Page 34 of Stay (Stay #1)

CASSIDY

“ C ass, tell me what’s wrong.”

Brooklyn strokes my back as I lie curled up in the middle of my bed. Once I returned to my room, the tears started flowing and refused to stop.

“I can’t help you if you won’t talk to me,” she says.

Luke Wellington is here at Western.

That thought plays on a constant loop inside my head.

He should be at Dartmouth. What happened should be a distant memory. But that’s clearly not the case, because he’s here. If the look in his eyes is any indication, he remembers everything.

“Did you and Cole have a fight?” Her voice dips, becoming low. “Did you break up?”

I shake my head, unable to get the words out.

I had come to Western to forget about the mistakes I’ve made. I didn’t want to be that girl . And now there was someone here who could breathe life into the rumors all over again.

“Just tell me what’s wrong and we’ll work it out, I promise.” She squeezes one shoulder. “You know that I’m here for you and I’ll help any way I can.”

With a swipe at my eyes, I haul myself up into a sitting position before searching Brooklyn’s concerned face.

Since rooming together this semester, Brooklyn and I have become closer friends than we were in high school.

She’d been right when she’d said that I allowed our friendship to fall by the wayside.

It hadn’t been intentional, but it had happened, nevertheless. If there weren’t hockey practice or games to attend, there’d been a strict gym schedule to adhere to and schoolwork to plow my way through. There’d never been time for anything or anyone else.

Including Brooklyn.

As I search her earnest gaze, I realize exactly what I’d forfeited. Where had my hard work and sacrifice gotten me? What did I have to show for myself?

No hockey scholarship.

No prestigious college.

No friends.

No family to stand behind me.

Maybe I owed it to Brooklyn to tell her the truth. Even though I hadn’t been a good friend, she’s still here, standing by my side. Ready to offer her support.

Once I start talking, it’s impossible to stop.

If the wide-eyed expression is any indication, then I’ve completely shocked her.

Throughout the entire story she remains silent.

No comments, no questions, no judgment. She sits beside me and listens to every word as it pours out of my mouth.

When I’m finished, I collapse onto the stack of pillows behind me.

“Jeez, Cass, I had no idea. I’m sorry you went through all that by yourself. I wish you would have called me.”

I sniffle, relieved the tears have long since dried.

Even though I’m emotionally exhausted, opening up and getting it all out has made me feel lighter.

Unfortunately, I’m still unsure what to do about Cole.

Or Luke, for that matter. Now that I’ve shared everything with Brooklyn, I no longer feel so alone.

It helps to know that my friend’s opinion of me hasn’t changed.

“You’re right, I should have.” I glance away. “Any idea how I should handle this with Cole? ”

She presses her lips together before saying, “I think you need to tell him everything before Luke beats you to the punch, because he obviously remembers you.”

Deep down, I knew that would be her answer. In hindsight, I realize Luke hadn’t just stopped by our table to say hello to his teammate. My brows draw together, because he could have forced the issue and outed me if he’d wanted to.

So…why hadn’t he?

Nausea hits me like a punch to the gut. Even before Brooklyn gave me her opinion, I realized that telling Cole the truth was the only option available to me.

She adds, “The only other thing would be to stop seeing him altogether and distance yourself from the team. If you’re not around, then maybe Luke will forget about you.”

Even though I don’t want to lose Cole, I turn the idea over in my head.

“He could still tell people what he knows.” My heart twists at the thought of all this resurfacing again when I’d hoped it was behind me. “I can’t stay at Western if he starts spreading rumors.”

Her face falls. “I don’t want you to leave.”

The idea of starting over again at a different college is daunting. Brooklyn is the only one I can count on right now. “I don’t want to leave, either. I like it here.”

Western now feels like home. I’m enjoying my classes and rooming with Brooklyn. We’re closer than ever. I love tutoring, and the women’s hockey team. After last year, I never thought I’d play again and it’s turning out to be so much fun.

And then there’s Cole. I think I fell for him that first night, and I’m still falling.

It would be difficult to leave all this behind.

“Maybe you should talk to him.”

A wave of exhaustion crashes over me. “Who, Cole?”

“No.” There’s a pause as she shakes her head. “Luke.”

My eyes widen as my heartbeat thunders under my breast .

No way. I don’t even want to see the guy again. I want to pretend he doesn’t exist.

“I can’t talk to him. I can’t relive that again. Even though we’re strangers, he was there. He saw…” I shake my head, willing away the images. “I can’t do it.”

As painful as it is, I know what needs to be done.

“If Cole and I are going to be together, then I need to tell him the truth so he can decide if I’m still the girl he thinks I am.”

“It won’t change anything.” Her fingers wrap around mine before squeezing them. “He likes you, Cass. What happened last year doesn’t change who you are.” Brooklyn seems so sure of the outcome. I wish I felt half as confident.

“He likes who he thinks I am,” I whisper. “He doesn’t know the real me.” I’ve kept those pieces of myself buried deep down where he couldn’t see.

“Yes, he does, and so do I. What you told me hasn’t changed my opinion.” After a beat of silence, she adds, “Everyone makes mistakes.” Her green eyes flash with fire. “If he can’t see how wonderful you are, then screw him. You’re better off without the guy.”

Tears well in my eyes. Her words are exactly what I needed to hear. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”

Brooklyn’s lips lift into a slight smile. “It’s the truth.” There’s a pause before she takes us right back to where we started. “So…what are you going to do now?”