Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“I know, Jude. He was just frustrated and upset by some things.” I try to reassure him. Adam and I may have broken up, but the last thing I want is for Jude’s relationship with him to be affected by it. They’re still friends, despite our relationship status.
“Don’t make excuses for him.”
“I’m not. It’s just . . . I don’t know. Adam got it in his head Kyler was some kind of threat and so was warning me off him.”
“Kyler?” Jude exclaims, disbelief in his tone. “Why the fuck would Adam have a problem with Kyler? They hardly know each other.”
I shake my head. “I wish I knew. He said Ky was at the town council meeting they had about the development Adam’s working on. It turns out it’s the same development which is making Ky’s mom homeless. Adam said Ky was disruptive at the meeting, always interrupting or whatever, and then physically assaulted Adam afterward. I asked Ky about it, and he said he didn’t touch Adam.”
I pause, trying to make my voice as steady as possible before I tell Jude the next part, the bit which really was the catalyst for mine and Adam’s break-up.
“Ky also said he saw Adam . . . with another girl. He had his hands all over her and was kissing her outside.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Jude grits out, his voice rising in anger. I shake my head again.
“I asked Adam about it, and he didn’t deny it. He said he was lonely, so what did I expect? That it’s my fault for moving.”
“Jesus Christ, Thea.” Jude stands and paces in front of me with his hands on his hips. He covers his mouth with his palm and takes a breath before continuing. “Is he for real? Who the fuck does he think he is? There is no excuse for hooking-up with someone else. I swear to God, he better be grateful we’re not in the same zip code at the moment as he’d find himself best buddies with my right fist.”
“Violence doesn’t solve everything, Jude.” I chastise him in the same tone Mom would use on us. Although don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful my brother is willing to stand up for my honor.
“It does if that fucker is upsetting my sister!” Jude bellows before sitting back down on my bed, his shoulders slumping.
“It doesn’t matter now anyway,” I continue, “even I felt we were drifting apart. I was just being a fool to myself and denying it. It’s for the best. We’re better off without each other. Besides, in my heart of hearts, I don’t think I could comfortably continue being his girlfriend, knowing he’s playing a part in hurting the family of one of our friends.”
“Is that all it is?” Jude asks and I turn my head to look at him, my eyes narrowing as I try to decipher what he’s trying to say.
“What do you mean?” I question him.
“This thing with you and Kyler. You might think I don’t notice anything, but I see things, Thea. I see the looks you give each other. The way your eyes follow him when he’s in the same room and vice versa. The tension between the both of you after his fight at the bar.”
“I was just helping with his injuries is all.” I quickly answer, trying to direct Jude away from this conversation. Kyler’s his best friend, and I know he doesn’t think badly of him, but all the same, I don’t want Jude to know the extent of my feelings toward Ky. Not yet, anyway. It’s too fresh, both in relation to my breakup with Adam and with the shaky ground me and Ky are tentatively standing on. That is, if there is still some ground, after what I witnessed this morning. If I’m being honest with myself, that’s what’s playing a huge part in why I’m upset at the moment.
Jude stares at me for a while, his eyes moving back and forth between mine, and I know he’s trying to search for some hidden sign telling him there is something I’m keeping from him. Eventually, he nods and places his hand on my arm, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“Just . . . tell me if it turns into something more? Kyler’s life is complicated, and you deserve anything but. Unfortunately, I can’t help you if you keep me in the dark.”
“Okay,” I tell him, wondering at which point I should tell my brother that in my mind, it’s already turned into something more. And the “complication” I witnessed earlier today has already formed a wound in my heart.
eighteen
Kyler
I fucked up. It’s the only way to sum up how I feel about things right now, and the only thing going well for me is hockey. Everything—shit with my mother, my sister, Thea, and school—all seems to be circling the drain. I don’t know if I’m coming or going half the time. One of the servers quit at The Crease, which somehow falls onto my shoulders since I’m the most “senior” person there, practice and games be damned. One of the new guys asked me to cover a shift and when I told them I had a game, he legit asked if I had to be there. Clearly, he’s not an NU fan because if he was, he’d know I’m the leading scorer in division three right now and yes, NU needs me there. I take that back. They don’t need me there because our second and third strings can get the job done, but they want me there, and sometimes it feels damn good to be wanted. Even if it’s by a bunch of sweaty hockey players. They want me because I’m their teammate and for the talent I bring to the ice. Nothing more. Winning isn’t on my shoulders, not with our exceptional line-up. We’re a team and we win as a team.