Page 79 of Broken Hearts
“Why didn’tyou say anything back?” Josie asks me the next morning when I fill her in before practice. We stretch in the tunnel outside of the locker room. I wasn’t going to tell anyone about Rhett’s late-night confession, but I needed to tell someone before I burst.
“He thought I was asleep. I didn’t want to ruin the moment for him. Besides, he saidI think. That’s not the same thing.”
Her blue eyes light up. “It’s so sweet. I love this for you. I lovehimfor you.”
“Let’s not get carried away,” I mutter, more to myself than her.
The hockey team has a full day of practice, skills, film, and who knows what else so I don’t hear from Rhett until I’m studying later in my room.
He sighs, laying back on the bed, the phone perched in his hand hovering above his face. He looks freshly showered. The ends of his hair are wet and he pushes the long top over to one side.
“I thought it was going to be a light practice.”
“It was supposed to be until we started getting sloppy.”
“Nerves, probably.”
“Yeah, I guess. Hope we can work that shit out of our system before we leave.”
“You will.” I close the lid of my laptop. “What are you doing tonight?”
“Uh,” he starts in a tone that makes me nervous. That one syllable sounds like guilt. “The guys wanted to have a chill night, just the four of us, at Prickly Pear. I could probably bail.” He makes a face—an expression I can’t read.
“Why would you do that? Go have a chill night with your boys. I have a quiz tomorrow anyway and I need to pack for the weekend. I should go to sleep early and rest. It’s going to be a busy weekend.” My body is tired. All of the traveling and practice, late nights with Rhett.
There’s a beat of silence on his end. His brows raise.
“What?” I ask, finally.
“Sorry. I just realized this is what this feels like.”
“What feels like?”
“One second,” he calls away from the phone, then sits up. “I have to go before they leave my ass. I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Yep. Have fun.” I kiss the air and he winks before ending the call.
23
Rhett
“Just like that. Have fun. See you tomorrow.” I wave my hand. “Fuck. I was speechless.”
“I like Sienna,” Adam says.
“We all like Sienna,” Maverick adds. “Don’t fuck this up.”
“You know what the real mindfuck is?”
“What?” Heath asks.
We’re having a low-key night at Prickly Pear before we head to the Frozen Four in two days. Just a couple of beers to clear our minds and help us sleep. The place makes me think of Sienna now and our speed dating adventure, but it’s empty tonight, save a few locals sitting at the bar.
“Now all I want to do is go see her. Is this some sort of reverse psychology she’s using on me?”
They laugh at me. Damn, it feels good. Phone tucked away, hanging with the guys, not a single worry to be found among the lot of us.
“And Carrie?”
