Page 73 of Thunderstruck
Rolling my eyes, I let her words sink in. It’s four in the morning for her, and she still manages to say the right thing. “I hate how you always sound so inspirational.”
“I am soon to be a queen, Cole. One would hope my ability to give a speech is greater than most.”
“How humble of you.”
“Humility is not the absence of confidence.” She squints at the screen. “Where are you?”
I glance at the bar behind me. “I’m moments away from making things worse, probably, but you’re going to tell me it’s a great idea. Carissa went out for drinks with the team.”
The sheer excitement on her face is almost enough to get me to turn around and start walking home. “Oh?”
“Don’t look at me like that,” I complain. “I’m just here to make sure they treat her right.”
“Yes, I am certain that is your only reason.”
“I know you think we’re soulmates or whatever, but Carissa and I barely know each other.”
“There is an easy fix for that.”
I glare at my phone. “And what is that?”
“Stop talking to me and go inside. You cannot know her if you avoid her.”
“That’s less inspirational and more common sense.”
“And yet I have to tell it to you.”
I groan and drop my head against the wall behind me. Even knowing this was where the conversation would likely go, I don’t like how simpleFreya makes it sound. It doesn’tfeelsimple. “But what if I drove her away? She wasn’t happy with me today.”
“Nor am I, but I still care for you. If she is as special as you make her sound, she will forgive you for a few bad days. But you must give her the opportunity.”
I want to do that. With my friends all busy—exactly as Carissa said—I was either at home by myself or with Dad and Gramps, who constantly asked when I would bring Carissa over next. Not talking to her has been the worst, but I hoped I could concentrate on settling into the role of captain. Not that I made any progress on that front, so this lonely week has been completely pointless.
All it has accomplished is stoking the fire of my interest.
“Cole,” Freya says gently, “you need her in your life. You know you do. When will you allow yourself to be happy?”
When I feel like I deserve it.
A text notification drops from the top of the screen, and I glance at it. It’s a picture from Moxie, but I can’t tell what it is before the notification disappears. Unease settles in my stomach. Moxie’s somewhere inside, and I can’t imagine any reason he would send me a picture except to show me something I’m not going to like.
“I should go,” I tell Freya.
“Yes, you should,” she agrees, narrowing her eyes at me. “And do not be surprised when I call you in the middle of the night someday.”
I roll my eyes. “You were going to be awake in an hour anyway, Peach.”
“That is still an hour of lost sleep, and I have precious little time to sleep lately. So Iwillbe returning the favor.”
Her threat makes me smile, and I wish her a productive day despite her lack of sleep and hang up. I got lucky when Derek met Freya all those years ago, and I’m glad I called her tonight. Even if her constant nuggets of wisdom are hard to swallow.
With the call over, I pull up the photo Moxie sent and am instantly put on edge when I see Carissa tucked under Bean’s arm as they sit at a table with a few other guys from the team. She’s laughing, and Bean is looking at her in a way that makes my skin crawl. He’s looking at her the wayIdo.
Swearing, I shove my phone into my pocket and head for the door, impatiently waiting for the bouncer to check my ID so I can get inside. As soon as I do, I follow the rowdy sounds of the Thunder congregated in the corner by the pool tables. I can’t see Carissa anywhere, but I do find Moxie, who must have a view of her from where he’s sitting.
“Where is she?” I ask, sliding into the booth across from him and scanning the bar.
“Hello to you too,” Moxie says.
