Page 108 of Rules

“She’s okay,” Brook whispers softly. “She finally fell asleep a bit ago. You should let her rest.”

“I…” My throat bobs as I look over her shoulder at the closed door.

After New Year’s Eve, Jeanette started going back to her therapy sessions. She was seeing a psychologist back in California for the better part of the last two years but decided to quit before we moved to Greyford. With everything happening lately, she decided it would be best for her to pick it up again, even if only once a week.

Was she spiraling again? Is that why she wasn’t feeling well? Did her demons return, back in full force?

Brook’s fingers touch my chin, light like a feather, and they make my whole body shiver. Holding back, I look down at her.

“She is fine, Max.” There is a knowing look in her eyes.

“I just…”

“She told us, you know… about the anorexia.” My eyes all but pop out in surprise. Jeanette did? When? She rarely talks about it, even with me. I think the only person she ever fully opened up to is her therapist, but that’s kind of it, so for her to tell Brook… “But this doesn’t have anything to do with that. Trust me.”

I give one last lingering look to her bedroom door and finally nod in agreement. “I guess you’re right. I can check in on her later.”

Brook offers me a smile, and her fingers linger on my cheek for just a few seconds longer before she pulls back. My body misses her touch almost instantly. Has it really been more than a week?

She shifts from leg to leg. “I should get going.”

“Already?” I cringe at the neediness in my voice, but there is no taking it back now. “We haven’t seen each other in forever.”

“Things have been… busy.” She looks away, uncomfortable.

I narrow my eyes at her. Something isn’t adding up.

“I know. We have a game this Friday, and Coach has been working our asses off since school started back up. If we win this, we’re going to the Ice Globe Tournament.”

“That’s amazing, Max. I’m really happy for you.”

I take her hand in mine. “Stay. I’ll take a quick shower, and we can crash and watch something for a bit.”

For a moment I see her pondering my offer, but then something flashes in her eyes. She shakes her head, almost like she’s fighting with herself before her face closes off. Taking a step back, her hand slips out of mine.

“I really have to go.” She turns her back to me, ready to leave. My throat closes, but I can’t seem to let it go.

“What is really going on, Brook?”

She stops at the top of the stairs, her back stiff, hand gripping the railing. “Nothing, I’m just busy.”

“Bull,” I shoot back. “You just spent probably hours with Jeanette, and now you’re leaving?”

“She wasn’t feeling well. I couldn’t just leave her alone.”

Maybe, but from the edge in her voice and the hard line of her shoulders, I beg to differ. “That’s not the only thing. I haven’t seen you except in the few classes we have together.”

“I told you I’ve been busy.”

“Busy?” I take a step closer. She must hear it because her back grows more rigid than before. “Or avoiding me?”

The challenge is more than obvious.

Like you’re one to talk.

She turns around, fire burning in her irises. “What’s with all the questions?”

I lift my brow at her, not baffled in the least with her attitude. “What’s with the avoidance?”

---