Page 20 of Puck You
As long as Pearson didn’t get removed from the gala for helping me and I didn’t cost the AV guy his job, tonight had been a success.But when it came to my future at Dallard, I wasn’t too confident.
“Maybe she’s in shock,” Lydia whispered.
“We didn’t get a call from the local jail, so I assume you weren't arrested,” Caroline said.
I let out a snort of laughter.“I might have preferred that to being hauled out of the event by Castillo.”
The words were barely out of my mouth when the couch started to vibrate.All three of our phones were going off, which probably meant—
“It’s Pearson,” I confirmed, holding up my phone to display the name that flashed across the screen.
Caroline paused the TV just as I hit play on the video.Like any normal person, I cringed at the sound of my own voice.But despite how nervous I’d felt up on that stage, my words were steady and clear.I held my breath for the duration of the video, trying not to pick apart every bumbling movement and awkward pause.At one point, someone in the crowd shifted, their body obstructing the camera view.Pearson stepped to the right just as Castillo strode onto the stage and pulled me off.
“That was amazing, Grace,” Caroline said, giving my arm an excited squeeze.“Austin has a ton to work with.He could even post the whole thing, but I’m sure he’ll scrape together the best lines.”
Lydia’s head bobbed up and down in agreement.“I’ll send it over now.”
I felt an undeniable rush of anticipation at the thought of my speech making its way around campus.This video could very well be the reason I got kicked off the hockey team or expelled from school, but it also had the power to change everything wrong with female athletics at DU.
Lydia must have sensed the unease building inside me because she leaned over to rest her head on my shoulder.“If they even consider kicking you off the hockey team, every single one of us will be there to protest.They won’t risk losing us all.”
I hoped she was right.Either way, tomorrow would come, and I’d face the consequences, but knowing I’d have them by myside the entire time was a comfort.
“Don’t worry about anything else, not tonight.We can get started on phase two tomorrow, okay?”Caroline suggested.
Phase two involved plastering posters all over the campus, but we hadn’t gotten much further than jotting down some high-level design ideas.I was much too exhausted to think about it right now.Caroline was right; it could wait for tomorrow.Before I left the room, they surrounded me in a crushing hug that stole the air from my lungs.The show of affection was a comforting surprise, but the warmth of their embrace didn’t last.As soon as I was inside the privacy of my bedroom, the full gravity of the situation settled over me like a waterlogged blanket.How could I be proud of myself and feel so terrible at the same time?Pressure built behind my eyes, but I blinked away the moisture, refusing to shed a single tear because of Castillo’s threatening words or Sebastian’s haughty parting remarks.
I willed both men out of my mind and started preparing for bed.After fifteen minutes of self-care, I was ready to slip under the covers and put an end to the night when my phone buzzed.The nameMattrolled across the screen, and just the sight of those four letters was enough to soothe my weary heart.
I answered the phone without a second thought.“Hello.”
At first, there was nothing but silence.Then my ex-boyfriend released a long breath.
“I didn’t think you’d pick up,” he said.It was soothing, hearing his voice.We hadn’t spoken over the phone in weeks.No, months.
“I’ve been avoiding you,” I admitted.“I’m sorry.”
The sound of his chuckle was like a sip of hot chocolate on the coldest day of the year.
“You’re an expert at avoiding.I know better than anyone.”
He was right.It had taken him almost a year of chasing after me for our relationship to move beyond friendship, and several more months before things were official.I needed to know I could trust him before opening up about my past.And now things were even more complicated because six months into our breakup, he was still holding on to the hope that we’d get back together.There was never any big fight or hurtful betrayal, but I knew that we weren’t right for each other.
“Tell me about your day,” I asked, eager for a distraction from my own life.
“Come on, Grace,” he said in exasperation.I must have sounded too eager.“You can talk to me.I know things have changed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t trust me anymore.”
How can I lean on him after breaking his heart?That was the question that kept me from texting him when my thoughts turned dark.
“I don’t want to talk about me.”
“Of course not.You’re always so focused on something or someone else so that you don’t have to face your own problems.We dated for two years, I know—”
“I didn’t answer the phone for a lecture,” I said.“Don’t make me regret picking up the call.”I told myself I was cruel to him because I had to be, but that was a damn lie.I was cruel because he was right, and I hated that.
“When you want to be honest with me, and honest with yourself, give me a call.You know, I really thought I could do the friendship thing, but I don’t know.It’s a lot harder than I expected.”His voice cracked at the admission.Though he said nothing else, I could tell there were unspoken words just fighting to free themselves from within him.
The line went dead a moment later, and I was seized with the need to throw something like a child mid-tantrum.I reached for the closest item—a round decorative pillow near the edge of my bed—and chucked it across the room.It flew into my open closet and collided with the top shelf.Through the darkness, I saw something teeter off the edge and fall to the floor with a thud.
