Page 116 of Wildcat
“Not exactly.”
“This sounds like a story that needs drinks.” Dakota stands and goes to the bar at the back of our suite. She comes back with three vodka tonics, and Jade starts in.
“You know how all of my story ideas were getting shot down by my editor?”
I nod along.
“Well, I finally came up with a killer angle. I’m going to write a weekly column chronicling my experience from engagement to honeymoon. Finding a photographer, picking venues, the perfect wedding planner, invitations…” She trails off waiting for me to comment.
“I don’t understand. Sam didn’t propose?”
She rolls her eyes. “God, no.”
The game is lost to us as Jade tells Dakota and me how she was scoping out a jewelry store to do a write-up on wedding rings when she found herself trying them on and imagining herself as the bride.
“So you’re not really engaged?” I ask at the end of her story.
“Sam has agreed to go along with it.”
Dakota leans in. “Okay, stupid question, but how are you going to pull off a wedding at the end of this when you’re not really engaged?”
Jade waves it off. “I have months, maybe a year's worth of content to drag this out.”
I laugh. “Well, it’s bold.”
“Manifesting my dreams,” she says happily. “Now, what is it that you want?”
“Leo,” I say without a second thought.
The final buzzer sounds with the Wildcats winning by one. I see him skate off the ice with the rest of the team. I could swear he looks right at the empty seat next to my mom.
Jade squeezes my leg. “Then you need to talk to him. Now.”
“I’ll text him,” I say, nerves making my fingers shake as I pull out my phone. After the way I walked out, I’m not so sure he’s going to be as eager to see me.
“I have a better idea,” Dakota says. “Come with me.”
41
WHERE SHE BELONGS
LEO
She didn’t come.Yeah, she walked out of my house six days ago, and we haven’t talked since, but her not showing up here tonight feels a hell of a lot more final. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the first time she doesn’t come in a month is after things with us went south.
“The guys are heading to Wild’s,” Ash says.
“I don’t think I’m feeling it tonight.” I run a towel through my hair and get dressed.
“All right. Lord of the Rings binge? Strip club?”
I laugh a little. “Go on without me. I have to hit the media room anyway.”
“Hey,” he says and grabs my shoulder. “No comment.”
He says the two words slowly and then smiles big.
Fucker.
