Shut Out (Bayard Hockey #1)(70)

It kind of is, but…“That’s an ugly name. Girls can enjoy sex as much as guys.”

“Hey, I don’t disagree.”

“Then don’t call them names like that.”

Buck’s smile disappears and his forehead creases. “Sorry, man.”

“Guys can sleep with as many girls as they want and they don’t get called sluts.”

“Nah. They get called man-whores.”

I shake my head. “I’m outta here.”

“Already?”

“Yeah. The mood I’m in, I’m doing you all a favor.”

Buck gives me a long look but nods, and I push away from the table to leave.

I sit in my truck for a few minutes. I can’t stop thinking about Skylar. This is nuts. I need to see her.

I end up parked in front of her house. There are still lights on, so someone’s up.

I’m not sure what I’m doing there. I’m not sure what I want from her. All I know is…I miss her, with an empty, gnawing ache deep inside me.

I ring the bell and wait, hands in my pockets. It’s only a minute before Skylar peeks through the high window, but after that it takes forever for her to respond. I’m almost at the point of wondering if she’s going to ignore me when the door opens.

She stands aside and lets me in. I pause in the small foyer and study her.

She closes the door but hovers near it. Her small face is drawn into sad lines, her lips are pressed together, and her eyes are cool. “Jacob.”

“Hi.” I swallow. “How are you?”

“Good.” Her forehead furrows. “What are you doing here?”

I look past her, then around, then back at her. Then I just say it. “I miss you.”

Her gaze goes icy. “You miss me.”

I nod. “Yeah.”

“I haven’t heard from you for two weeks. You just decided this now?”

I swallow a sigh. “Um, yeah. I’ve been a dick.”

She gives a hard laugh. “Okay, glad I don’t have to tell you that.”

I rub my face.

“Look, if you’re here for a late-night booty call, sorry, but I can’t do that.”

Booty call? What the f*ck? “That’s what you think?”

“Why else would you show up at one in the morning? After a game, which as we know, makes you want to f*ck.”

I stare at her.

She crosses her arms and glares at me.

I guess I deserve this. But I hate it. I really have missed her. I want her in my life. Not for booty calls, although I have to say her booty is the finest and the calls are fan-f*cking-tastic. But she’s fun to be with. She makes me laugh. She’s sweet and caring. She’s been through hell and hasn’t let it get her down; instead she took a f*cked-up situation and turned it into helping other people. And she knows me. She sees past the tough bravado and cocky ’tude, sees my fears and insecurities, and she still likes me.

Or maybe that should be past tense. Because she sure doesn’t look like she’s very fond of me right now.

“I’m sorry?” Well, that’s the lamest apology in the history of apologies.

She arches a brow. “Sorry for what?”

I swipe a hand over my face again and shift my feet. I sigh. “For so much, Sky.”

“Never mind.” She shakes her head. “You need to leave. I don’t want to ever see you again.”

My mouth falls open. I know I was a jerk for not calling, but…wow.

She closes her eyes briefly. “I found out what happened.” She lifts her chin and meets my eyes, and hers are sharp with gold glints. “Why you’re here. Why you got kicked off your team up in Saskatoon.”

Every muscle in my body tightens. The room shrinks around me. “How’d you find that out?”

“On the Internet. Ella actually showed it to me.” She gives a laugh that almost sounds like a sob. “She hasn’t spoken to me for nearly two weeks either, but she seemed happy to fill me in on that story.”

“She hasn’t spoken to you?” I frown. “Not at all?”

Her bottom lip quivers. “Nope. She’s still pissed at me.” She shrugs, but her throat works. “Whatever.”

“Didn’t you tell her the truth about what happened? What Brendan did?”

“She doesn’t want to hear about it.” She rolls her eyes. “Nice change of subject, though.”

“Ah, right.” I shove my hands in my jacket pockets.

“You never told me about that, Jacob. You never told me you raped a girl.”

Fuck! “I did not!” I shout the words, horrified.

“It was in all the news. They kicked you off the team.”

I stare at her, pulling a hand out of my pocket to rub my aching stomach.

She shakes her head. “I can’t believe that. Stupid me. And stupid me for…oh, never mind. Just go. Please.” She opens the door.

“No, let me tell you what happened, Sky. Please. You don’t know the whole story.”

“I don’t want to know the whole story.” She shakes her head. “Get. Out.”

A gajillion thoughts are tumbling around in my head. She actually believes I raped someone. She’s not the first one, but she’s the first person who really knows me who believes it. My parents believed me. My friends at home believed me. Buck even believed me when I told him. But Skylar…the person I think knows me the best…she doesn’t believe me.