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I swallowed away the vicious burn that had crept up my chest. “Yes.” There was no point lying. “We were in college together. Things were over a long time ago.”

Ro huffed out a breath and brought her hands to her hips. “Yet here she is, hanging around in your hour of need.”

Alexwashere for me when I needed her, but she was doing me a favor. Looking out for me. Just like she always had. I got why Ro might misunderstand. We hadn’t talked much about my injury, and I hadn’t told her about Alex and the information she’d given to me the last few weeks.

Nevertheless, her doubt set my teeth on edge. “And you immediately assume that there’s something between Alex andme? That I couldn’t possibly resist temptation? That I’d up and leave with her?”

Ro shrugged her shoulders. Her face was drawn, and her brow wore furrows I’m sure hadn’t been there before I pulled into town. Her silence spoke volumes.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

She gave a wry smile and a shake of her head. “Brody, it wouldn’t be the first time you left town without a word.”

My gut hit the asphalt. Of course. She meant when I’d never replied to her note all those years ago. She probably thought I’d do the same again. But circumstances were different now. I was different. We’d both changed so much, and I’d do anything to prove how much she meant to me.

I turned off my engine, ready to talk. To tell her how much I needed her. To confess that my career could be over. But as soon as I opened my mouth, my cell rang. I pulled it out of my pocket and checked the screen. It was my agent.

A wave of nausea rolled through me, and my fingertips prickled to pick up the call. I wanted to find out if he knew the decision on my contract. I looked up at Ro. She didn’t know what’d happened. Why Alex had been at the sports complex. Her eyes bored into me and I shifted on the leather of my seat.

“Hadn’t you better get that? It might be one of your girls or maybe another team with a better offer.”

The acid in her voice froze me in place. My phone rang out regardless, and I ran my eyes over her face, hoping she’d see the conflict in mine. But why would she? I’d told her nothing. Kept secrets from the woman I most wanted to trust me. I’d been right before. I didn’t deserve her. My words stuttered on my lips. “I, I…”

At my hesitation, Ro sent her eyes heavenward, and with one last glance at my phone, she turned on her wheels and skatedoff toward home, yelling, “I’ll see you around, Brody,” over her shoulder.

As she glided away, I slapped one hand down on the steering wheel. I wanted nothing more than to chase after her and tell her how much she meant to me, but I needed to speak to my agent. I had to know if everything I’d ever worked for was over.

With a shaky breath, I touched the screen and picked up the call.

25

RO

Iskated into the square. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, blurring my vision through the plastic of Brody’s visor. I found a bench and sat down, tugging at his helmet straps. When I ripped it from my head, a warm breeze rippled through my hair. Just like the warmth of Brody’s breath that night in my room.

I wished I could go back there. Say something different. Give the two of us a chance. But he probably thought I was nuts after my runaway skate back to Tuft Swallow and my ridiculous jealousy. That he’d been lucky to escape.

I spun my wheels back and forth along the paving stones beneath me, and my watery eyes gave up the fight. Large tears rolled down my cheeks. Brody coming back to town had caused a whirlwind. A rollercoaster of highs and lows. I was trying to hang on for dear life.

I sucked in a shuddering breath just as something at my elbow gave a little tug. I ignored it. Knowing my luck, it was one of the town’s kids asking for skating tips. I didn’t want to scare anyone. I must look like a mascara-stained horror show by now.

The little tug came again with a tinkling sound, and I parted my fingers to see a pale blue eye looking at me. I dropped my hands. “Winston? What are you doing here, buddy?”

Today, our town mayor wore a blue and white striped sweater. It had a collar which gave him the look of a sailor. I ran my fingers over the stitching on its back. Winston’s Hot Daddy was a great yarn worker. Maybe he could help me with my owls.

I dragged the back of one hand across my nose, turning back to the goat. “What’s up? Did somebody make you walk the plank today? I know the feeling.”

Winston gave the tiniest bleat and butted his head against my arm. One corner of my mouth lifted. “Who was it? I’ll keel-haul them for you.” Winston blinked and chewed on his lip. “I don’t think you’d return the favor, though. And I don’t think Brody deserves a keel-hauling. Not this time.” I ran my hand over the goat’s cheek and gave it a scratch. “I think I’ve gone and made a fool of myself. Said some things I shouldn’t have.”

Winston bumped into my shoulder this time, nestling against me. “I know, I know. Life’s messy. It’s just that I accused Brody of so much with no proof. Just circumstance and the words of some mean women.” It was true. I’d only seen him hug what I now knew to be a friend, and was I really going to let the words of some girls who wished me miles away make me so sad?

Winston gave another soft bleat, this time pushing his head against the damp top of my dress. Either he was a “boob-goat,” or he was after a hug. Carrie, from the Dirty Hookers, was a Winston hugger. I’d seen her hop off her bike and lean in for a snuggle. Maybe she had the right idea.

I wiped away the tears from my eyes. No amount of crying could fix what I’d said to Brody. I should apologize, but what was the point? He’d think I was a lunatic, and no matter how I wished it wasn’t true, he’d leave town soon, just like before. Only this time, it wouldn’t be a girlhood crush he’d leave me with.Nope, this time, I was all in. Hopelessly in love with my brother’s best friend, and I had no idea how I’d put myself back together.

Winston jostled against me again, and I scratched the top of his head. “No offense, but I think I need to talk to a human.” I planted a massive kiss on his wiry cheek before digging into my bag to find my phone.

I looked at the screen, a lead-like weight settling in my chest. Brody hadn’t called. Hadn’t messaged. Eve had, though, six times. I chewed on my lip and returned one of her missed calls, nudging away a group of pigeons that’d settled around my feet.