Page 32 of Stay
“Where’d you disappear to last night? I thought we were going to hang out at the bar after the game.”
Even though Brooklyn looks as though she didn’t get a wink of sleep last night, her voice is chipper and brimming with curiosity.
I glance up from the bowl of oatmeal I’m trailing my spoon through as we sit in the cafeteria with its walls of floor to ceiling windows. Brilliant sunshine pours down on us. Even this early in the morning, students are bustling past with trays full of food before their days get underway.
“I decided to head home after the game instead.”
“Well, you missed an awesome time last night. We had a blast.” She grins before digging into her scrambled eggs, toast, and fruit. She waggles her perfectly plucked brows before dropping her voice. “And what happened after the bar was even more fun, if you know what I mean.”
I roll my eyes because yeah, I knowexactlywhat she means. Instead of taking the bait, I clear my throat. “Austin seemed nice.”
“He’s a real sweetheart. Did you have fun at the game? I have toadmit that I never realized how exciting hockey could be. Maybe we can check out a few more games this season,” Brooklyn adds before popping a chunk of cantaloupe into her mouth.
Actually, I had a blast at the game. The realization that I still loved hockey had been like a punch to the gut.
But seeing Cole…
It’s obvious he’s someone I need to steer clear of.
For him to cause one anxiety attack could be chalked up to coincidence.
But two?
That’s harder to dismiss.
The breathing exercises helped to calm me, but I can’t stop thinking about how pensive he’d been on the ride back to the dorms. I’d racked my brain for something to say. A million different things had come to mind. In the end, I’d chickened out. All of it would lead to conversations about my past, and I wasn’t ready to open that can of worms.
The moment he’d pulled in front of the dorms, I’d mumbled a quick thank you before jumping out of the car as if it had been engulfed in flames. I probably don’t need to worry about staying away from Cole, he’ll avoid me like a particularly nasty case of crabs.
Not bothered by my lack of response, Brooklyn inhales her eggs and toast as she continues to chatter about the bar. Thank goodness for Brooklyn and her obliviousness.
“The guy who gave you a ride home last night, his name is Cole, right?” she asks in between bites.
I glance up from my tepid bowl of oatmeal that has long since lost its appeal. “Yeah.”
He’s the last person I want to talk about. Especially with her. I don’t need my roommate making a big deal out of this.
And she will.
It just so happens to be her MO.
“I think he might be interested.” She grins around another bite before giving me a wink as if this is good news.
A pit settles at the bottom of my gut.
After last night, that’s probably the furthest thing from the truth. I’m sure he thinks I’m a total head case.
And…he’s not wrong.
“He was asking about you. I’d totally consider getting with that if I were you.” Brooklyn waves to a few girls from our floor as they walk past, looking for an empty table.
Ignoring the last comment, I frown before leaning forward and attempting to reclaim Brooklyn’s distracted attention. “What kind of questions?”
“Oh, I can’t really remember. Just about, you know, normal stuff.”
That’s not good.
I gulp. The small amount of oatmeal I’ve managed to force down churns dangerously in my belly. Anxiety bubbles up inside me as I gather up my bag and shoot out of my seat. I need to put a little distance between myself and this conversation. “I need to speak with one of my professors before class starts.”
