He reached out and squeezed my shoulder. “Hey, you’re made for this. Things work out for a reason. But I have some gear for you later. You gotta represent Central.”
“Of course, sir.”
He slid his gaze to Cal and then back to me. “Keep him in line.”
“Always do,” I said, earning a scoff from Cal. “We’re about to watch some films.”
“Good. Good. Okay, I really need to go. Can’t get talked into hockey stuff now, or I’ll never get there on time. Bye.” He took off toward the parking lot, leaving the four of us standing in a weird circle. It reminded me of high school. Awkward.
Naomi took a step closer to us with a hesitant smile.
How dare shesmileat me after she made me fall for her? The nerves about the game and the lingering heartbreak shifted to anger, and that icicle in my soul guided me. “Naomi,” I said, not happy at all. “Cami.”
“Hey, Coach,” Cami said, winking at me before approaching Cal. “Can’t wait to see you on the ice tonight. Holt, you ready for the game?”
He nodded, and the same serious face I was used to seeing replaced the relaxed one that was just there. Interesting.
“Walk me to the coffee shop, would you?” Cami asked him, holding out her arm in an obvious attempt to leave me and Naomi alone.
No thank you.
“He’s with me.” I shook my head and ignored Naomi’s large brown eyes pleading with me forsomething.What did she want? To hang out? To pretend like this past week didn’t fucking suck? That I didn’t lose my best friend here?
“It’ll be quick. He’ll be back in five minutes.” Cami’s tone was a little harsher, and she took Cal by the arm and dragged him down the sidewalk.
He met my eyes for one second, his brows scrunched together. I nodded. Something melted inside me that this punk ass kid was worried about me. He didn’t know a thing about Naomi or me. I hadn’t told a soul about us, but it was clear the air was heavy.
Tense as hell.
I watched Cami and Cal get smaller as they walked farther away, and I slid my gaze to Naomi. My heart fucking hurt seeing her this close. Her hair was pulled into a bun, and her large brown eyes looked anxious. She kept moving her attention to my face, then my shoulders, then my face again. She wrapped her arms around her Central State sweatshirt and rocked back on her heels.
“Hey,” she said, her voice husky and nervous. “How have you been?”
“Naomi,” I said, anger seeping into my tone. “What do you want to say? We don’t need to dothis.” I waved my hand between us, motioning it left and right. Jonah’s words came back to me. He’d known the risk about being with Ryann but chose it anyway.
I knew it with Naomi and chose it anyway.
She just didn’t.
She chewed her bottom lip and sniffed. “I thought… Michael, look.” She gulped and blinked a few times before glancing up at me. “Could we talk or something?”
“About what?”
The wind picked up, the cold breezing sending a chill down my spine. It was a good reminder to step back. Toneverlet someone tear my guard down and cause me pain.
“Us.” She shivered and reached out to touch me but dropped her hand. “I miss—”
“We’refriendsnow, right? That’s what you wanted. That it’d be easierfor younow that I’m an assistant coach,” I said, my voice getting louder. “Well, it’s not easier for me, okay?”
She tilted her head to the side and scrunched her cute nose. “What does that mean?”
“It means that this… it’s done. All of it. I can’t…” I shook my head and wanted to punch a wall. With one final look at the girl who’d gotten into my soul and sliced it open, I cracked. I couldn’t go through this again. “I would’ve risked it all for you.”
“Michael,” her voice broke, and her eyes got watery. I didn’t wait to see if she had more to say though. I went into the rink and focused on the only thing that had always been there for me. Hockey. It’s what I knew and did best.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Naomi
