twenty-five
“I’m so glad you were able to make it today. I know it means a lot to Wyatt,” Cora says as we take our seats.
If you would have asked me when we started this thing if Wyatt cared if I was here, I would have doubted it, but now? Things have changed. We have grown closer.
We still haven’t discussed the whole fake part of our relationship, really, or where this could realistically go, but that’s okay with me. I’m scared to find out the answer. What future do we even have? If he is drafted far away, will that be the end to it all? That makes my heart hurt.
I don’t know when, but I have fallen for Wyatt Scott.
“Oh, here they come.” Cora nudges me excitedly.
We watch as the team comes out. Kellan skates over as usual and blows a kiss to Cora. The crowd is rowdy, but they only have eyes for one another.
That’s the kind of love I want.
The thought enters my head unbidden as Wyatt skates up behind Kellan. He gives me a smile, making my heart beat faster. He doesn’t blow a kiss like Kellan, but he does put his hand over his heart. My cheeks hurt from how big I’m smiling. Wyatt winks at me before he and Kellan skate away to do their warm-ups.
“Our guys are so romantic,” Cora gushes from next to me. “I never thought I would see Wyatt like this, though. He is a different person with you. I like it.”
My cheeks heat at her words. “Oh, I don’t know about that. I think Wyatt is the same man he always was.”
“Maybe, but he was closed off. He didn’t smile nearly as much as he has since you came into his life. That’s all you. Take that.”
Before I can respond, I hear a voice from behind me.
“She is such a skank. I don’t know why Wyatt even likes her.”
Glancing over, I see Macy a few rows behind us. She’s practically shouting for me to hear her. I roll my eyes at her and focus back forward.
“Want me to punch her? I don’t go to school with you, so I could probably get away with it,” Cora offers.
“She’s jealous because she coveted what I had before, and now that she has it, she realizes it wasn’t as good as she thought. Now she wants what I have now, and that’s not going to happen. Wyatt is miles smarter than Kyle ever was,” I admit to her.
She lets out a rambunctious laugh. “Oh god, that is so true. I think his teacher must pass him because of his position on the team. He was in my freshman English class…and he was a junior.”
I wince. “Yeah. He claimed the teacher didn’t like him, and that’s why he failed his freshman year, but it was because he isn’t very good at writing. I had to help him with all of his papers.”
“You are a saint, girl. Oh look, the game is starting.”
Leaving thoughts of my ex behind me, I focus on my present. I can’t take my eyes off of Wyatt even when the puck ends up at the other end of the ice. I feel like a lovesick puppy, but I don’t want to look away. I don’t want to miss even a second of Wyatt Scott.
When he stops his second attempt at a goal on his net, he looks over at me and points. It’s as if he is dedicating that save to me. The way it feeds my soul should be illegal.
They reset and start again, but my phone ringing finally draws my attention away. When I see it’s Will, my stomach drops. I put the phone to my ear, plugging my other one.
“Will? What’s wrong?” I yell into the phone.
“I’m so sorry, Lyla. You need to come to the hospital right away.”
My heart stops. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Dad. You need to get here.”
I swallow hard. “I’m on my way.”
I hang up the phone and turn to Cora.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, her eyes full of concern.
