Page 73 of Slapshot
“Cool. I’ll catch you later on tonight before I leave.”
I let out a shaky breath when Emmett finally walks off.
“So.” Lex looks around. “This was your way of breaking up with me, huh?”
“I just needed a night out with Vivian.”
“But this is your usual place to cheat on boyfriends, yeah?”
That stings, but I guess I deserve it. I didn’t come here to hook up with someone else, but I understand why he might not believe me. Still, it’s another blow to realize that’s really what he thinks of me.
“Listen, if that was your plan, to cheat on me so you’d have an out, well consider it done. No need to hook up with one of these slimeballs to do the job. Just tell me it’s over.”
“Is that what you want?” I ask and close my eyes to brace for the answer.
“Nah, uh-uh. I’ve been nothing but honest about what I wanted from the beginning. You aren’t turning this around now. What do you want, Kaitlyn?”
A simple question with no easy answer. So I don’t give him one.
His blond head hangs. “Okay then.”
He turns to leave.
“Wait,” I call.
He pauses, but I don’t know what to say to make him stay. Or even if I should.
“Bye, Kaitlyn.”
22
Lex
“Hey, we’re going to the rink. You coming?” Tate asks when I get downstairs Sunday morning.
“Nah.”
“Cool, I’ll meet you over there.” He pauses at the back door. “Wait, did you just say no?”
“Sure did. Have fun.” I leave him staring at my back while I walk away. First things first, I need to go back upstairs and put on sweatpants because it’s cold as fuck in the house. Then, I have big plans of making enough breakfast for four, eating it all myself, and parking my ass in front of the TV.
I’ve done two out of the three when Pax calls.
“Yo,” I answer, clicking on the TV.
“Where are you?” my buddy asks with worry in his tone.
“Just chilling at home. Seriously, chilling because it’s fucking freezing outside.” I laugh at my own joke.
“Well get over to the rink. We’re doing edge work drills, your favorite.”
“No thanks. I’m good.” I tap end and get busy flipping through the channels.
I don’t spend a lot of time in front of the TV. For one, it requires sitting still and then there’s that little voice in the back of my head always telling me that someone else out there is working harder.
The guys give me shit for not having an off button, but that little voice has made all the difference. Today, though, I’ve temporarily shut it up with carbs. I haven’t had a pity party in a long time. I’m due. Plus, there’s so much cool shit to watch.
I’m on my sixth consecutive episode of some weird exotic animal zoo reality show when the back door creaks open. Ash, Jonah, and the twins file into the living room and take a seat.
