Page 7

Chapter

Five

HADLEY

Hadley: Did you know Dad was gonna be here?

Hunter: Nope. Absolutely blindsided. You?

Hadley: No idea either. I would have warned you. Typical.

“Um.” I bite my lip at Jonas’s question and shake my head. “Not sure. I think I need…”

A friend. A shoulder to cry on. Someone to listen. But I say none of those things, letting my voice trail off instead, because his eyes dart over my shoulder and back to my face. He’s not really listening. I guess I’m just supposed to say I’m fine and move on.

Clearing his throat, Jonas steps away from me. He opens his mouth, but before any words come out, Cooper appears at his elbow.

“Hey, man.” His voice is low and I strain to hear. “We should all go out, try to make the best of everything that happened tonight.”

Jonas nods, clearing his throat. “Yeah. Where are you thinking? And if you say The Cactus?—”

“Naw, probably O’Bryan’s. It’s the team favorite. They need us right now.”

“That’s for sure.” Jonas glances around at the hockey players surrounding us, and it’s like he’s forgotten I’m standing in front of him.

Without looking at me, Cooper pats him on the shoulder and walks away.

Jonas’s deep brown eyes lock on mine, and he jerks his thumb over his shoulder. “I should probably go. Maybe we can catch up later?”

My heart sinks, and I swallow, willing some steel into my voice so it doesn’t waver. “That tracks.”

He blinks. “What does that mean?”

I wave my hand at the crowd. “Your team comes first. Go do what you gotta do.”

Before he can protest, I spin on my heel and walk away. Tears prick my eyes, and I stare at my feet on the concrete as I book it out of here. Out of the arena and away from stupid hockey players.

Hockey players like my dad, who doesn’t care enough to tell me he’s coming, send a text to see if I’m going to the game, or ask if I want to grab a bite or a coffee after.

He didn’t even find me to say hello but went straight to the college hockey bigwigs and Hunter. Did he forget I go to school here, too?

Probably. He forgets birthdays and hasn’t bothered with school events in years. Never once made it to a high school track or cross-country meet. Conflicts too much with his hockey schedule. I swipe at the tears that spill over on my cheeks. God, Hadley, don’t ruin your makeup over it.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised my dad doesn’t care, although it still hurts. But what smarts more is the way Cooper and Jonas ignored me. I know I’m Hunter’s little sister, but I thought it was more than that. I thought I was part of their group. Cooper could have invited me, too. And Jonas…

Pushing open the door to the hockey arena, I take a breath of fresh air, my tears cooling on my cheeks. I didn’t drive tonight because I didn’t want to mess with finding a new parking spot for my Range Rover. Parking for Freshmen is a nightmare.

Besides, the hike will do me good. It’s only a few blocks. If I was dressed for it, I’d run back to my dorm. Maybe I will get on the treadmill later and work out my frustrations later. For now, I keep up a brisk pace even if my boots aren’t made for walking.

If I’m being honest, I’ve thought about Jonas way more than I should.

I know he’s bad news, but until tonight, I let myself forget.

I had been entertaining ideas…fantasies, really.

It’s the two of us in the library after dark…

we can’t resist the pull between us, and I end up spread out like a buffet for him on one of the study tables…

I shake my head to clear out those thoughts.

He lured me in, being so damn nice lately.

But tonight he showed his true colors again.

Sports stars will always put their team and their game first. My gut tells me Jonas would never cheat on someone like Zane.

But I also thought my dad would at least acknowledge he has a second kid at Harrison, and I was wrong about that.

I can’t trust my feelings. I need to stick to my no jocks rule.

It’s the only way to stave off disappointment.

Maybe what I need is a hookup. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I call Kendall.

“Hey babe!” Her voice is welcoming in my ear. “What’s up? How was the game?”

“Ugh.” I don’t want to get into it all right now. “Not great. You up for going out?”

“Always! What sounds good tonight?” she says, and god bless her for being the best roommate in the world.

What am I in the mood for? Not a jock, that’s for sure. “What’s the best place to meet random guys?”

“Girl, we are hot college women. Any bar on campus will work for that!” Laughter colors her tone, and despite my disappointment, the corners of my mouth turn up in a smile. “How about The Cactus?”

Even though she can’t see it, I shake my head. “No way. I don’t feel like getting hepatitis. Too gross.”

“Good point.” She hums over the line. “Henry’s?”

“Perfect. See you in ten?”

“I love your faith in me, but it will be more like thirty minutes to get presentable.”

I laugh. “I’ll allow it. Thanks, babe. See you soon.”

Pocketing my phone, I change direction and head to Henry’s. Not a sports bar and not as cheap as The Cactus, it’s the perfect nondescript place for how I’m feeling. It’s also just a few blocks away.

I hustle to get there, feeling lighter already. Maybe I need to go out and be social, because the prospect of drinking, dancing, and flirting with Kendall by my side perks me up.

It’s a Saturday night, so Henry’s is crowded.

Pushing through the throng, I make it to the bar and flash my fake ID, then order a tequila shot.

I relish the burn of liquor down my throat as I toss it back and slam it on the smooth wooden surface.

No lime chasers here, but that’s okay. I get a Miller Lite after and find a spot against the brick wall to lean and breathe.

The lighting is dim, the bass thumps, and conversation hums around me.

The smell of alcohol fills the air and I people-watch for a bit, enjoying the scenes unfolding around me.

Couples dance, a group of girls clink their martini glasses together, and raucous laughter rings out from a circle of guys. Yeah, this is better.

It’s not long before Kendall pops into my line of vision, embracing me in a hug.

“How was the hockey game?” she asks. A colorful scarf holds her hair back from her face and her cheeks are dusted with sparkles. Her straight, white teeth flash in a smile and her all-black outfit screams chic—when I try that, I resemble a stagehand who wandered out of the theater by mistake.

I shrug. “My dad was there.”

Her eyebrows hit her hairline. I’ve told her the basics—former hockey star dad, self-absorbed mother, and my vows to avoid both of those cliches at all costs.

“Did you know he was coming?”

“Nope.”

“Ah, I see.” She puts her hand on my forearm, and even in the low light, compassion radiates from her brown eyes.

I nod once. “So. Let’s get you a drink and shake it off.”

“That sounds great.”

Kendall is a godsend. She understands I need to blow off some steam with a distraction, and she provides it. After a shot and a beer for her—to catch up, she says—we mingle. It doesn’t take long for two guys to approach us.

“Hi, I’m JaShawn.” A tall, slim man holds out his hand to Kendall, and I can practically feel her swoon next to me.

His eyes twinkle, and he has a dimple when he smiles.

A freaking dimple. He wears his hair in short dreads, and a tight purple shirt with a lion roaring on it stretches across his impressive chest. So yeah, I can see why she stutters a little when she introduces us.

The tequila is hitting my bloodstream, a light buzz to keep me feeling the tiniest bit floaty. I’m not drunk, but loose, and I like it.

His friend’s name is Ethan, and I give him a once-over.

He has a nice smile, short, light brown hair, hazel eyes, and his slightly crooked nose makes him appealing instead of ordinary.

Everything else about him is average—height and weight, the flannel shirt he’s wearing open over a Harrison tee.

It’s like standard guy apparel. But his gaze is kind, and when he bends his head to hear me speak, he smells nice.

He’ll do perfectly. I don’t want anything more than a fun time, a little validation and stress release. Someone who doesn’t care about hockey and can’t let me down because I have zero expectations.

And the fact that he looks nothing like Jonas doesn’t hurt, either. Because I need to get those soulful brown eyes out of my head. He picked the team over me tonight, which is fine. It’s great, actually. I needed the reminder that he’s all wrong for me.

And Ethan? He’s right in front of me, and that’s enough.