“How do I keep getting myself into these situations?” I mutter into my mom’s arms.
“I have a question,” Mom tells me.
“Only one?” I laugh, wiping away the tears. My eyes burn from all the crying.
She smirks at me, tucking a stray piece of hair behind my ear. “Fine. The first question. How do you really feel about Cash?”
My eyes flit to the TV where it’s still paused on his face. He’s like the sun, pulling me in. Not letting me go. “I love him.”
It’s the easiest words I’ve ever said.
“Then why didn’t you talk to him to try and figure this out?”
“I had to make it believable.” With Ava flitting about the arena, she would’ve caught on if we were pretending. And that would’ve screwed everything else up.
“Oh, sweetheart. Maybe try talking to Cassie. See if there’s anything she can do?”
Her tone is hopeful, but I don’t know what she would be able to do.
“Maybe.”
“So you’re just going to be brokenhearted for the rest of your life? If I did that, I wouldn’t have you.”
“Ugh, Mom. I don’t want to hear about your and Dad’s love life.”
Mom couldn’t stop her smile if she tried. “All I’m saying is if I didn’t forgive your father all those years ago, we wouldn’t be here.”
“Can we talk about something else?”
The thought of love right now makes me sick.
“Fine.” Mom flips the game off and turns on an old rerun ofFriends.
“You don’t want to watch the game?”
“There’s no sense in making you more miserable tonight by watching the game.”
“You know you’re the best mom, right?”
I don’t know the last time she’s missed one of Noah’s games. When we were growing up, she was always there. Even now, she’s at almost every home game they have. She’s a hockey mom through and through, rarely missing a game.
She drops a kiss on my head and pulls me into her arms again. A place I will gladly stay to feel safe for the night. Comforted. Like my whole world isn’t crashing down on me.
“And don’t you ever forget it.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
CASH
“You ready, Willy? Feeling good?” the trainer asks as he wraps my ribs.
“Feeling fine.”
I don’t need him to keep checking in on me. My ribs feel fine. My entire body feels fine on the ice.
It's about the only damn thing that does.
Because for the last two weeks, I’ve been nothing but a sad sack.
