I don’t finish the sentence because I can already see that Nash is lost in thoughts, or worse, memories.
6
NASH
7 YEARS AGO
“We’re going to miss your presence during hockey season. We’re still holding out that you’ll get traded to the Spinners here in town.” One of the guys from the ice rink holds his cup up amongst the chatter. The kitchen is buzzing with a few of Zac’s friends as we talk around the kitchen island with drinks and chips with dip.
“We should have just made this a goodbye party to our town’s royalty.” My brother sounds almost annoyed.
Summer nudges Zac from where she’s leaning against the countertop next to him. “Don’t be a grumpy old man.”
My brother’s eyes flare up at her, unimpressed by her comment.
I step forward and pat my brother’s shoulder. “Come on, little brother, let’s go check if the BBQ is ready to grill the burgers.”
Zac sighs. “Sure. I could use some fresh air.”
Summer gives me a nervous nod but stays put, and myheart heats in anticipation of this conversation, and the endgame is that I can kiss her in the open right after it’s all done.
My brother needs to know.
When we’re outside, the music from inside simmers down, and despite two or three friends perched on the steps on the other side of the pool, it’s quiet enough.
My brotherly senses ring an alarm bell because Zac just doesn’t seem himself, or at least not the same guy as earlier today.
I squeeze his shoulder and guide him to sit down on a chair. “Everything okay? You seem a little off tonight.”
He shakes his shoulders and adjusts his neck as if he can rid the tension. “It’s fine. It’s just…” He’s agitated for sure. “It’s Summer.”
My brows rise. “What about her?” Does he already know?
Zac sighs. “Tonight’s the night, tonight’s the night that the truth has to come out.”
“Look, Zac, about Summer and?—”
“I’m going to make my move,” he interjects.
My entire body jolts from surprise. “W-what do you mean?” There is an edge in my voice of concern and fear.
“You’ve seen the way I look at her. I know you have. You keep examining us with your eyes. You’ve got to see it, that she and I could be more.”
Nausea hits my stomach. “I… don’t know.”
He leans back into the chair, sulking. “Of course, you wouldn’t know. At the snap of your fingers, you have it all. I don’t think she and I were meant to be friends. Our connection is too strong and only gets stronger as the years go by.”
I swipe my hand across my jaw, now stuck behind a difficult rock. “What if she doesn’t want that?”
My brother seems to contemplate, and even he doesn’t know. “It’s… she’s been different lately. I feel like it’s a sign that I can be honest with her. Do you think she’s seeing someone?” Swallowing, words get stuck in my throat, and I can’t answer. “I think I might kill the guy that gets to kiss her.”
“I never knew you felt this way about her.”
“She never gave an indication that maybe she would be interested, so I kept it all in. But, for sure, she’s been so happy lately, and it has to be…”
I clench my fist, doing my best to come up with a game plan for this turn of events. “What if I said I kissed her?” What the fuck just spun off my tongue?
Zac frowns yet doesn’t seem concerned. “You wouldn’t do that to me. Nah, you’re just throwing hypotheticals at me. Besides, you’re leaving for your hockey career, and that would just leave Summer here all alone. Not to mention, you would never let a girl come between us.” He eases as if my sentence was crazy, but his facts are correct too, and a hint of doubt begins to hit me. “High school sucked, I was home a lot sick. Then college and medical school are stressful as hell, but maybe now I get to have something great in my life. For once, I can be the guy who is luckier than you.”
