Page 90 of Stay
With fingers that tremble, I stroke my temple. “I had a bit of a headache before you picked me up and it’s gotten worse. Would you mind if we cut this short and you drop me at the dorms? I’ll feel better if I lie down for a while.” It’s not a total lie. A massive headache is brewing.
He wraps his arm around my shoulders before pressing a kiss against the top of my head. “Of course. I’m sorry about tonight.” A weak chuckle escapes from him. “It didn’t exactly go the way I planned.”
It’s a relief to know that in less than fifteen minutes I’ll be at the dorms. And then I can sort through this whole mess and figure out what I’m going to do.
As we drive back to campus, I stare out the passenger side window. Just like Cole, I’d imagined tonight going differently. Instead, all I’ve managed to do is heap more lies onto the ones that need to be untangled.
23
CASSIDY
“Cass, tell me what’s wrong.”
Brooklyn strokes my back as I lie curled up in the middle of my bed. Once I returned to my room, the tears started flowing and refused to stop.
“I can’t help you if you won’t talk to me,” she says.
Luke Wellington is here at Western.
That thought plays on a constant loop inside my head.
He should be at Dartmouth. What happened should be a distant memory. But that’s clearly not the case, because he’s here. If the look in his eyes is any indication, he remembers everything.
“Did you and Cole have a fight?” Her voice dips, becoming low. “Did you break up?”
I shake my head, unable to get the words out.
I had come to Western to forget about the mistakes I’ve made. I didn’t want to bethat girl. And now there was someone here who could breathe life into the rumors all over again.
“Just tell me what’s wrong and we’ll work it out, I promise.” She squeezes one shoulder. “You know that I’m here for you and I’ll help any way I can.”
With a swipe at my eyes, I haul myself up into a sitting positionbefore searching Brooklyn’s concerned face. Since rooming together this semester, Brooklyn and I have become closer friends than we were in high school. She’d been right when she’d said that I allowed our friendship to fall by the wayside.
It hadn’t been intentional, but it had happened, nevertheless. If there weren’t hockey practice or games to attend, there’d been a strict gym schedule to adhere to and schoolwork to plow my way through. There’d never been time for anything or anyone else.
Including Brooklyn.
As I search her earnest gaze, I realize exactly what I’d forfeited. Where had my hard work and sacrifice gotten me? What did I have to show for myself?
No hockey scholarship.
No prestigious college.
No friends.
No family to stand behind me.
Maybe I owed it to Brooklyn to tell her the truth. Even though I hadn’t been a good friend, she’s still here, standing by my side. Ready to offer her support.
Once I start talking, it’s impossible to stop.
If the wide-eyed expression is any indication, then I’ve completely shocked her. Throughout the entire story she remains silent. No comments, no questions, no judgment. She sits beside me and listens to every word as it pours out of my mouth. When I’m finished, I collapse onto the stack of pillows behind me.
“Jeez, Cass, I had no idea. I’m sorry you went through all that by yourself. I wish you would have called me.”
I sniffle, relieved the tears have long since dried.
Even though I’m emotionally exhausted, opening up and getting it all out has made me feel lighter. Unfortunately, I’m still unsure what to do about Cole. Or Luke, for that matter. Now that I’ve shared everything with Brooklyn, I no longer feel so alone. It helps to know that my friend’s opinion of me hasn’t changed.
