actress I’ve ever seen since she’s able to act like her life didn’t chasmically change after that day.
Mine did.
Can't say I'm surprised, though. I might be falling fast and hard for her, but like anything good in this world, she's making me earn every inch.
No, the reason I keep glancing at the stands is the circus taking up an entire row near center ice.
My father.
