Page 55 of Stay
CASSIDY
“What’s up with your hockey hottie?”
Ever willing to force her nose where it doesn’t belong, Brooklyn swipes some bright red lipstick on before shoving a finger into her mouth and dragging it out again.
My brows slide together as I watch her. “Maybe you’d like to be alone right now?”
She rolls her eyes before giving me ayou’re so cluelesslook. Since it’s nothing out of the ordinary, I’m not offended by it.
“That’s how you remove excess lipstick from the inside of your lips, so it doesn’t end up on your teeth.” She bares her sparkling white teeth in the mirror to make sure they pass inspection.
“Huh.” Impressed with that beauty tip, I tilt my head. “Neat trick.”
She winks before brushing out her thick blonde mane. Normally, Brooklyn leaves her hair loose so it can flow freely down her back because guys go crazy for her long glossy strands. They love it in a way that makes them want to wrap it around their fist and yank her head back (Brooklyn’s words, not mine). Tonight, however, she twists it up into a topknot.
“Don’t change the subject. What’s up with you two? I want details. And lots of them.”
My gaze skitters away as I shrug with a forced casualness.
I don’t want to discuss Cole. Especially with Brooklyn. She and Austin are still going strong, which is a total shocker. After my last therapy session and the disastrous trip home, I’ve decided to take a step back from Cole. The thought of making another mistake is almost paralyzing.
“Nothing’s up.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m wondering about. You two were getting serious.”
Even though it’s not a question, it requires an explanation. And if I know Brooklyn, she won’t let this go until she’s been fully briefed.
With a sigh, I decide to go with something that loosely resembles the truth. “I need a little breathing room.”
When her gaze settles on mine in the mirror, I get the feeling she’s sifting through my eyes for the truth. “Is Cole aware of that?”
I break eye contact. “I don’t know. We’re not official or anything like that. We’ve been hanging out. We’re just friends.”
Lie.
Big lie.
Cole isn’t interested in beingjust friends. Not that I’ve spoken to him about it. Instead, I’ve taken the coward’s way out and have silently distanced myself from him.
Trust me, I’m aware of how shitty my behavior is.
As she whips around to face me, I’m startled by the irritation aimed in my direction. “You know that he really likes you, right?” There’s a pause. “And you’re just jerking him around.” She purses her lips as if disappointed in my behavior.
I squeeze my eyes tight and shake my head.
It was never my intention to string Cole along. Even though I like him, I still can’t bring myself to share the details of my past.
My own family loved me—supposedly unconditionally—and they turned their backs on me. It feels easier to push him away now rather than make another mistake or have him walk away from me.
He might not realize it, but it’s better this way.
“That wasn’t my intention.”
Her lips flatten into a thin line. “You better think about what you’re doing, because Cole is a really great guy and you’re going to lose him if you keep this up.”
Brooklyn isn’t telling me anything I don’t already know. Cole is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, let alone been with. Maybe that should be enough of a reason to take a leap of faith, but I’m too afraid to do it.
“Do you realize how many girls like him?” Anger ignites in her eyes. “Then throw in all the freaking hockey groupies.” She scrunches her nose before spitting out the next words. “I swear, if I catch one more puck bunny hanging all over Austin, someone is getting bitch-slapped into next week.” She gives me a hard-edged stare. “If you’re smart, you’ll get in there and stake your claim, because, trust me, someone else will be more than happy to do it.”
