Page 80 of The Golden Goalie

“I didn’t even meet him; I just didn’t like who you became when you were dating him. That was enough for me to know I wouldn’t like him.”

“Yeah.” I sigh. “I’m not really sure where my head was for that time in my life.”

“Up your backside,” Stephanie says without missing a beat.

I shake my head but don’t argue. After a huge yawn, I stand up. “I gotta go; I have classes tomorrow.”

“Do you want to crash here, so you don’t have to drive home tired?” Bri asks.

“It’s tempting,” I admit. “But I need to be home, so I can be ready for classes.” I manage to push myself out of the couch and onto my feet. “Thanks for letting me watch the game here.”

“Any game,” Bri says, and I know she means it.

“Neither of you travel to the away games?”

“Every once in a while,” Stephanie admits. “But it’s a lot of work and it’s not like I see Sebastian while I'm there. And I hate away games because it gets crazy when you’re on the opposing team.”

“What she said,” Bri says, collecting the paper plates and popcorn bowl. I help her with pickup before heading to the door. “Love you, Sis,” she says, hugging me.

“Love you too, Bri.”

I text Rico on my way to my car.

Me-good game tonight

I don’t hear back from him before I go to bed, but that doesn’t surprise me. I figure he has a lot going on behind the scenes. The next morning, I check my phone and sure enough, there’s a text from late last night.

Rico-you watched?

He probably figured I was asleep because he didn’t text after that. I quickly text him back.

Me-i did. i had to make sure you actually did something out there on the ice.

I grin thinking of him reading that; I love razzing him about staying in the net all night. After checking on my mom and making sure she’s good for the day, I head out. I ace one of my exams and feel good about my other classes before I head over to the library. I eat the banana and nuts I packed before heading into the library.

Mrs. Randolph sits behind the counter but looks up at me over her glasses. “You still feeling good?” She hasn’t let go of my “episode” the other day. “No more drama?”

I don’t let her words bother me. “Well, you know me—I'm all about drama.”

I get to work shelving returned books and help several students with various assignments they need to do research for. I'd just returned to the front desk when I hear a commotion. I look up to see a group converging on the front desk. Suddenly, there are several cameras and video cameras pointed in my direction. I stare in confusion, trying to figure out what in the world is going on. “There she is.”

My stomach knots.Adam. “What are you doing here?” I ask before I can even think about it. He grins at me. It's amazing how I used to do anything for that grin. Now the sight of it makes me sick. It’s not warm, not like Rico’s is.Has it always been that cold and empty?

“Coming to see my girl, of course.”

I stare at him, but before I can say anything, there’s like a half dozen people clamoring for my attention.

“Is it true that you’re carrying Adam Grey’s baby?”

“When are you due?”

“How come you haven’t been to any of his games?”

“What about the fact that you were spotted at a Green Thunder game wearing the goalie’s number?”

“When’s the wedding?”

I can’t respond to a single question; I’m too in shock to say anything. “Did you all check in with campus security?” Mrs. Randolph asks, coming and standing next to me. “I didn’t hear from them, so I’m going to assume you didn’t. You all need to clear out now and don’t come back again until you’ve run it through the proper channels. Go. Shoo.”

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