Me: The ball is in your court now. I’ve spilled my heart to you, to the team. If I’m not what you want then fine, but we have to find a way to coexist for the team. For Carter. He’s your best friend and I won’t be the cause for the two of you not talking. Make it right with him.
With that, I plug my phone into the charger and put in on my desk. A small part of me wants to know if he responds, but if it’s right beside me, I won’t be able to fight the urge to pick it up and message him again.
Picking up my laptop, I sit down on my bed and power it on. Now it’s time to find out about Geneva Lein, another person who ripped my heart to shreds. I’m not going to let her fuck up our hockey career over a holiday tryst, even if she does still hold a piece of my heart.
Chapter 4
Blake
“So, you and Chase?”Henley asks, then takes a sip of his beer. We took a seat in one of the booths after getting a round, while the other guys went to play a round of pool.
“Me and Chase what?” Just saying his name is like a stab in the heart. I can feel my soul bleeding out onto the floor.
“Together. A couple. I think it’s awesome, man. I kind of had my suspicions about him. I saw how he used to watch you. I just didn’t say anything.” Henley takes another swallow of his beer as he winks at a group of puck bunnies standing at the end of the bar.
“I’d be sure to bring my own condom if you tap her. Last I heard, she’s looking for a meal ticket and likes to use damaged condoms.” Hope rises in me that by changing the subject, he’ll get off the topic of Chase.
“But he came out and confessed his love. I’m not sure what happened between the two of you, but it seems like the both of you care about each other.” He looks back over towards the group of girls. “And don’t worry, I have someone else on mymind. She’s the settle down kind of girl. The one you have forever.”
I jerk my head back to him, because I think my ears are deceiving me. Did I just hear what I think I did?Henley Cox.The biggest playboy on the team is thinking about giving up his whoring ways?
“Seriously, you’re ready to give up all the random women making their way in and out of your bed?”
“It gets old, Blake. I’m ready for more. And I think you and Chase need to talk. If not to work out your issues, then for the team. We can't win games if our team is broken.” He stands up, not even giving me a chance to respond. I see the hopeful smile fill the girl's face, thinking she’s gained Henley’s attention only for it to fall in despair when he bypasses her and joins our teammates at the pool table.
My phone buzzes in my pocket and a small piece of me hopes that it’s Chase. Not that I’ll answer, but something about him reaching out to me comforts me in some oddly weird way.
Baby: I miss you so much, Blake. This is so hard for me. I spilled my guts today to you, in front of the whole team and it meant nothing to you. Coming out as bisexual wasn’t easy for me. It’s something that has been a stressor for years. I didn’t plan to hide you or our relationship. All I wanted was time to do it in my own way, at my own pace, and you couldn’t understand that. Instead of staying with me that night so we could talk and work through this together, you left me alone. Then you came home and I saw the evidence of your betrayal. One fight and you find someone else. I must not have meant as much to you as Ithought. Is that why it was so easy to just blow me off again today?
Baby: The ball is in your court now. I’ve spilled my heart to you, to the team. If I’m not what you want then fine, but we have to find a way to coexist for the team. For Carter. He’s your best friend and I won’t be the cause for the two of you not talking. Make it right with him.
That night is still one of the biggest regrets of my life. In my moment of anger and anguish, I did the stupidest shit I’ve ever done, and that’s saying a lot. It’s one of the reasons I didn’t accept Chase’s grand gesture with his confession of love. He’d never forgive me for what I did. I don’t forgive myself.
Carter: Where are you?
Me: Viking’s Nest, you know that.
Carter: OMW
Me: Thinking about heading out. I’ll let the guys know you’re coming in case I do.
I love Carter, but I don’t feel like dealing with him tonight. All he’s going to do is talk to me about Chase and how I need to give him a chance, especially after he came out for me. The thing is, I know he’ll talk me into it. No matter how mad I am at him wanting to keep our relationship a secret, I still love him.
Sweat begins to bead on my forehead, anxious about Carter’s pending arrival.
Carter: Heading to your dorm? I’ll meet you there.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
There’s no way in hell I can have this conversation with him sober. A server heads my way and I raise my hand, waving her over.
“What can I get you?” She juts her hip out as she places a hand on the table, leaning into me, her tits spilling over the top of her shirt. Any other time, I’d be in to it. But right now I have two people occupying my mind. One man and one woman.
“Yeah, can I get four shots of tequila and two beers? Whatever’s on draft.”
She tilts her head slightly, letting a lock of her auburn hair fall across her cheek. Her lips curl into a slow, deliberate smile. Her eyes sparkle, meeting mine for a lingering moment before darting away, only to return with an inviting gaze that tells me she wants me.
“Sure thing, baby. I’ll be right back.” She turns to walk away but pauses, looking back over her shoulder. “My name’s Frannie, just in case you were wondering.” She winks before shaking her hair and heading toward the bar, her hips swaying more than they need to.
