Page 153 of Unloved

“I’m not complaining. She has pretty good taste.”

“She does.” Ro’s face shifts slightly before she confesses, “I, um, told them. About us.”

My face falls before I can control my reaction, slowing to a stop against the boards. Ro rushes to apologize, which only makes my stomach turn over again.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve asked you first. I thought—”

“No,” I rush to say. “I’m glad you told them. This isn’t a secret. I want everyone to know we’re dating.”

No games. Just you and me, princess, being real.

A flush darkens Ro’s cheeks. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” I grin for a moment. Before my mind is assaulted with every single time Bennett and Rhys—hell, even Sadie—have warnedme away from her. My face falls, insecurity scrambling my words so it takes a bit longer to speak. “But, um… did they say anything? Were they mad? Or—I don’t know. What did they say?”

“They were happy for us.”

“Really?”

Now it’s Ro’s turn to furrow her brow, tone soft. “Why do you seem surprised by that?”

“It’s not that. It’s just… I think I’m a little anxious.”

“About?”

This is way too hard to say. I wish we were back home. The harsh fluorescents of the rink, the music—it all feels like the backdrop is too overwhelming to strip myself down for her. To be as vulnerable as I’m about to be.

“I know I have a certain ‘reputation,’ and that’s my fault,” I say, heart fully lodged in my throat. Even my voice sounds strained. Uncomfortable. My hands reach up to cover my face because I’m a little afraid I might fuckingcry. “I don’t want it to be on you, that you have to explain why we’re together or for people to make fun of you for it—”

“Matt,” Ro says, stopping me and pulling on my hands. I let her reveal my face, biting my lip. “I really don’t give a fuck about your reputation. It’s stupid and completely baseless. All I care about is who you are with me. And with everyone around you. You’re a good person. The most emotionally intelligent person I think I’ve ever known.”

Every word she says settles in my soul, building something new around the soft, damaged parts of my heart that have felt unlovable for too long. Around the version of me at ten, fifteen, eighteen,now, who watched his dad choose not to love him, who watched women take advantage of his desperation to be loved… who broke himself time and again.

I hear the words she doesn’t say, too:I will not abandon you. Your heart is safe with me.

No games.

“So I hate that you’re surprised that our friends are happy we are dating. Rhys and Sadie are thrilled; the rest of your teammates and friends will be, too.” Rosalie smiles up at me where we’ve stopped short of the exit. “I only have, like, two people to tell, but if it would show you how little I care what people think, I’ll wear a shirt with your face on it that says I’m Matt Fredderic’s Girlfriend.”

A chuckle breaks through my lips. “I think you’d probably look really good in that.”

“Mm-hmm,” she sighs, relaxing into my arms as I hug her. I don’t want to let go of her. “I bet you do.”

“I think my jersey would be better, though.”

“Deal,” she says. “Next home game, I’ll be in your jersey.”

My eyes sparkle with humor and delight. “Wanna go around again?”

“Sure,” she says, hands locking back onto mine. “But I wanna see you go faster, Twenty-Seven.”

The challenge thrills me and I take off, dragging Ro swiftly behind me until she’s a giggling, giddy mess.

CHAPTER 55Ro

After a Best Pizza in Massachusetts dinner, we opt for the empty Hockey House tonight. Matt stops by the dorms for me to grab everything I need to stay with him.

He ushers me to the shower, setting out a towel for me. The entire thing feels familiar and yet the tension feels turned up to a thousand.

---