And Nat hasn’t contacted me except for one, single line of text.
Nat: I’m sorry. I gave Max and the team my word. I have to play the game tonight.
I’m disappointed, but I’m also not surprised.
He’s Nathan Campbell.
Hockey is in his veins and nothing else compares.
Because I’ve known him for so long, I always knew his love affair with the game would eclipse any other relationship he entered, and I was fine with that.
I knew where I stood.
But now that I’ve actively challenged my status in his life, I’m humbled to see what I truly mean to him.
What did you expect by throwing that ultimatum, Riley?
Maybe all thisismy fault.
Maybe I was foolish to go up against the one thing he loves most.
Nat’s text message signals one thing.
We’re going the route of his summer flings at the start of hockey season.
The song in my ears flows to another track from Nat’s playlist. As the singer croons softly about ‘wanting to be with his lover forever’, I find myself getting teary-eyed.
I miss Nat so much.
If I had any other choice, if there was any way I could watch him slowly destroy his health to play the game he loves, I’d do it.
But I can’t.
I wave to the bartender as the song switches to one of my favorites on the playlist. It’s a bubbly K-pop song.
When we were hanging out with Betty, I made a casual comment about enjoying the bridge of the song. Nat manually looped the bridge so I can listen to my favorite part over and over.
The bartender pushes another root beer my way.
Yes, root beer. Did you think I was getting drunk again after last time?
“What are you doing at the bar?” Mauve’s voice prompts me to pause the song.
“Hey, Mauve.” I smile. Ever since she helped me pull the switcheroo on Layla, I’ve felt a camaraderie with her.
“Shouldn’t you be at the arena for the Lucky Strikers’ send-off?”
“The arena? Oh… no. I don’t think I should be there.”
Mauve takes a good look at my face, wipes her hands on her apron and plops into the seat beside me. “Something on your mind?”
“Not really.” I swirl my straw around.
Mauve sets her dark hand over mine. “I heard about the podcast. If that’s what?—”
“I’m not upset about that. I actually…” A reluctant smile tugs at my lips. “I think it’s funny the way the town got#bannedfromLuckyFallstrending.”
Mauve winks. “Well, you know we’ve got to stand up for one of our own.”
