Page 55 of Triple Play
“They’re hockey players. They can handle it.”
“He said it was because of dinner last night.” Now she does look at me, those hazel eyes searching. “Because of what he said.”
“Jordie talks too much.”
“Is it true?”
“Is what true?”
“That you’re pissed about—” She stops. Regroups. “About him wanting to… you know.”
“Fuck you?” The words come out harsh. “Yeah. That’s what he said. At the dinner table. Like it was normal.”
Her cheeks flush. “He’s very direct.”
“He’s very stupid.”
“Why do you care?”
The question hangs there. Simple. Impossible.
“I don’t.”
“Liar.”
“Elise—”
“You do care. I can see it. Everyone can see it except maybe you.” She sets her mug down. “What I don’t understand is why you care now. You didn’t care two years ago.”
The hit lands clean. Right in the solar plexus.
“That’s not fair.”
“None of this is fair, Grant.” Her voice is quiet. Tired. “You kissed me. You made me feel like maybe I wasn’t crazy for wanting you. Then you disappeared. Two years of nothing. And now I’m here, and you’re acting like I’m the problem.”
“You’re not the problem.”
“Then what is?”
Everything. Me. Mason. The guilt. The fear that if I let myself have you, the universe will take you away too.
“It’s complicated,” I say.
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one I have.”
She stares at me for a long moment. Then shakes her head.
“You know what? Do whatever you want. Be pissed at Jordie. Run your team into the ground. Punish everyone around you for feelings you won’t admit to having.” She grabs her mug. Heads for the stairs. “But leave me out of it.”
“Elise—”
She stops. Doesn’t turn around.
“For what it’s worth?” Her voice cracks just slightly. “I wish you’d cared this much two years ago. Would’ve saved us both a lot of trouble.”
Then she’s gone.
