“They got me stung by a bee,” I burst out. “And plants don’t have feelings, Ali.”
She gasped. “Yes, they do.” She stared me down. “Take it back.”
“What?” I laughed. “No, I won’t, because they don’t.”
Her eyes went comically wide. “They do, too, Jameson!” She gave me a playful shove.
I stared down at where she pushed me. “Oh my God.” I struggled to keep a straight face. “My dad got to you,” I said, making her collapse into me in a fit of giggles. “Plants do not have feelings, Ali,” I said, laughing along with her.
When she looked up at me, I traced her hairline with my index finger, making her go still. Her wide brown eyes bounced all over my face, then went to my lips. This was it. I had to make a move. My heart hammered in my chest as I dipped closer to her.
“Wait.” Her hand shot to my chest. She clenched her eyes shut.
I froze, her hand feeling like it was searing my skin.
“I can’t.” She pulled away from me and moved to the other side of the couch.
The room felt twenty degrees colder.
“Oh, okay, that’s okay,” I murmured, feeling lost and unbalanced. “I’m sorry.” I shook my head. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
She stared straight ahead.
I had no clue what else to say to make this better.
A tense silence stretched between us as I mentally backtracked through the last couple minutes.
The most obvious explanation for her reaction popped into my brain, and my gut twisted.
“Ali,” I said softly. Her eyes flicked over to mine. “You’re back with him, aren’t you? You’re back with Rossi?”
Her slender throat bobbed with a swallow. She slowly pulled her knees to her chest, looking small and unsure again.
Everything became crystal clear in that moment. Why she seemed so different tonight. It was him. I didn’t know the intricacies of their relationship, but I knew he had a way of dulling her confidence. I saw it each time they were together. He made her question everything she said and did.
A swell of frustration built up inside of me. Standing, I pressed the heels of my hands to my eyes. “Tell me I’m wrong.” I dropped my hands to look at her. She looked so damn small and sad. “Please fucking tell me I’m wrong.”
Tears erupted from her eyes, throwing me off.
My shoulders dropped. “Ali, I didn’t mean to—”
“No.” She held a hand up to ward me off and scrambled off the couch. “You don’t get to be mad. I…” Her eyes darted all over the room, like a cornered cat. “I don’t have to explain myself.”
I stared at her, feeling absolutely gutted. “Can you try?”
She squeezed her eyes shut. “Ihatebeing alone, JP. I’m always alone.” Herchin quivered. “You don’t know what that’s like. My dad’s scouting now, so he’s always gone, and my mom and Annie are in Montreal. Even Piper left Centre Ice. And you…” She held her hand up toward me and then dropped it. “You didn’t want me, JP. You’ve already said it, so I don’t know why you care if I’m going out with someone else. I need to do what’s best for me.”
My mind whirled, I stared at her in shock. “What’s best for you? What’s best for you is nothim, Ali. He’s… he’s…”
“He’s what?” She threw her arms down.
“He’s an asshole!” I yelled, then immediately regretted it. I didn't want anyone else hearing her business. I scrubbed my hands over my face. “He’s not good for you, Ali. Every time you’re with him, you turn into this…this…this…”
“This what?” she burst out.
“This weak version of yourself. I hate it,” I seethed.
She reared back like I slapped her.
