Chapter Fifteen

"D o you have any sevens?" Brett asks.

"Nope. Do you have any fours?"

He growls, "Biiiitch."

He hands over the four, though, which makes me laugh.

Brett showed up here two hours ago to keep me company. Peyton had to get to work, and for some reason, my new group of friends have determined that I cannot be left alone. Still, I know practice is over, so I wonder where Clayton is. Brett hasn't mentioned it, but something happened. I can tell. He's acting cagey.

"So how was practice?" I ask nonchalantly.

"Um, interesting. Do you have any nines?"

I hand over the card.

"Is that why Clayton didn't come straight here? I know he doesn't do evening classes," I tell him.

"He had to talk to Coach. Tens?"

"Go fish," I tell him. "He's okay, though, right?"

I don't know why, but I need to know. I can wait for an explanation, but if he's not okay, I need to find him. He dropped everything to help me yesterday when he found out I was sick. I'm certain his nursing is the reason I feel as well as I do now. Well, that and the soup I've been told the guys made for me from Clayton's mama's recipe.

Brett finally meets my eyes. "He's okay. It's hockey, Jelly Bean, you know as well as I do it can get a bit rough."

That doesn't make me feel better. It makes me feel way worse. So much that I don't even yell at Brett for his stupid nickname.

"That isn't making me feel better."

He sighs. "It isn't my story to tell."

Before he can say anything else, someone knocks on the door. He gets up, answering it.

"If you are going to upset her, you can't come in. She's healing," Brett tells whoever is on the other side of the door.

"Who is it?" I call out.

He steps out of the way, revealing Kellan. He's holding some soup from the cafeteria.

"It's okay, Brett. Can you give us a minute?"

Brett frowns but nods. "I'll go get you some more tea."

I laugh. "You're going to have to marry that girl if you keep bartering with her for her tea."

He shrugs. "It made you feel better. Don't worry about the cost to me."

Kellan clears his throat, looking uncomfortable, and Brett gives him a hard look before smiling back at me.

"Be back in a jiffy, Jelly Bean." Then he leaves, closing the door behind him.

"I heard you were sick." He holds out the soup as if to say "see."

"I am. You can set it over there. You shouldn't get too close. I don't want to get you sick."

"Is that what you told Clayton when he skipped practice to stay with you?" he asks, sounding bitter.

"I'm not doing this with you right now."

He sighs. "I know. You're right. I was worried is all. You used to call me when you were sick and you didn't call. When did you get so close to the guys? You used to hate hanging out with my friends."

"Your high school friends were pricks. Honestly, I didn't try to be friends with these guys, but they kind of chose me. I don't really have a choice," I admit.

"You do. You can tell them to leave you alone."

I shake my head. "They are good to me. I don't want them to leave me alone."

There's silence then. Neither of us knows what to say. Now's not the time to have the conversation we have each been putting off, but it needs to be had.

"Have you told your mom?" he finally asks.

I smile. "Nope. I need to call her today. I missed her call yesterday."

"She is going to freak. Remember how she used to baby you whenever you got sick at home? She wouldn't even let you lift a glass of water. Nope, only straws for her princess."

I smile as I think about it. "She used to smother me so bad. I'm so glad she's hours away now. That's why I waited. There will be no point in her driving over here now."

"She might still make the drive," he teases.

"God, I hope not. I don't need to be known as the girl whose mother drove to school to nurse her back to health."

Kellan swallows hard. "You know you can still call me, right? I know shit is weird with us right now, but I'm still here. I always will be."

"I know. I didn't consciously not call you. If I'm being honest, Clayton showed up on his own. I didn't call him over you, if that's what you are thinking."

He looks a little relieved at that.

"I feel like everything with us is so messed up. Part of me wants us to go back to before, but the other part, the one in love with you, doesn't want that. Tell me what you need from me, please. I need direction."

I go to open my mouth, but my door opens then.

My heart skips a beat as Clayton steps in looking freshly showered. Seeing his nose all puffy and the bruise on his jaw has my mouth falling open.

Then I look back at Kellan and finally notice the black eye. I'm so used to seeing him bruised up that it didn't phase me, but seeing Clayton like this?

Anger begins to bubble under my skin. "What the fuck happened?" I spit out at the same time as Kellan shouts, "Don't you fucking knock. She could have been naked."

Clayton ignores Kellan, walking to the bed and taking a seat on the edge next to me.

"Any fevers? Did you eat something?" His hand feels my head.

"I'm fine. I want to know why both of you look like you were in a boxing match."

Clayton looks at Kellan. Kellan looks back, a little guilty.

I don't like this at all.

"Hockey shit, Shorty. Nothing to worry about."

Kellan clears his throat. "Yeah, Gracie Bear. We are prepping for Houston this weekend. They are beasts. They won't play fair."

They are lying. I can tell, but the fact that they are both agreeing to lie to me together is actually relieving for me. Maybe they are repairing whatever relationship they had before me.

"I can't handle your shit right now. If you were fighting over me, I will knee you both in the balls."

Clayton cups his balls, wincing, probably remembering the morning after I woke in his arms on his couch when I accidentally got him in the balls.

"Understood," he murmurs, handing me the hoodie he brought.

"I'll step out. You need to change. Then we can strip the bed again. It's not good to lie in your germs like that. Brett brought back the laundry, right?"

The entire time he's talking, my eyes are on Kellan. There's a sadness there. As if he is starting to realize that without him, I began building my own life. One that isn't reliant on him anymore.

I expected more of a fight. Instead, he's resigned.

"I should go. I just wanted to check in. Call me if you need anything. See you at practice, James." He doesn't wait for me to respond as he leaves the room.

Clayton's hand on my cheek brings my eyes to him.

"You okay? If he upset you, I'll punch him. Where is Brett anyway? He was on Grace duty. He practically begged for it," he grumbles.

"Wait, is that why you didn't come right here?"

He smiles, holding out a folder. "I had some teachers to hunt down. These are your missing assignments. They all agreed you can do them and turn them in next class. They hope you feel better."

My eyes start to tear. "They don't usually let you make up course work."

"What can I say? I'm charming."

I snort. "Okay, Casanova. Tone it down. Brett went to get me tea to give me a moment to talk with Kellan."

"Was that okay?"

I shrug. "Yeah. I think he's realizing things have already changed, and he needs to get with it or move on."

"Are you going to be okay?"

I think about it for several moments. Will I be okay? Once upon a time, the idea of Kellan not being in my life would have killed me. It still hurts now, but I'm not alone anymore. I have other friends. People I can rely on.

So when I finally answer, I know it's the truth.

"Yeah, I will be."

"Hey, Mom, I'm about to enter the arena. What's up?" I say as I answer the phone.

"Hi baby, I just wanted to wish you good luck for your game tonight and check and see how Grace is doing."

"She's doing better and is already going back to her classes."

"Good. I know you were worried."

"I was."

In fact, I felt helpless the entire time she was sick. I hated leaving her by herself when I had to go to practice, but Grace wouldn't let me skip.

"I'm fine, Clay. You need to go."

"No, it's okay. Coach knows I'm here."

Grace places her hands on my shoulders. "You have a big game this weekend that you need to prepare for. I don't think I need to remind you, but you are the captain of the team, and you set the tone for the team. If you start skipping, others will follow. Is that what you want?"

"You know I don't."

Her eyes soften. "Exactly. Do you know how bad I would feel if the team started to fall apart because of me? You guys are already struggling as it is."

"We're fine, Grace."

"Besides, we both know someone who wants your spot. Don't give him any more ammo to take it," she continues as if I didn't say anything.

She's right. We both know Kellan is out for blood and is becoming a bigger pain in the ass as the days go on. I really should go so he doesn't run his mouth.

"Fine. If you're sure."

She nods. "I am."

"And you'll text me if you need me?"

Grace rolls her eyes. "You know, I managed to stay alive before you came into my life."

"Yeah, but we both know how boring it was before you had me." I smirk.

"Clayton, are you there?" my mother asks, pulling me back into the present.

I clear my throat. "Yeah, sorry, I zoned out there for a second. How are things at home?"

"They are fine, Clay. Honestly, you don't have to worry about us as much as you do."

"Agree to disagree. Did Cora pass her government test?"

"She did."

"Good. I hated Mrs. Franks when I was in school."

"I'm pretty sure the feeling was mutual," Mom laughs. "Well, I'll let you go. Have a good game tonight, and stay safe. I love you, baby."

"Will do. I love you too." I hang up the phone and put it in my pocket.

"Hey, everything okay?" Beckett asks as he approaches.

"All good. Mom called."

He nods as we walk toward the building. "Are you ready for tonight?"

"You know it. I have a good feeling that we're going to win."

"From your lips to god's ears."

We make our way into the locker room and get ready for the game. One thing about hockey players is we're a superstitious bunch. We all have our routines that we do before a game.

I put on my headphones and pull up my pregame playlist and zone out. My phone vibrates in my hand, and I look down and see a text from Grace and smile. Typically I wouldn't respond to a text right now, but it's Grace.

Grace: I had to stop Peyton from making a sign.

Me: Do I want to know?

Grace: Let's just say it wasn't appropriate.

I chuckle as I read her text.

Me: I'm not surprised. See you after the game?

Grace: You know it.

I put my phone down and start to zone back out, but I feel eyes on me. I open my eyes and catch Kellan glaring at me, so I pull my headphones off and level him with a look.

"Whatever you want to say can wait until after the game."

He clenches his jaw but keeps his mouth shut.

Coach comes in and whistles, getting all of our attention. "Are you guys ready to beat Houston?"

We all tap our sticks to the floor.

"That's what I like to hear." He looks over at me. "Captain, what do you have to say?"

"Let's go out there and show Houston what we can do and why heart always wins. Let's leave it all on the ice and bring home a W," I say as I look each guy in the eye.

Everyone puts their stuff away, and we head out of the locker room and head right for the ice. While I skate around and get warmed up, I look around the arena and take it in. I love the feeling of my blades cutting through clean ice and watching the stands slowly fill up with fans. It never gets old.

On my last lap around the ice, I scan the crowd and smile when I see her.

Grace is sitting in the stands next to Peyton. She's got a Wolves beanie on, and her hair is in some fancy pigtails that I can only guess Peyton did. I can't help but rub my chest as I look at her.

Fuck, she's beautiful.

She must feel me staring because she looks right at me and smiles, making me almost lose my balance.

"You good?" Wyatt questions as he skates up to me.

"Yeah."

"What are we staring at?" Brett asks as he comes up.

"The girls are here," I say as I nod toward them.

The girls wave at us, and like lovesick fools, we wave back.

"Looks like I'm drinking for free one night after the season's over, boys." Brett chuckles.

"Why do you say that?"

Beckett smirks. "Peyton and I made a deal. If she brought a sign tonight, then I would buy her drinks. If she didn't, then she has to buy for me."

Coach blows his whistle, and we turn away from the girls and head back to the bench. While he goes through the game plan for tonight, I keep sneaking glances over my shoulder at her.

I can't keep my eyes off of her.

"Score one for me," she mouths, making me smile as I nod.

If I have my way, I'll score more than one for her and bring home the win.