"Good weird. Scary weird." I reply not sure what to really say to him.
He parks outside the café and turns to face me. "Tonight. After the game. Come over."
"Your father will be at the game."
"Which is why I'll need you after." He kisses me quickly. "Please."
"Okay. After the game." I get out and watch him drive away, my heart doing complicated things in my chest.
Isla takes one look at me when I walk in and smirks.
"Walk of shame?"
"Walk of no shame. There's a difference."
"You slept with him." She points at me, and her mouth open in shock.
"I'm not discussing this here?—"
"You totally slept with him. Was it good?"
"Isla—"
"It was good. I can tell by your face. You have that freshly-fucked glow."
I throw a dish towel at her.
But she's not wrong. I do feel different. Lighter. Like something that was wound too tight finally loosened.
"Just be careful," Isla says more seriously. "I know what it's like to fall for someone complicated. It's wonderful and terrifying and?—"
"I'm not falling for him."
"Lennox. You spent the night. That's falling."
Maybe she's right. Maybe I am falling and maybe that's exactly what I need to do.
Chapter 8
Carter
The gameagainst our biggest rival is brutal.
My father sits in the stands with other scouts and NHL contacts, and I can feel his eyes on me every second.
Judging. Evaluating. Disappointed.
I play angry. Take hits I shouldn't. Get a penalty in the second period for roughing.
Coach pulls me aside. "Lynch. What the hell is going on?"
"Nothing. I'm fine." I have no other words to say about how I’m playing at the moment.
"You're not fine. You're playing reckless." He glances at the stands. "Is this about your father?"
"No."
"Liar. But I need you focused. We're down by one and we need our captain."
