Page 91 of Stay
“You’re right, I should have.” I glance away. “Any idea how I should handle this with Cole?”
She presses her lips together before saying, “I think you need to tell him everything before Luke beats you to the punch, because he obviously remembers you.”
Deep down, I knew that would be her answer. In hindsight, I realize Luke hadn’t just stopped by our table to say hello to his teammate. My brows draw together, because he could have forced the issue and outed me if he’d wanted to.
So…why hadn’t he?
Nausea hits me like a punch to the gut. Even before Brooklyn gave me her opinion, I realized that telling Cole the truth was the only option available to me.
She adds, “The only other thing would be to stop seeing him altogether and distance yourself from the team. If you’re not around, then maybe Luke will forget about you.”
Even though I don’t want to lose Cole, I turn the idea over in my head.
“He could still tell people what he knows.” My heart twists at the thought of all this resurfacing again when I’d hoped it was behind me. “I can’t stay at Western if he starts spreading rumors.”
Her face falls. “I don’t want you to leave.”
The idea of starting over again at a different college is daunting. Brooklyn is the only one I can count on right now. “I don’t want to leave, either. I like it here.”
Western now feels like home. I’m enjoying my classes and rooming with Brooklyn. We’re closer than ever. I love tutoring, and the women’s hockey team. After last year, I never thought I’d play again and it’s turning out to be so much fun.
And then there’s Cole. I think I fell for him that first night, and I’m still falling.
It would be difficult to leave all this behind.
“Maybe you should talk to him.”
A wave of exhaustion crashes over me. “Who, Cole?”
“No.” There’s a pause as she shakes her head. “Luke.”
My eyes widen as my heartbeat thunders under my breast.
No way. I don’t even want to see the guy again. I want to pretend he doesn’t exist.
“I can’t talk to him. I can’t relive that again. Even though we’re strangers, he was there. He saw…” I shake my head, willing away the images. “I can’t do it.”
As painful as it is, I know what needs to be done.
“If Cole and I are going to be together, then I need to tell him the truth so he can decide if I’m still the girl he thinks I am.”
“It won’t change anything.” Her fingers wrap around mine before squeezing them. “He likes you, Cass. What happened last year doesn’t change who you are.” Brooklyn seems so sure of the outcome. I wish I felt half as confident.
“He likes who hethinksI am,” I whisper. “He doesn’t know the real me.” I’ve kept those pieces of myself buried deep down where he couldn’t see.
“Yes, he does, and so do I. What you told me hasn’t changed my opinion.” After a beat of silence, she adds, “Everyone makes mistakes.” Her green eyes flash with fire. “If he can’t see how wonderful you are, then screw him. You’re better off without the guy.”
Tears well in my eyes. Her words are exactly what I needed to hear. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
Brooklyn’s lips lift into a slight smile. “It’s the truth.” There’s a pause before she takes us right back to where we started. “So…what are you going to do now?”
24
CASSIDY
Nerves prickle at the bottom of my belly as I stand on the front porch and knock on the door. A few seconds tick by before it swings open and Alex stares down at me.
“Hi.” It takes effort to force out the question. “Is Cole here?”
