Page 58 of Breakaway Heart
“I hope you’ve got a pre-programmed seat position for this?”
“You know, I don’t,” he grinned back. “But let’s make one, right now.”
The seat rolled backward with me on top of him. For just a moment, it felt like things really were going to be okay.
But that wouldn’t last long. Not even twenty-four hours…
24
GODZILDO
“Randall Jackson of local hockey team, the Ice-Hawks, caused yet another stir in Merryville today with the release of new images by former lover and influencer, Georgia Moss. The photos, currently circulating around social media, appear to show Jackson on his birthday, in his… Well, birthday suit, next to several, er, large phallic-shaped toys. Randall is expected to be in the starting line-up for tonight’s huge game against the Ohio Wranglers.”
“Let’s just hope he remembers to suit up tonight, Greg.”
“You never know, Debbie! Rumors have also been circulating that Georgia Moss is now dating Wranglers center Ray Easton, adding even more spice to tonight’s game between the two bitter rivals, and leaving us wondering if she will be in the crowd at the Glass House Arena.”
I switched off the news report and groaned painfully. Hannah was calling before I’d even had a chance to digest it.
“You seen the news?”
“Yep. Although they pixelated out that enormous phallic-shaped toy next to his head.”
“I think it was an Annihilator… Actually, maybe a Godzildo.” Hannah told me helpfully.
“Fuck!What am I supposed to do, Han? It never stops.”
“If, and it’s a bigif, you’re going to do this, then you know you’ve got to let his past mistakes go.”
“Until the next one, you mean?” I said, suddenly feeling tired of it all.
“Well, that was the old Randy, and there’s probably a lot of the old Randy out there still to come. If you believe he’s changing, then… I can’t believe I’m saying this… But maybe actually give him a shot at it.”
“It’s just so embarrassing!”
“If anything, Luce, it feels like a cheap tactic ahead of the game. Like playground stuff. I mean, the timing is all a little convenient, isn’t it? You remember that time I went for the junior cheerleader tryouts?”
“Yeah. You kissed Megan Verona’s boyfriend that morning because she was your closest rival to get on the team.”
“That’s right. But she didn’t go off crying. She was so mad that she gave everything to that tryout, and they had to take her just based on sheer drive and willpower. So, I still didn’t make the squad, and she did. All I got was a hard lesson and a vicious enemy out of it.”
“I sort of see your point.”
“So, are you still going?”
“To the game?”
“Yeah.”
I let the question hang. I seemed to be running head-first into almost certain disaster for some hockey player with more question marks than you’d find on Riddler’s suit. I’d seen the other side of him, though, and I could see he wanted to change for the better. I knew who he could be. Itwasn’t that I wanted to change him or fix him. I just wanted changeforhim.
“I mean, I did get a jersey,” I teased, changing the mood.
“Please tell me it’s too big. Like, Randy-size too big.”
“It’s longer than most of my dresses.”
“Unwashed?”
