Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“Here’s to us! Yale’s champions!” Hugo called out, eliciting cheers from the crowd of men and women who filled the bar. He turned and clinked his glass against mine before we downed our shots, liquid fire coursing down my throat.
I screwed up my face slightly, not even knowing when the last time I took a shot was. As the sizzle died down, I slipped between Anthony and Jed at the bar to order a Jack and Coke, trying to pace myself. I didn’t want to get messed up that quickly.
“Whiskey kind of girl?” Anthony asked as he peered at me.
“I don’t mind the bite,” I replied, feeling the tequila already start to warm me up and melt away my sternness I tried to show toward the guys. It just felt so good knowing that we won.
“Careful. He’ll actually bite,” Jed told me, his arm brushing mine as we all leaned against the bar.
“Only as hard as she wants,” Anthony chuckled. He tilted his head at me. “I guess I should congratulate you.”
“Not if you don’t mean it,” I said. “I know you have some sort of vendetta against us.”
Anthony shrugged as he looked down at his drink.
“Nothing personal. Hockey is important to me. A lot rides on our success,” he replied.
“Same for us,” I pointed out. “What’s the risk for you?”
Anthony took a long sip before setting his glass on the bar.
“My sister,” he replied before chuckling faintly and shaking his head. “Alcohol must lead to loose lips. I don’t know anything about you.”
He was right. We didn’t know much about each other. Maybe it was the alcohol, but I wanted to know more about him and why he was one of the coldest toward me.
“I’ll tell you about my sister if you tell me about yours,” I offered as I held my hand out to him.
Anthony smirked a little before shaking my hand, easily engulfing my smaller one.
“Deal. She… got in an accident a while ago and needs a lot of help at home just to do basic things. My parents care for her when I’m not there, so if I’m here playing hockey instead, I have to be the best. I can’t let them down,” he explained to me.
I found myself reaching out to place my hand on his arm, sympathy hitting me. I could hear the guilt in his voice.
“I’m sure your family is proud of you,” I told him. “Nothing could change that.”
Anthony peered at me for a few moments, our bodies huddling so close together.
“What about you? What’s your sister like?” he asked.
“Amazing. The apple of everyone’s eye back in my hometown,” I replied. “All she’s done is support me and love me like the best sister in the world. And I hate myself for feeling so jealous of her sometimes.”
Anthony nudged my shoulder gently.
“Jealous of what?” he asked.
I shrugged and lowered my eyes, already feeling embarrassed for mentioning it.
“She’s beautiful and kind and selfless. She’d do anything for her daughter,” I told him. “It felt like everyone looked up to her and down on me when we were growing up.”
“You don’t think you’re any of those things?” Anthony asked as he turned his body to face me, leaning his side against the bar.
I looked up at him, my chest tightening slightly.
“Not like her,” I said.
“You don’t have to be like her. Be like you,” Anthony replied as his fingertips grazed down my arm. “I’m not the only one who’d prefer that.”
My face warmed up as I gave him a grateful look. I never thought that I would hear those kind words from him, but they meant a lot. Before I could reply, Stephen came over to grab a drink from the bar.
“Hope you’re not spilling secrets, Anthony. You gotta watch this one,” Stephen said as he peered at me.
It seemed like he hadn’t forgotten my comment from on the bus. I didn’t expect it to sting so much, but maybe there was another reason why he wasn’t in a committed relationship. Like with Anthony, I couldn’t judge a book by its cover. Or whatever. They all had their own stories.
“I’m pretty sure you’re one of the biggest troublemakers here,” I told him with a small laugh, the alcohol starting to loosen me up.
“She’s not wrong,” Anthony pointed out.
Stephen faked a shocked look.
“You traitor,” he scoffed. “I’ll see if Coach Clinton has an extra spot for you on her team.”
Anthony lunged at Stephen, the two of them engaging in a light-hearted brawling match.
I couldn’t help the laugh that broke from me as I watched them tussle, feeling lighter than usual. It was exhausting being at odds with them all the time, and it was nice seeing everyone mingle and drink like we didn’t actively root against each other. At the end of the day, we still played for Yale. We still loved the same sport.