Do you think I’m too late, Amiyah?
I don’t have to say any of this out loud. Not with her. Amiyah’s expression softens, and the corner of her lips twitches up. “Is this a bad time to say I told you so?”
She drops my wrist and I pull her into a hug. My body sags against hers, arms squeezing a little too tight but I haven’t allowed myself comfort like this in months. She hugs me back like she’s needed this too.
Amiyah chuckles against my shoulder. “Go put that poor boy out of his misery.”
Twenty-Two
Denise
It takes a few bangs against Lucas’s front door for it to finally swing open, revealing a disgruntled Preston. He at least grants me the decency of one quick glance before he’s closing the door while saying, “He’s not here.”
I wedge my foot between the closing door and wall. “Well, do you know where he is?”
Preston lets out a frustrated sigh. “Why do you care?”
“Why is that any of your business?”
Preston fully opens the door again, his sharp gaze locked on mine. “Because I don’t appreciate my best friend yapping about a girl that wants nothing to do with him.”
I open my mouth to speak but he keeps going. “And don’t try to spew your bullshit to me. Lucas told me what you said.”
My shoulders drop and any attitude I had for the annoying blond subsides because now all I can see is Lucas having to repeat the things I said to him.
The fact that my words even hurt enough for him to talk to Preston about it makes me hate myself even more, but I’m not here to throw a pity party. I’m here because Lucas deserves to know that I think the world of him.
Preston is just an obstacle in my way.
I square my shoulders back, hands coming to rest on my hips. “Preston, I’m sure you know just as much as me about saying things before thinking them through.”
He crosses his arms, clearly not impressed with me for basically calling him out but I really don’t care. I can’t wait any longer. I’ve already wasted days by hiding out in my room. I need to talk to Lucas. Now.
I continue with my speech. “And you also know way more than me how amazing Lucas is. How he deserves more than anyone. I said shit to him, yes, but if I’m being honest, he’s the one I should be explaining myself to. Not you.”
Preston leans against the doorframe, arms crossed and an unreadable expression on his face. But I’ve seen him wear this same neutral expression before pouncing on someone during a game. I hold my breath, reminding myself that whatever he gives, I can dish right back. I would just rather not waste time doing that right now.
He sighs. “He’s out on a date.”
My spine straightens and my heart begins to race even faster than before, the feeling of Lucas already slipping away from me makes my hands shake. But I do my best not to show Preston how that information affects me.
“With who?”
He shrugs. “Some girl from one of his classes.”
“Do you know where they went?” I push.
“You gonna fuck it up if I tell you?”
Okay, I get why people around campus avoid getting on this guy’s bad side. He’s already known for nothing but brute force out on the ice but off it? He’s just as difficult to interact with. His dark brown eyes and unnecessarily tall frame are enough to have anyone walking the other way. But I don’t tend to be intimidated that easily.
I cross my arms, not backing down. He decides to do the same.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you have a little crush on him yourself, Nole.”
He arches his eyebrow, his dark gaze studying me. Not my body or the yoga shorts and crop top I rolled out of my bed wearing. His eyes watch me more like he’s assessing a threat or something.
He must decide that I’m not as much of a hazard as he thought because the corner of his mouth twitches ever so slightly and he goes back to leaning against the doorframe. “Love the guy but he’s not my type.”