“So why, then? Why bother spending the whole evening making me fall for you, only to change your mind?”
A thousand explanations run through my mind. My dad. My image. My disastrous…everything. My lips part, but nothing comes out.
“Really, Brody? Even now?” She gapes at me for a moment and then, eyes rolling to the sky, flops her arms dramatically. “Unbelievable.”
My phone starts ringing in my pocket.
Ignore it. Ignore it.
It keeps ringing.
Chloe’s lips press together. “You should get that. Sounds important.”
“Chloe, wait?—”
I pull out my phone. Rick’s name is flashing. I hit Ignore and look up, but she’s already walking away.
“Wait—” I start after her, catching her elbow.
She stops. Turns. And the look in her eyes makes me let go.
“Don’t,” she says. Not angry. Just tired. “Don’t call me. Don’t follow me. Don’t show up with some charming excuse and expect me to smile for another photo.”
She turns and walks away.
This time, I let her.
I answer on the third ring.
“What.” Not a question. A warning.
“Who is she?”
“Who is?—”
“Your photo is trending!” Rick sounds like he just won the lottery. “Brody, this is—where are you? Who is she?”
I frown. “Who?”
“Hang on.” A moment later, an image flashes through my text messages. I pull the phone away to look at it, and my heart plummets. It’s Chloe. And me. From five minutes ago.
The cold wind bites at my neck, and I lift the phone back to my ear.
“This is exactly what we needed, Brody! ‘Hockey’s Candy Kane spotted with mystery girlfriend’—it’s everywhere! The comments are overwhelmingly positive. This could save everything!”
Couldsave everything.
Could.
I look in the direction Chloe went. She’s long gone, disappeared into the darkness like she was never there at all.
But I know she was, because in my heart is a gaping wound again.
“I have to go,” I tell Rick.
“Wait, don’t hang up. We need to strategize. Can you get her to come to your next game? If we can get another photo, maybe something more couple-y?—”
“Rick.”
