And I don’t blame her. Just as quickly as Maia fell for Cam, he fell for her, but like all good things, it ended.
It’s the only thing I’ve ever hated my brother for.
“It does suck that the chances of us sharing a real college experience are probably out the window,” she sighs.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I can’t go to games because your brother will be there. I can’t go to parties because, oh right, your brother will be there.”
“That doesn’t make a college experience.”
“Parties and sports are the definitions of a college experience. I mean, have you been to a party since—"
“Since freshman year?” I scoff. “No, and I don’t plan to.”
“Em, someday, you’ll have to move on.” She reaches for my hand. “Stop letting it weigh you down.”
“Oh, because that’s exactly what you did?” I tease. “Because I’m pretty sure you had me send you Cam’s schedule so you could avoid seeing him on campus.”
“Touché.”
I laugh, throwing a fry at her. What happened between her and Cam may still be a fresh wound for her, but I’m happy it didn’t stop her from coming here. It’s nice to have someone around other than my brother.
“And how am I supposed to have a true college experience when the one person I could go to a party with won’t because they’re trying to avoid my brother?”
“Alright, girlie.” She slides out of the booth, ignoring my comment. “Break was over about ten minutes ago; I should get back to work.”
I glance around the diner. It was dead, but that wasn’t unusual. It’ll pick up once football games start and go crazy when hockey starts.
Unfortunately, if our small Chicago town was known for anything, it was hockey. And Rockford University wastheplace to go if you played. Most of the players on the college team were from the area; most wanted to stay local, and luckily for me, my brother was one of them.
“Yeah, you should really get back to work; you guys areslammed.”
“Haha.” Maia rolls her eyes. “Keep up the attitude, and the free fries will stop.”
I dramatically motion locking my lips and throwing away the key as Maia heads back to the kitchen.
You’re home late.” He shoves a slice of pizza in his mouth. “Food is getting cold.”
“How was practice?”
“Good,” he says. “The guys are really gelling this year. I think it could be a good year for us.”
“You said that last year.”
“Well, I mean itthisyear. Sanderson has been on fire during practice.”
Of course, the beloved captain. I’m surprised other players fit on the ice with his ginormous ego.
“Right, Sanderson.”
I sit on the other side of the room before leaning forward and grabbing a piece of pizza.
“You remember Declan, right?”
How could I forget him?
Cam may be aware something horrible happened freshman year, but he’s unaware that some of the hockey team had something to do with it. Declan included.
