I feel tension flood every part of me at something as simple as that statement, because it’s already happening. They’re already treating me like I can’t play anymore. Next thing you know, I’ll be off the team, and then where will I be?Whatwill I be without hockey? How the fuck will I ever—
“I’m actually really tired too,” Abby says suddenly. She turns to me in the seat, giving me a pointed look. “Mind driving me home?”
“I…” I could kiss her at this moment. Seriously, I could. It’s like she can see all my anxiety and fears and is offering me an out. And we just became friends last night. “Yeah,” I say finally. “I can do that. No problem.”
“Are you sure?” Dee says with a pout. “It’s going to be fun!”
“I’ve seen you play darts,” I tease. “I don’t want to risk losing an eye.”
“I’m not that bad,” she grumbles.
Abby is already sliding out of the booth, and I shuffle after her, feeling immediate relief at the prospect of getting out of here.
“I’ll call you tomorrow?” Ian says.
I nod back at him. “Sounds good.”
“Be careful with my sister,” he says pointedly. “Precious cargo.”
I almost laugh, because with the way she’s saving me right now, I could say the same thing.
“I will treat her as well as you treat mine,” I tease.
Ian shudders. “Let’s hope not.”
“Definitely not,” Abby says with a roll of her eyes.
I follow her out to the parking lot, waiting till we’re far away from the bar before I mutter a, “Thank you.”
“It’s fine,” she tells me. “Bars aren’t really my scene, anyway.”
“They’re usually mine,” I say. “But tonight…”
“You needed to get away,” she finishes. She nods with understanding. “I get it.”
“This is me,” I tell her, unlocking the car.
She reaches out her hand, looking at me expectantly.
“What?”
She flexes her fingers. “I’m driving.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I didn’t drink,” she says matter-of-factly.
“I hadonebeer.”
“Those are the rules.”
“Worse than my aunt,” I mutter, handing over the keys.
She grins back at me. “What are besties for?”
And even though she’s teasing…at this exact moment? I couldn’t be more grateful for her.
Thirteen
