Page 87 of Breaking Point
BAHAHAH
GRAYSON
screw you guys
HUDSON MITCHEL
you love us
GRAYSON
yeah I do, so don’t annoy her
That was the best I’ve played since Drew passed away, and I’m aware enough to acknowledge that the cause for my sudden improvement was the woman in the stands named Bella.
Just seeing her sitting behind the bench, her cheeks and nose pink from the cold of the arena and a carefree smile on her face, was enough to push me to want greatness.
I wasn’t the only one to think so.
Coach clapped me on the back after the game and said, “Welcome back.”His praise means everything to me.
I haven’t smiled like this in over a year and it’s all because ofher. We might be lying to those around us, the relationship might be fake, but to me…
To me, it feels entirely different.
Stepping into O’Malley’s bar that we frequent after home games, my eyes roam the packed place, seeking Bella. With red booth seats and TVs hanging on the walls showcasing the highlights of tonight’s game, the atmosphere is charged. The patrons are already swaying, their eyes glassy.
Something sharp and quick stabs my chest, a longing that never used to be there with alcohol. It used to just be something fun, something to sip on as I spoke with the guys. It never used to be a crutch.
Never used to be something I yearn for.
It’s hard to accept that when I smell alcohol now, it makes my mouth salivate. In all the AA meetings I’ve gone to the conclusion I’ve gathered is that the craving to drink never truly fades. It might be dull some days but it’s always there, nudging you to numb your sorrows.
Kieran comes up beside me, throwing his arm over my shoulder. “You good?”
It’s the first time I’ve been in a bar since Kieran poured all my liquor down the drain. I nod, though I don’t tell him my mouth is watering. His eyes are zeroing in on a group of puck bunnies who have positioned themselves at the front of the bar. Their eyes are hungry as the rest of the team makes their way inside.
Pasting on a smile despite the tightness in my chest, I lift my chin, indicating the women who are practically drooling over him. “I’m fine, go do your thing.”
Kieran pauses, his eyes narrowing.
He always sees too much.
O’Connor is the last to trickle in, making a beeline for a red booth at the back that Cindy sits in. Despite seeing the pair getting along during the game, I don’t spot Bella.
Lowering my head to his ear, I admit, “I’m going to find Bella.”
Kieran gazes at me for a beat before the tension he was holding finally seeps out of his shoulders. “Text me if you need me, and remember what’s at stake.” He steps forward, only to spin on his heel and whisper, “Drew would be proud of you.”
My eyes flick to Kieran’s. I’ve known him for so long that it’s easy to clock his sincerity. Before he can say more, I clear the emotion rising in my throat and turn, moving through the bar to find Bella.
On my way here, all I could think about was seeing Bella. I didn’t think that narrow-minded focus could grow but here I am,my hands fisting at my sides as a hum of nervousness overtakes me.
Making my way to the back where O’Connor, Cindy, Ellington, and Valenti are sitting, I pause, leaning over to ask Cindy, “Did Bella go home?”
She shakes her head. “She’s at the bar getting us drinks!”
I frown. “Why is she getting the guys drinks?”
