I give up Summer.Tears don’t threaten. The pain is already transforming into anger. I could feed off that anger to get me home, which is hours too far from where I am now. “It’s complicated.”
She takes one more long drag and then offers it to me. “Thanks. I don’t smoke.”
“You’re too nice. I can tell. Dating a hockey player will ruin you if you’re not careful. Cheating on the road, dealing with the puck bunnies always trying to steal your man. And one day, you’ll wake up caring about who goes first in the buffet line out of the WAGS at the arena.” Dropping the cigarette, she squashes it with the toe of her cute shoes. “As someone who rides the line as a pro hockey player’s girlfriend and having my own damn life in the city, I love giving unsolicited advice because I can tell you’re a good person.Talk to Maverick. It’s rarely ‘complicated’ if you can talk to each other.” She passes, starting the hike back to the house but doesn’t get too far when she says, “Maybe I’ll see you around, Summer.”
I’m left with nothing to say again. My thoughts are muddied from the toxicity of the hierarchy of women, that there even is one, and Daniel sacrificing me without a second thought. I start walking. If nothing else, I’ll get to clear my head. Hopefully.
Why would they even ask that of him?
Is Daniel not allowed a life after all he’s done for them?
Was I embarrassing, and the Coach is protecting his star player?
I don’t know. I sigh, wondering if I acted too rash and should go back to talk to him like Lindy said. Stopping, I look down at the phone, hoping the map can give me an idea of how far I am from . . . from anything.
The sound of a car pulls my gaze into the distance. Vintage black sports car and that dang license plate on the front:HATTRICK.
Daniel slows down and then pulls up in front of me with the top down. Sunglasses, perfect flow to his hair, handsome as ever. Some of the anger begins to null just being close to him again.
“Need a ride?”
“No.” I look back at the direction I was heading. “I think there’s a . . . um. Something up here where I can get a ride back to the bed-and-breakfast.”
He shifts into Park and slips off his seat belt before climbing out, so suave like a movie star. So annoying.
Coming around the front, he gets close but leaves me some room to vent if I need to. Lifting the sunglasses to the top of his head, he shoves his hands in his pockets and leanson the passenger door in front of me. “Why are you leaving me, Sunshine?”
Cutting right to the chase.
I think this is what Lindy meant by communicating. This would be my turn. “I overheard you and the coach talking.”
“And needed fresh air?” I kind of hate that he already knows this about me. I also love it to pieces. “I understand why you’re upset. I’m upset, but I’m also not ready to give up the sport.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “No. You’ll just give me up instead.” The words summon him to stand, and the confusion wrinkling the corners of his eyes has me rolling mine. “You didn’t even have to think about it. You just gave me up like I’m bad for your health and you need a lifestyle change.”
“What?” Stepping closer, he reaches for me. “What are you talking about, Summer?” I step out of his reach, keeping my arms securely fastened over me like chain-link armor. “Bad for my health? You’re the best thing to happen to me in years. I’m not giving you up.”
“You said it, Daniel,” I shout, my temper flaring flames through my chest. Does he think I’m stupid? Taking a breath, I lower my voice. “I heard you. I heard you tell him. “I give up Summer and keep my spot on the team.” Iheardyou.”
His head drops back on his neck, and he scrubs a hand over his face and chuckles.
That laugh is salt in my broken heart’s wound. “There’s no point talking to you.” I start walking, my anger too much to keep from blowing if I stay put. I fist my hand around my phone, each step getting me closer to losing my shit.
Dang it.He even has me cussingnow.
The road is too smooth and fancy to give a girl a warning of when a car approaches, so when the front of his car hits my periphery, I say, “Don’t follow me.”
“I’m not. I’m next to you.”
“Well, don’t drive next to me either.”
“Fine,” he states like his patience has worn off. He has some nerve turning this around on me.
He drives ahead and then angles right to cut off my path. Hopping out of the car again, he comes to stand in front of it. Wide stance. Arms crossed. I don’t have to be that close to know his jaw is ticking.
I stop where I am, leaving a good fifteen feet between us. “What are you doing?”
Daniel smirks.
