Unbreakable(53)

“That’s so dumb,” I mutter.

“And, it could get awkward between the three of you if things went bad between you and Will.”

I hug my knees to my chest and fight back a sob. “Too late, because it’s already gone bad. Will told me he’s not only lost Sully, but he’s lost me too. He said we couldn’t be friends anymore. Not after this.” I glance over at Vi. “He was so cold, Violet. The things he said to me? It wasn’t like him at all. It felt cruel. How can he just cut me out of his life like that?”

Her face falls. “Oh, Em. I’m so sorry.”

“How am I supposed to do this? I need him in my life, Vi. I can’t imagine not talking to him every day.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m not sure there’s much I can do at this point.” I cover my face with my hands and take a breath. “I just have to wait for things to cool down a bit, then I’ll try and talk to him again.”

Violet puts her arm around my shoulders. “I hate to say this, but you might have a long wait ahead of you.”

The odds are that she’s right, and that’s exactly what scares me the most.





Chapter Twenty-Two





WILL




Two months later

“Fucking *.”

It’s the last thing I hear before getting crushed into the boards. Sully’s check is borderline, so it’s not going to send up any red flags to our coaching staff during this practice scrimmage. But there’s meaning behind that check.

Sully’s an incredibly talented defenseman. It’s one reason I’m glad he’s on our team. He's creative and smart when it comes to this game. But lately, he’s been using his creativity against me.

If he can get away with giving me a shot, he takes it. And he’s crafty, muttering insults that only I can hear.

At first, I accepted my “punishment,” but I’m pretty sure that I’ve paid enough dues since that miserable August night. Having to put up with daily reminders that he considers me a traitor is just the brown icing on my shit cake.

“When’s it ever going to be enough, Sul?” I ask, turning around.

“Never,” he replies, skating off.

After practice ends, I head into the locker room, sit down at my stall, and begin stripping off my gear. My thoughts drift to Emmy, as they usually do.

Every day I wake up with chest-crushing guilt over the things I said to her at the cottage. Even though I try and remind myself that it was only a means to an end, it doesn’t make me feel any better. I know how much that had to hurt her, and I don’t know if I can forgive myself for it.

It’s two months to the day exactly since the night I left the cottage, and there’s been nothing but radio silence from her—no texts, no calls, nothing. And though it’s what I wanted, it’s the longest we’ve ever gone without talking in years. I miss hearing her voice and getting her silly texts. I miss our late-night video chats.

I miss it all.

For the first time, I have no idea what’s going on in her life. Is she back at school? Is she here in Toronto? Is she seeing someone new?

Despite the fact that we can’t be together, I’m nowhere near over her. Not even close. And I don’t think I’ll be interested in going out with anyone else for a long, long time.

Dylan sits down next to me at his stall and wipes off his face with a towel. “We’re going to the Firkin for food. You in?”

“Oh, sure. Sully will love that,” I say, raising an eyebrow.

“Sully’s not coming. He’s got a date. C’mon man, you haven’t hung out with us in ages. This shit with you and Sully is stale and dragging us all down. You’ve been a f*cking hermit for the past two months.”

I run a hand through my sweaty hair. I could use some time out with my friends, and I need to get my mind off of Emmy.

“That’s the most words I’ve ever heard you string together at one time,” I say dryly.

Dylan snorts with laughter and unlaces his skates. “Have you talked to Emmy lately?”

“No.” Just hearing her name makes me ache. “Not since everything went down. I don’t even know if she went back to New York.”

Dylan shakes his head. “No, man. She’s here in Toronto.”

“What?” My heart begins to pound. “Really?”

“She’s in the city according to Sully.”

“Where’s she staying? Any idea?” I’m guessing she wouldn’t be staying with her Dad, considering what had gone on between them, and I don’t know if she’s talking to her mom after the whole cheating fiasco.

“Don’t know,” he answers, shrugging. “So… dinner?”

I pull off my skates. “Yeah, I’m in.”

“Good.” Dylan claps me on the back. “Meet us over there in an hour.”

“Yep.”

I head for the showers and let the hot water ease my sore, aching muscles. Knowing Emmy’s back in Toronto makes me feel a little lighter. Despite everything that’s happened, at least she doesn’t have to go back to school and pretend she wants to be a lawyer someday. For her sake, I hope she’s here permanently. I know that’s what she wants.