Page 104 of Broken Hearts
“Oh my god.” The words tumble from my lips and I put a hand to my chest. They recorded it together, who knows how long ago. It doesn’t matter. The look on Rhett’s face is gut wrenching.
He doesn’t say anything for too long.
Adam holds the cube with two hands in his lap. “Hey, man. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
Rhett stands and his phone on the coffee table in front of him rings. I feel like I’m watching everything unfold in slow motion. I hold my breath as he picks it up, curls his fingers around it, and launches it at the wall above the TV. It ricochets and falls to the ground with a thud, screen up and very much shattered.
Adam pushes to his feet and places a hand on Rhett’s shoulder.
“Save it.” Rhett swipes a hand through the air and shrugs out of his embrace. “You didn’t even like her. None of you did.”
“Rhett, we didn’t really know her.” Mav’s voice is calm and steady.
A bitter laugh erupts from him, and he tips his head back. “Fuck all of you and your weak ass attempts to be understanding now. Little too late, don’t you think?”
He storms off to his room.
Adam looks to me. “I’m sorry.”
I go after him. He’s changing clothes and packing his hockey bag.
“Rhett?” I ask tentatively.
“Not now, Sienna. I know that had to suck for you, and I’m sorry, but just… not now.”
I stay in place until he’s walking toward me to exit his room.
“Where are you going?”
“The rink. I need to clear my head.”
Silent tears slide down my cheeks. I want to hug him or go with him, but he doesn’t ask as he pushes past me. He’s finally out of his room and now I just want him to come back.
31
Rhett
Anger vibrates through me as I stand under the hot water. Closing my eyes and unclenching my hands, I try to find release from the giant weight sitting on my chest.
I thought I’d feel better after a couple of hours on the ice. Fuck, I thought that about coming back to Valley, too. That’s really why I skipped the funeral. I wanted to get back to school and back to normal. Back to Sienna.
Instead, every day I just wake up and feel shitty all over again. I turn off the shower and wrap a towel around my waist. The locker room is empty and dark. I didn’t bother turning any lights on when I came in.
Adam sits in his stall, leaning back.
“Fuck off. I’m perfectly capable of dressing myself.”
He says nothing. I really wish he’d tell me to shut the fuck up or clock me. Maybe that would make me feel better. It certainly couldn’t make me feel worse.
I ignore my buddy as I get dressed, hoping he’ll get the hint and leave. I’m in no mood to have a heart-to-heart. I’m in no mood to do anything but go back to the apartment where I can shut myself in my room and not speak to anyone.
But Adam didn’t come all the way here in the middle of the night to let me be a broody asshole.
“Well?” I ask, antsy to get this over with. “Say whatever it is you came to say.”
He sighs. “I love you like a brother. You’re my best friend in the whole world. I just want to be here for you.”
“You didn’t even like Carrie,” I say again. It’s petty as hell, but it’s true. Adam never liked Carrie. No one was happier than him when we finally broke up for good.
