Now
Nathan and I heldMolly’s hands while she skipped toward Cole Coliseum.
Molly’s wide eyes took in everything, from dozens of tailgaters to individuals walking to the arena decked out in Palmer City Wolves gear to the mammoth arena getting larger with each step.
Molly insisted we all wear something to show our support for the team, so we stopped at the merch store, cleverly named The Den, before going to our seats. Nathan bought a sweatshirt for himself and a winter hat with a pom-pom for me. Since Mollyalready had a jersey and hat, she chose a half-green half-black triangle flag that read Wolves with their logo of a wolf howling.
“I love it here.” Molly tracked the players zipping around the ice.
I clutched her hand as we descended the steep cement stairs to our seats. Balancing the merch, popcorn, and drinks without falling was a feat.
Nathan and I hadn’t talked about it, but we ended up sitting as I’d hoped with Molly sandwiched between us. I liked that he understood how important it was for me to have time with her and for the two of them to build a relationship. Only a man who invited my sister into his life deserved to be in mine.
“Nathan?” The woman in front of us spun, her short dark hair flipping with the movement. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
My heartbeat quickened as I watched Deandra Collins place her hand on Nathan’s forearm and throw her head back, laughing at whatever he said. I couldn’t hear it over the white noise filling my ears. My mind recounted the time in high school when I found Nathan on the couch on top of Deandra. His shirt was off. Her sweater buttons were half undone, revealing the laciest bra I’d seen in person. I’d stopped breathing.Of coursehe moved on to someone like her. Hot, popular, not a tomboy.
In the present, Nathan and I were desperate for each other. We owned a house and business together. He’d asked me to be his girlfriend. And yet, that helpless, heartbroken, wrecked girl lived on inside me, deciding to appear at the worst possible times. I didn’t know if I would ever shed her.
I cleared my throat. “What was that?”
Nathan’s forehead creased. “I asked if you wanted to tell them about how we got these tickets.”
NATHAN
Now
Brenna’s body language morphed from loose and carefree to tense.
“You’re the one who won the tickets.” She carelessly waved a hand, unbothered. “It’s your story.”
She could pretend all she wanted, but the change had everything to do with Deandra’s presence. For such an ordinarily forgiving person, she couldn’t let this go. I should’ve been flattered—and part of me was—but I hated that she didn’t have confidence in us, that a meaningless hookup from high school was even on her radar.
It was my mission to change that.
“Are you a hockey fan?” Kennedy asked from beside Deandra. She sported a black Wolves jersey with the name Volkov in green across her back. “I’m Kennedy, by the way.”
Bren gave her a small smile. “I’m Brenna. And not really, no. But this one here”—she embraced Molly around the shoulders—“has loved hockey ever since she was a little kid. So Nathan got us tickets.”
“Iwonus tickets,” I clarified, launching into the story of how Bertram and his friends gambled in our café every day and coaxed me into joining them. My earlier losses became worth it when the guys wagered one game of their season tickets, a three-pair. If it hadn’t been for the two people beside me, I wouldn’t have called in the payment.
“Bertram will hold it against you forever,” Kennedy said with a laugh. Her attention shifted to Molly. “So, who’s your favorite player?”
With the way her eyes were glued to the ice, I didn’t think she was listening. But then the buzzer went off, calling the players to the locker rooms so the crew could prep the ice. Molly swallowed her popcorn. “Briggsy. He’s the fastest and funniest player.”
“Everybody loves that kid,” Deandra said. “He’s social media gold.”
“I will not be telling him that,” Kennedy said.
Molly gasped. “Youknowhim?”
Deandra leaned toward Molly. “Kennedy is dating Alexei Volkov, and Zach’s her roommate.”
Kennedy added, “You’d find him less funny if you lived with him. Trust me.”
“Wait… you’re KennedyCole?”
She nodded, cheeks turning pink.
