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Is my dad a famous retired pro athlete? Yes, but his name holds no weight in the world of figure skating. His reputation is nothing when we’re talking about international championships. He may be a big deal in the US, but most people around the world don’t follow the NFL. I love my dad, and I’m immensely proud of his career and his legacy, but when I step onto the ice in pain, fighting dizziness and headaches, religiously sticking to a strict diet and barely socializing, it has nothing to do with him.

“Must be nice to have everything handed to you on a silver plate,” a girl I’ve never spoken to before told me. Then, she proceeded to blame me for ruining the hockey team’s season. Never mind that Michael’s dad is also a famous athlete, one who played the same sport as his son. He’s in the Hockey Hall of Fame, for fuck’s sake, yet I’m the only one being called a nepo baby, the one being accused of using my dad’s fame to my benefit.

Groaning, I sit up and eye my laptop. During Thanksgiving break, I started watching Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. I’m itching to dive back into the fictional world and lose myself in the story, but it’s only been three days since I fell and ended up with a mild concussion. The doctor said no screen time, and my parents are strictly enforcing that rule.

No doomscrolling. No watching movies. No playing games. And no ice.

The last one makes my heart ache.

On the ice is the only place I can push thoughts of Michael away and feel like myself again. This bed-rotting is boring. It makes me want to scratch my eyes out.

Luckily, winter break starts soon, but even before that, I’m headed to Boston. I don’t have to go back to that school again except to empty my locker. I’m saved from having to face any of those terrible people again.

“Isla?” My brother’s voice rips me out of my thoughts.

“Yeah.”

Ian opens the door and pauses at the threshold. “Can I turn on the light?”

“Sure.” I shield my eyes with my palm, knowing if I don’t, my head will start pounding again.

The room brightens, but he continues hovering in the doorway, shifting on his feet.

“What’s wrong?”

He glances to his right. “Meg’s here.”

My heart stumbles over itself. I love Meghan like a little sister, but she’s also a direct link to Michael, and any mention of him feels like a stab in my chest.

“We wanted to come and check on you.” He stuffs his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants. “No one deserves to be alone on their birthday.”

The urge to burst into tears again threatens. I had so many plans for my sixteenth birthday. But after Michael kissed Sienna, I couldn’t bring myself to follow through on any of them. Anytime Mom asked what I wanted to do to celebrate, I told her I need more time. Now, I’m thankful I didn’t plan anything, because even if I weren’t recovering from a concussion, no one would’ve come.

“Come on in,” I murmur quietly. “Meg, you too.”

Smiling, Ian grabs Meg’s hand and pulls her into the room. They stop in the middle of the space, like they’re not sure how close to get, but when I beckon them to join me on my bed, they bound over together. My brother sits to my left while Meg plops down in front of me.

“How do you feel?” She tilts her head, assessing me. Her deep brown eyes tear a hole in my chest. They look just like her brother’s, like the eyes of the person I once trusted more than anyone. That thought sends a shiver down my spine.

“I’m fine, at least as fine as I can be with a mild concussion.”

She pats my hand affectionately, her dark brown hair falling in her face. “First, Michael’s hand, now you. It’s like there’s a cloud of bad luck looming.”

“Uh-huh, but it’s not the end of the world,” I tell her, trying to remind myself it really isn’t, whether Michael and I are friends or not. “Even though it sort of feels like it.”

She throws her head back and laughs. “My big brother is definitely acting like it’s the end of the world.” Her smile fades a little, and she fiddles with the hem of her shirt. “Yesterday, he was working on a school project with Ash and some blonde from his class. I swear, it was the first time he wasn’t grumpy in weeks. He even joked. That girl, though…ugh.” Meg wrinkles her nose. “She smelled like caramel. Too much of it. Like she wanted everyone to notice.”

A wave of pain rolls through me, and it has nothing to do with my concussion. So Sienna is still around. I shouldn’t be surprised, but hearing it knocks the air out of me anyway. A slow stiffness spreads through my muscles. I rest my head against the headboard and breathe deeply, forcing my shoulders to loosen. It shouldn’t matter. What he does, who he spends time with—it’s none of my concern.

But the truth is, knowing she’s still in his life…stings.

“Your brother lives and breathes hockey, so it’s understandable that he’s upset.”

“I know, but he doesn’t need to be an ass to the people who love him.” Meg pouts.

“Sorry. Hope he cheers up soon.” I grasp Ian’s shoulder and pull him to my side. “Why are you so quiet? Are you hiding something from me?”

His eyes go wide, and he blurts, “Mom and Dad are preparing a little surprise for you.”