Page 88 of Puck with Karma
“I’ll drive you,” he decides. “You’ll need to book a hotel though. I can’t afford a hotel in the city, even with the millions you’re giving me.”
I lower my phone an inch, only my eyes showing over the edge of it. “You’re asking for millions?”
“Hey, you already committed,” he points at me and laughs. “It’s a verbal contract.”
“You sound very sure of yourself, Wesley. What if I didn’t have millions in my trust fund?”
“Then, you’ll just have to marry me so I can get the money.” He spreads his arms wide and lifts his shoulders up to his ears. “Easy.”
I roll my eyes, then bring my attention back to the phone. I switch from searching for a flight to New York City to looking up hotels that are closer to where my brother lives. Thank God I looked into that part before and saved his address.
Against my better judgement, I also look up the game he is about to play against the Minnesota Cats. That means Xander will be in the city as well. My heart is beating erratically now, reminding me that he is half responsible for the mess I am currently in.
My cell starts blowing up with messages from Hannah and Riley. They have questions, so many questions.
“When do you think we can leave?” I ask Wesley. I’ll have enough time to chat with my friends while we’re on the road.
He looks at me, then at the watch on his wrist, then back at me.
“How doesnowsound?”
I jump off the couch, excitement running through my veins.
“Nowsounds perfect!”
I rush to use the bathroom, and when I come out, I see that Wesley is packing a bag of snacks.
“For the road,” he explains when he sees me in the doorway.
“Good idea!”
I am giddy with excitement, almost jumping up and down. I can’t believe I’m doing this. I am finally going to New York City to see my brother. He doesn’t know I’m coming, but that’s besides the point.
I may also see Xander.
For a brief second, I wonder if I should call him and let him know that we’ll both be in the same city. But then, I remember how upset he was with me, and how he told me that he needed time away from me.
In all honesty, I need time, too. My heart needs time to recover from the tiny crack he put in it, and my brain needs time to process that this is what being in love feels like. There are good times, and there are bad times. I have no doubt me and Xander are going to be together. I’m just not sure how that’ll happen.
I follow Wesley when he leads me back to his car. As soon as my butt hits the seat, I feel incredibly nervous.
“Oh my God, I am really going to New York.”
Chapter 26
Xander
The noise in the New York Sliders arena is absolutely surreal. It is something I normally thrive on. I love hearing the fans screaming and the smell of the ice under my skates.
However, this time is different. My head is not in the game. I am a complete mess, and I’ve never played this bad in my entire career.
I am currently in the penalty box, and I’m about to jump out and beat all these motherfuckers, especially Brandon Karlsberg.
“Dude,” Noah talks to me in the corner of his mouth, around the mouthguard he’s got hanging there. He ended up in the penalty box with me when he jumped into the fight I’d started. He was supposed to be in the game for two minutes at the most, and he’s now spending them sitting here with me. “Are you okay?”
My only response is a grunt. I am not in the mood to talk anything over, and, even if I did, he would not be my first choice in someone I’d confide in. In fact, I have no idea who would be. Iusually just tend to internalize things until I feel like I am about to blow up.
“Does this have anything with the hot intern?” Noah won’t let up. “Because I get it. She really is so hot. Did she break up with you?” I ignore him, but he’s not getting the hint. “I’d be heartbroken too if a girl like her broke up with me.”
