Page 94 of Puck with Karma
Noah’s question is like a bucket of ice cold water over my head.
“It sounds more like she cheated on her fiancé with me, no?” I sound angry, and that’s good, because I am.
Noah nods in agreement, which only fuels my inner anguish. I could set this building on fire right now. I am also thirsty for revenge, but I’m not sure yet how to go about it. I need some sort of a plan.
“It’s weird when people cheat,” he muses. “I don’t get it. Why even be in a serious relationship if you’re about to go and sleep around, right?”
The anger rising in me is now of biblical proportions. I’m not sure if I should just punch Noah and knock him out, or if I should go on a rampage and destroy this entire gym. Again.
“Although,” he continues, completely unaware of the crazy shit going through my head, “sometimes there are circumstances beyond our control, ya know?”
I start pacing and don’t bother to reply to him. I can’t think, all my internal wires are crossed and about to short circuit for certain.
“It said in that article that she’s some sort of a heiress. I didn’t read the rest, but that sounds fancy as fuck.” I’d laugh at the way he says it, but I don’t find anything amusing at the moment. “It could be like in one of those movies with rich people where her dad is selling her to the highest bidder or some shit.”
Thinking of Abby being sold to a stranger is further enraging me. They say to not kill the messenger, but wringing Noah’s neck sounds pretty damn good right about now.
“I wish I was rich,” Noah rambles on. “I wanna have stupid money like that, and not worry where my next meal is coming from. I’ve always just wanted that.”
It sounds like there’s a story in there somewhere, and if I were in a better state of mind, I’d prod him further. But I can’t focus on his life while mine is a dumpster fire. I have to pick one or the other, no multitasking here.
A ringing sound echoes from somewhere in the room, but I am so preoccupied with my thoughts, I don’t bother with it. My breathing is faster the more I pace. I’m about to lose my freakin’ mind. I never imagined that a woman would put me in this state of chaos. Ever.
“Dude,” Noah calls out to me. “Your phone’s ringing.”
I stop pacing and stare at the spot where I dropped my cell phone earlier. When I get closer, I notice that it’s Janie calling me. My sister calling is such a rare occurrence that I forget all about my issues and rush to answer.
“Baby sister, what are you up to so late at night?”
Janie starts laughing. “It’s not that late, Z.”
I don’t even know what time it is, but it feels late. When I bring my phone down to look at the clock, I’m surprised to seethat it’s only half past nine, and I’m talking to her like she’s in middle school.
“Huh, I guess it’s not. So what’s up?”
“Well, I’m here with Mallory…”
“Hi, Xander,” the best friend in question calls out to me. “How’s my favorite hockey player?”
I can’t say that she is my favorite person in general. This whole thing with Brandon Karlsberg has me all sorts of fucked up. What the hell do these women see in that asshole anyway?
“Mal, you better not be getting my little sister into any trouble, you hear?”
That’s the best I can do without lashing out at her for things that really have nothing to do with her.
“I would never,” she protests jokingly. “She only has a lot of fun with me.”
I chuckle at that, and try to sound a bit friendlier.
“That’s what I worry about. What are you two up to?”
Janie sounds like she is hesitating now. In my head, I am picturing these two just silently eyeballing each other, trying to come up with words. They are funny together, not that I ever hung out with them. But they do seem to be great friends.
“Me and Mallory wanted to come to your game on Saturday. The one against the Sliders.”
My eye twitches at hearing what their plans are for the weekend. Also to note, Janie’s never called to ask me for tickets for any games. For one, our father would normally take care of that, and for two, I don’t think she’s that much into hockey.
“What? Since when?”
