Page 59

Lilly

Pushing the door open to my lecture building, I step outside into the freezing cold. Shivering, I wrap my arms around myself for a little warmth and scold myself for not bringing a coat with me.

In my defense, I only had one lecture this afternoon, and my creative writing Professor always has her heating on, so I felt there was no need for one. But as I’m walking across campus in these borderline freezing conditions, I regret not bringing my coat with me, and I fucking pray Nina and Payton remembered to take it with them to the arena.

I’m running late, the game has already started.

And if it wasn’t for Kaitlyn, a girl in my creative writing class asking a billion and one questions to our Professor, I’d already be in the arena watching my boyfriend play the game he loves the most.

Fuck, that’s still so weird to say. Boyfriend . I have a boyfriend…and he’s not afraid to love me unconditionally.

Smiling to myself, I speed walk across campus. I did think about running, but the thought left my mind almost as quickly as it came. Fuck running. Yeah, I need t o get there fast, but I’m not going to force myself to exercise to get there. And Greyson will understand that completely.

Because he understands me.

Fuck, I’m so in love with him.

“Lilly.” My name is shouted from behind me.

Furrowing my brows, I turn to see who it is and groan. Nope, not happening. Not today of all days when I’m already running late.

Spinning on my heel, I walk faster, but it’s pointless. He's caught up to me.

“Lilly,” panting, he grabs my arm. “Please.”

“Leave me alone, Kyle.” I sigh, shaking his hand off.

“Hey,” holding his hands up defensively, he takes a step back. “I just want to talk.”

“Don’t you think you’ve done enough of that already?” I respond, shaking my head.

Sighing, he grips the strap of his backpack and glances down at me. “You’re really in love with him, aren’t you?” he asks, his eyes trailing over the jersey I’m wearing.

Greyson’s my boyfriend, of course I’m going to wear his jersey to support him.

He doesn’t even know I’m wearing it, I stole it from his closet to surprise him. And I can’t wait to see the look on his face once he sees me wearing it.

“Yes.” I confess.

I’ve never been more in love than I am with Greyson, and I know we haven’t known each other that long, but love has a funny way of creeping up on you and catching you off guard when you least expect it.

And that’s exactly what happened between us, one minute I was standing on the edge of a cliff, wondering if I’ll ever find love again. And the next, I was falling over the edge, and falling in love with Greyson so damn hard.

“I’m sorry,” Kyle mummers. “I know you don’t want to talk to me, and I don’t blame you. I guess I just had it in my head that you were going through one of your phases,” running a hand through his hair, his eyes sink. “But when I took a step back and saw the two of you together, I realized you’d actually moved on…” his breath gets caught in his throat as he utters the final words. “And that you’re in love with him just as much as he is with you.”

“Hmm.” I chew my cheek, not really knowing what to say.

“I’m sorry, Lilly,” his breath shakes as he exhales. “I’m so fucking sorry, for everything .”

He’s got a look of genuine sorriness in his eyes, and I wish I could accept his apology. But I can’t. He put me through so much pain, and what he did to me, I believe, is unforgivable. So instead, I give him a once over and walk away. Something I should’ve done in October of freshman year when he first cheated.

I’ve moved on.

I’ve found someone who worships the ground I walk on.

And I’ve finally found the guy my heart has been searching for.

With Kyle’s apology running through my mind, I breathe out a sigh of relief.

And as weird as it is to say this, I feel like I’m finally free.

***

Grinning once the arena comes into view, I pull open the doors and the warmth hits me instantly. But I don’t have time to savor the warmth, I have somewhere to be. Jogging through the corridor, I weave through a few students wearing their jerseys as I pull the doors to the rink open.

The coldness seeps through my veins, and I glance toward the ice to see it’s empty. Fuck. I missed the first period. Cursing Kyle for making me even later, I quickly make my way toward the section where the girls are sitting.

Once I spot Nina and Payton, a grin forms on my lips as I see my coat draped across the empty chair beside them. Walking up the stairs, I turn left and pick my coat up.

“Thank fuck you guys remembered to bring my coat,” I shiver, pulling my arms through it. “It’s borderline Antarctica out there.”

Rolling her eyes, Nina turns to face me. “You’re so dramatic.”

Grinning, I lower myself down onto the chair and wrap my arms around myself, trying to get warmth back into my veins.

“When do they come back on?” I ask, glancing toward the ice.

“Uh…” Payton looks down at her phone. “In about two minutes.”

“How are you so late anyway? You texted thirty minutes ago that you were on your way, and it doesn’t take that long to get here from your lecture building.” Leaning down, Nina pulls an extra-large tub of popcorn up.

My mouth waters as I snatch it from her hand, and I sigh once I feel how warm it is still. Nothing beats freshly popped popcorn. It’s the fucking best.

“Ugh, don’t even get me started on this,” I groan, throwing a single piece of popcorn into my mouth. “I bumped into Kyle.”

Sitting straighter, they look at me with annoyed expressions on their faces. Mood, because same.

“What did he have to say this time?” Payton grumbles, sipping her soda.

“You’re never going to believe me.” Popping another handful of popcorn into my mouth, I chew as they lean closer.

“Hello, the suspense is not killing me…but I want to know.” Nina sarcastically widens her eyes.

Laughing, I wipe my hand down coat. “He apologized.”

They both gasp.

“Did I hear that correctly?” Payton’s mouth opens in shock.

“Uh-huh.” I nod.

“What exactly did he say?” Nina asks.

Sighing, I lean back into the chair, shovel more popcorn in my mouth, chew, and then turn toward them.

“Basically a load of blah, blah, blah…I’m sorry for everything…blah, blah, blah. Oh, and how he took a step back and realized I was in love with Greyson,” turning to look at them, I give a deadpan look. “Seriously took him this fucking long to realize that, and to finally leave me alone?”

Nina winces. “Well, shit.”

“I still want to beat his ass.” Payton grumbles.

I chuckle, and then the crowd starts cheering. Turning to look at the ice, I watch both teams skate back on, and my eyes trail over them trying to find the one who makes life worth living.

And then I spot Greyson as he takes his position in goal. Turning his face to look up at the stands, he spots me and a huge grin forms on his lips. I smile, blowing a kiss toward him that he catches and holds to his heart while my own heart flutters against my chest.

“I love you.” He mouths, making a heart with his hands.

Butterflies erupt in my stomach.

“I love you.” I mouth back to him, doing the same gesture.