“Yeah, I know.”
“Because I think training together is important. You still want to prove your dad wrong, don’t you?”
“Of course I do.” Finally, she looked at me again.
Mackenzie really had improved thanks to our work together. I didn’t want to let a little awkwardness jeopardize her chances of staying on the team. And while it was a little selfish, I was also looking for any reason I could to spend time with her.
“So, we’ll meet at the rink as usual tomorrow morning?”
She hesitated.
“I promise I won’t try to kiss you again.”
That pulled a gentle smile from her lips. “Okay. Tomorrow morning.”
I was distracted as her dad walked into view further down the corridor. He was deep in conversation with his assistant coach, so he didn’t see us. He soon disappeared around a corner, but I could feel Mackenzie tense at my side.
“What you said to your dad before,” I started cautiously. “Have you talked to him about your mom yet?”
“No,” she murmured, looking at the floor. “I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it. I don’t even know what I’d say.”
“Dumping the box on his desk and asking, ‘what the hell is this?’ could be a good place to start.”
“Yeah, probably.” Her shoulders sagged. “It’s hard. I’m still on probation. He’s barely talking to me.”
“I know.”
“I’m not sure I even want to hear what he has to say,” she continued, more firmly this time. “And I’m a little scared of how I might react.” She shook her head, almost as though she was disappointed in herself. “I don’t know. I’ll talk to him eventually. I just want to focus on getting ready for the next game.”
“I get it. But if you need anyone to talk to…”
Her mouth started to curve. “You want me to spill all my deep dark feelings toyou?”
I moved closer, our proximity causing my chest to thump. “That’s what friends do, right?”
“Right.” She nodded, but I could have sworn her smile faltered slightly.
She started to turn away, but before she could disappear inside the girls’ locker room, I said, “I’m organizing a team party on Saturday night. It’s at Cullen’s family lake house.”
“Sounds fun,” she replied. “For you guys, at least. There’s no way my dad will let me go.”
“Then don’t tell him.”
“You’re a bad influence, you know that?”
“Are you only just figuring that out now?” I grinned at her before walking away.
My bravado only lasted until she was out of sight, and then I found myself slumping with a sense of defeat. Why couldn’t Ijust forget we’d kissed and move on like I had every other time I’d kissed a girl? Why was it so hard to stay away from her?
I didn’t do girlfriends or dates or commitment; I never had. And yet, it bothered me that those things weren’t an option for us. I should probably be grateful. Even if we could be together, Mackenzie and I would likely kill each other. Still, I couldn’t ignore the small voice deep inside that thought maybe we’d be perfect together.
* * *
“I talked to my stepmom.” Mackenzie took a seat beside me near the end of our art class on Friday. Her arm brushed against me as she did, and I tried my best to ignore the trail of warmth it left behind.
We’d trained together before school today for the first time that week, but she’d convinced Owen to come along too. I’d been annoyed at first. I didn’t like third wheels, especially when I felt like the third. And it wasn’t as though Mackenzie and I needed supervising. Then again, I was sure she’d returned a few of my heated looks, so maybe it was a good thing Owen had been there.
“I told her I’m having a sleepover at Jaz’s house tomorrow,” Mackenzie continued. “And she was only too happy to say yes. So, I’m in for the team party.”
