Page 101 of Heartless Game

Isaac was acting weird.

In some ways, he was more himself than he’d ever been—demanding, almost needy in bed, insisting on walking me to class, forcing me to go to hockey practice with him, not leaving me alone for a second. In other ways, he was distant, almost cold, giving me gruff answers when I asked him questions and not being nearly as emotionally open or intimate as he had been.

But when I asked him what was wrong, he brushed me off easily, kissing me, telling me everything was fine, and that he was just focused on hockey right now. He also gave me my phone back. That, alone, should have signified we were okay.

But it didn’t. And even though I told myself everything was fine, I knew it was bullshit. Fortunately, I had gotten a moment to myself—once again in the bathroom—to call my mom, this time from my real phone. I felt guilty, keeping this secret from Isaac, but the risk was too high to tell him the truth. My mom, for her part, was only worried aboutme.She insisted she was fine in San Diego, she’d found an apartment and a job cleaning houses, and so far, no one had seemed to have followed her. It settled my anxiety, somewhat, but it felt like there was danger waiting in the wings, and I felt completely paralyzed by it.

The team had a game tonight, and Isaac’s suspension was over. He’d been so eager to get back on the ice, I hadn’t pushed him about where things stood between us. Currently, he and the team were stretching, and even though Aviva and I were sitting in our usual seats, behind the penalty box, both wearing our respective boyfriends’ jerseys, Isaac hadn’t looked up at me once. It was completely opposite of every other game I’d gone to since we’d started this thing with each other, and I tried to keep the smile on my face and pretend his lack of attention wasn’t affecting me, even though it was.

It continued throughout the entire game. Isaac was on fire, scoring goal after goal, with assists from Jack and the rest of the team. It was a blowout. We were on the bleachers, screaming as the horn blew for another goal of Isaac’s, while I tried to ignore the woman two rows over.

She was beautiful. Tall, lithe, straight black hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. And she was holding a sign that said JONES with hearts around it. It shouldn’t have meant anything or mattered to me. There were plenty of girls holding signs or cheering for Isaac. He had a huge fanbase, after all.

Except he’d glanced over at her. Twice. He’d seemed surprised the first time, but the second time he’d smiled at her, and she’d smiled back.

Hi, she’d mouthed.

He’d waved.

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Aviva said, seeing where I was looking. “And if it’s not, I’ll kick his ass.”

I shrugged. “I don’t care.”

“Bullshit. You do. And I swear it’s nothing. He only has eyes for you, Tovah.”

But if that was true, why hadn’t he looked at me?

As second period ended, Isaac skated up to the boards, tapping on the glass right in front of her seat.

I got up.

“I need some water,” I told Aviva.

“I can come with you,” she offered, looking worried.

I waved her off. I needed time to myself, even in a crowd. Maybe to shut myself in a bathroom stall and silently cry. I was so frustrated, and hurt, and what was worse, he wouldn’t tell me what was wrong.

As I headed up the stairs and out to the main corridor, I spotted her ahead of me. She was checking her phone as she brushed her hair behind her ear.

Unable to stop myself, I tapped her shoulder.

“Oh god, hi,” she said, jumping. Her voice was high and clear. Pretty like the rest of her. I hated myself for it, but I wanted to punch her in the throat.

“Hi,” I said. “I’m Tovah.”

She was clearly surprised that a complete stranger was introducing herself, but I needed to know who she was.

“Hi, I’m Eliana. Why—” she scanned my jersey, and a half smile slid onto her face that didn’t reach her eyes. “Ah, a fan of Isaac’s.”

“Fan?” Even though Isaac had never verbally cemented us this way, I didn’t care. “I’m his girlfriend.”

She flinched. People streamed into the corridor on either side of us to get snacks and drinks and go to the bathroom. “Girlfriend?”

With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I nodded. “Yeah.”

She bit her lip. Eventhatwas pretty. I hated how jealous I was, but if Isaac was allowed to be a possessive asshole, so was I.

Someone elbowed her, and she fell backward. Without thinking about it, I grabbed her arm to steady her.

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