“Yes.”
“Sofia!” Aaron’s dad yells from downstairs. “Your mother is waiting.”
Why can’t I just stay with the Marsh’s? Or with Lily. I don’t want to go so far away from home.
Aaron and I both walk downstairs, holding each other’s hand. I’m still crying, more than I was before. And it only gets worse when we reach the last step where Aaron hugs me one more time.
Right before my mom and I leave, Aaron kisses my cheek after he whispers, “Remember, we’ll get married one day.”
I hear aclick, but I ignore it because Aaron is giving me one more thing.
“I forgot to give it to you yesterday,” he says as he lays a necklace into my hand. “It’s one half of a heart, I have the other one. Promise you won’t ever take it off.”
Looking at theLegopiece attached to a thin silver chain, I feel a teardrop drip from my nose. “I promise.”
8
Aaron
“and when you’re in the trenches and you’re under fire / I will cover you”—Brother by Kodaline
“You’re supposed to hit the net, Marsh!”Coach Carter yells, angrily throwing his clipboard right on to the ice.
He’s in a cranky mood lately, but it’s sort of given when his daughter died last Wednesday, and his son, the one that tries his best to go pro after graduation, would rather spend his time at a mental hospital to visit my sister than show up for practice.
To be fair, Colin probably had other reasons not to show up today. For instance, because his sister died, and he might need longer to deal with it and such. But I do, however, feel better knowing he still cares aboutmysister. Even after he got her far enough to be wanting help.
Doesn’t mean Coach should let his anger out on me though.
Now, I know Tobias Carter sees a hell lot of potential in me, which is quite the ego boost coming from a Coach that’s usually coaching the pros. And I like that he tells me when I could do better, but fucking hell. I missed the netonceand he goes on yelling at me for it.
For the next thirty minutes, half the team spends it with skating up and down the ice while the other half comes crashing into them. Coach said it’s a great way to practice taking control over sudden anger-outbreaks and aggressive attacks from opponents on the ice. I think it’s complete bullshit.
“What’s up with him lately?” Miles holds his hand out for me to help me back up. That asshole just ran right into me… and we’re on the same side of the team-split here.
I take his hand and make myself a lot heavier than I am just for Miles to struggle a little bit. But of course he doesn’t.
“Not a clue.” Well, I do know, but I promised Colin I wouldn’t say a word toanyoneyet.
“He’s acting like me when I don’t fuck at least once a day.” He’s not wrong, that I have to admit. “Anyway, you think he’d let me go early when I ask nicely?”
I shake my head. “No way.”
“That’s what I thought.” Sighing heavily, Miles looks at the digital clock on the other end of the arena. He seems a bit nervous, but I’m not sure why.
“What’s up? I can vouch for you if needed.”
Another headshake, but this time it looks sadder than I’ve ever witnesses Miles act before. “Maeve is giving me a hard time with Brooke.”
Miles usually doesn’t talk about his daughter with the rest of the team around, or anyone really, which tells me exactly how bad the situation is right now.
The team knows of Brooklyn, but Miles still prefers to keep her away from everyone. Only on rare occasions does he bring up his daughter with everyone around or involves her in plans when the rest of the team is there as well.
“She gave me a fucking ultimatum.”
Before I get the chance to speak, Coach Carter blows into his whistle, then shouts, “King, Marsh, I didn’t say you could go on a coffee break! Get back to skating!”
But I don’t. As any good number one alternative captain would, I sit back down on the ice to protest. I don’t care if this is going to get me benched for the next game, but today’s practice is just bullshit.