“And if he doesn’t read it, I’ll go over the hockey and let you know if anything is inaccurate,” David offers.
“Thank you. You’re all…I’m glad Noah has you.”
“Are you coming to the game tomorrow?” Michael stops me.
“I can’t,” I say, then add, “I have another commitment,” when they start telling me I’m always welcome.
“For what it’s worth, Noah never cared about your brother, other than that he was yours. And the second you came on the screen after Dallas won, he made it a captain’s rule that we don’t bring it up, and protect you if anyone else does, because he’s seen what happens when the world wants a piece of you, or to use you to get to someone,” Owen tells me.
“Not to mention, Owen’s dad can probably get us whatever your brother can, and he constantly offers, because he feels bad for us having to live with the added pressure and security of his son living with us around awards season. Or when your brother-in-law was cast in that Marvel movie,” Colt starts to tell me, then shifts to Owen.
“The point is, in case he’s too much of an idiot to fix this, it was never about anything other than how he felt about you.”
I give them a sad smile. I think I always knew, but it both breaks my heart and heals it to have them confirm it. Like they think there’s still hope.
Chapter Sixty-Six
Noah
Operation GSB
I know Sav won’t be here, because of the scrutiny she’s dealing with, and because we haven’t really talked since I told her I didn’t have time for her in my life, but that doesn’t mean I don’t look for her. Or play my heart out, because I somehow know she’ll hear about it.
I stayed up half the night reading her book, and I want to tell her it’s amazing. I started with skimming to the hockey parts, but I wanted to know what they were talking about, so now I’m fully invested in a college hockey romance and can’t wait to find out what comes next. I was almost late for practice because I couldn’t put it down. And it isn’t even like the character is me, though some of the steamy bits are familiar.
Lacey is watching with Chloe and Michelle. I’ve already decided my first order of business tonight – win or lose – is to track Lacey down and find out everything I can about how Savannah is doing. I’m hoping her loyalty to me is still enough to get that from her, but I can see – and Darren tells me – that she and Sav are getting close. Which normal me loves. But sad me who knows I’m the cause of all this bonding time kind of hates it. Only in the sense that if Savannah wants a sleepover, I want it to be at Ivy with me. Owen’s basket theory had me convinced, though I figured I’d already blown it, but when Sav brought me her book, it told me I need to do whatever I can to get her back and prove to her that I can be everything she needs. That she’s worth it. We are.
I score five minutes into the third period and instinctively look up to my seats, as if she’ll have magically appeared. I’m used to no one being there, because up until this year, I was always looking for my dad, but I’ve gotten used to seeing Sav and Izzie. I’m ready for the disappointment when I look up, but it also reinforces my determination.
* * *
I shower as fast as possible after the game –another loss, though we didn’t play terrible, then turn to Darren while hopping into my pants.
“Will Lacey be at Slapshots tonight?” I ask.
“That’s the plan. You sweet on my girl?” he teases.
“Just want to see how Sav is doing, and they’re friends now, right?” It’s pathetic, and I should have come up with a better excuse, but pretty sure Lacey will just tell him.
“Savannah’s going home this weekend, so it’s not like Lacey can invite you over. She loves you, but not enough to let you sniff a girl’s pillow.”
“What are you talking about?” Colt asks, but I have the same question.
“Once you’re used to falling asleep with the woman you love in your arms, you’ll get it,” Darren tells him with zero shame.
“Why does Lacey have access to Savannah’s pillow?” I press.
“Oh.” Darren’s face goes red, which is his tell for when he’s keeping a secret he feels guilty about. “Sav sort of temporarily moved in with Lace, but so far it’s going so well I think Lace wants her to stay.”
“What happened to her dorm. To Anna?”
“I don’t know,” he says, but he clearly does.
“Is it because of the study group?”
“Could be.”
“Darren.”
