Page 111 of Puck with Karma
I lean back and brace myself for this particular ride, all while thinking about Abby and how I can get her back.
Because I will. There is no room for failure.
Chapter 32
Abby
I’ve been crying so much, my eyes feel puffy and like they want to pop out of my head. They look worse yet. Hearing Xander’s voice has been of great comfort. I chuckle lightly at remembering what he just said, or rather, what I was able to read in between the lines.
He went about everything the wrong way, but I am sure he loves me. What I am not sure about is how we are going to come out in one piece on the other side of this.
My phone dings with a message. I know it’s from either Hannah or Riley. They’ve both been texting me constantly since the videos of Bran and Xander fighting in the parking lot hit all the media outlets.
I’m not sure what’s more popular right now, the actual fight between my brother and the man I desperately love, or the massive argument Bran and Mallory got into afterwards.
There was an awkward moment when things calmed down between the two hockey players, where Mallory started yelling.Bran thought she was yelling at him, where she was actually giving Xander a piece of her mind. Things escalated from there.
Since Van took both Bran and Xander to the hospital, they didn’t have time to clarify anything. Now that I have more information, I walk out of the spare bedroom I’ve been staying in at Bran’s apartment, ready to talk to his girlfriend about what happened.
I let out a gasp of shock when I find her in their bedroom, packing all her stuff.
“Mallory, what are you doing?”
She doesn’t even glance my way, so focused on the task at hand.
“I’m going home.” She throws some clothes in the suitcase, not caring how they land or whether it will all fit in there.
“But…” I look around me in despair, wondering how I can fix this for my brother. I feel responsible for the entire scene that was caused downstairs. “Bran should be home soon. You two can talk this out, and…”
“I don’t need to talk anything out right now, Abby,” she snaps at me, but I can tell it is not me she is angry with.
“I’m so terribly sorry.” My voice sounds choked up when I speak. “I didn’t think this would happen when I came here. I didn’t have anywhere else to go at such short notice,” I explain. “I was missing Bran, and I thought this would be a good thing, for us to reconnect.”
“I’m happy for you two. I’m sure he is happy, too,” Mallory tells me. Her tone is short and to the point. She doesn’t want to talk to me about anything. Instead, she wants me to leave her alone to finish packing.
“I’m so sorry,” I repeat.
I know I’ve told her this a few times now since we came back up to the apartment, but I can’t help it. I never in a million yearsimagined that me coming to Bran would ruin his relationship with his girlfriend.
“I just need some space,” she sighs. “I’ve been thinking all along that we jumped into this relationship way too fast. And today just proved it.”
Her words make me think of what I had going on with Xander. Our relationship happened just as fast as theirs. I fell head over heels with Xander. Me leaving Minnesota was the biggest mistake. I should’ve stayed and fought for us.
“I’m just so sorry,” I whisper. I’m not sure if I am saying it to Mallory, or if I somehow hope Xander can feel my emotions from wherever he is out there in the city.
“Stop saying it,” Mallory yells at me, making me flinch. “You didn’t do anything. I wasn’t expecting you to jump in and fight two seven-foot-tall men when they acted like idiots.”
I nod, my eyes once again filling with unshed tears, blinding me. I really don’t want her to go. I don’t want to have this weight on my shoulders, too.
“Can you at least wait until Bran gets back? He’s still there, but should be back soon.” At least I hope so. I’m not sure, but I don’t think he had any life threatening injuries, and I don’t know why they would keep him at the hospital.
Mallory stops what she’s doing. She sighs and looks at me with pity. It’s as if she knows my inner turmoil.
“I can’t. Leyla was able to get me on a flight that leaves in a couple of hours,” she explains, referring to the Sliders’ PR person. “I should be on my way to the airport already.”
I figure this is my last chance to explain to Mallory everything. I want her to know that Xander was here for me. That I caused all this drama.
“I really wish you would reconsider. Bran didn’t mean what he said.”
