She grimaced. “Are you in pain?”
I would’ve lied if anyone else asked, but with her, I nodded stiffly.
“Wow, this feels like a first for us.” She sighed. “This time you’re hurt.”
I chuckled again, then immediately regretted it. “Please don’t make me laugh. It hurts.”
She cringed. “I’m sorry. This is just such a weird switcheroo.” Her shoulders rose and fell with a sigh. “I don’t think I like this.”
“I do,” I said truthfully. I never wanted to see her in pain again.
Her face softened. “What do you need?”
I smiled—as much as I could without it hurting. “Another hug?”
“Oh my God.” She rolled her teary eyes and her lips twisted into a reluctant smile. “When did you get so sappy, Jameson?”
My face went a little hot from being so open with her, but any bit of embarrassment I was feeling completely disappeared when I was met with another hug.
“Hey, what the fuck?” a voice from behind us called out.
Ali’s whole body froze while my heart deflated. I knew Rossi would show up eventually, I just hoped it wouldn't be today
Releasing her, I quickly backed away and reached for the mop again.
“What the fuck’s going on here?” Rossi demanded. His angry footstepspounded against the metal bleachers as he bounded toward us.
I continued mopping, trying to ignore him.
“Wanna explain, dipshit?” Rossi yelled at me.
Ali ran to him, pushing back on his chest and trying to tell him to leave it. But he was red in the face and yelling as he continued pushing forward, looking like he wanted to fight me.
And I wanted that to happen.
I knew it would hurt like hell, but maybe then Ali would see the violent streak that I knew lingered just beneath the surface in him. Very few players ever got banned from youth hockey the way he did when he was in high school.
“He’s hurt!” Ali yelled up at his face.
Rossi’s eyes never left my face.
“Stop it, Mark,” Ali continued. “I was just talking to him. He’s hurt, now drop it.”
He pointed his finger at my face. “Never touch my girlfriend again,” he hurled at me with venom in his eyes.
Ali tried to talk to him again, but with a furious shake of his head, he turned on his heel and marched away.
Ali’s shoulders fell as she turned back to me. “He’s just insecure about you.” She looked so torn and upset, and I hated that I had any part in causing her distress.
“It’s okay,” I said, giving her a head nod toward her boyfriend.
With an apologetic glance, she scurried after him.
I wasn’t going to get mad at her about him. I already tried that, and I lost her because of it. I wouldn’t risk losing her again. The best thing I could do now was just be her friend, no matter what. Because as long as she was attached to Rossi, I knew she’d need one.
21. ALI - SPEAKERPHONE
The sunlight gently stirred me awake, but as soon as reality set in, so did the panic.
