Chapter 2

“California,” My best friend and forever teammate, Cade drawled out before he snaked his arm across my neck to bring me in. He raised his hand and looked to the sky as we walked out of the lunchroom. “We’re going to be in California in less than three months, playing hockey and attending the college of our dreams. Can you believe it?” I turned and rolled my eyes. He was smiling eagerly, so I shrugged him off, and moved away.

“Considering we applied to the same colleges, then, yes, surprisingly, I can believe it.”

He pushed me on the shoulder, chuckling. “Grumpy as shit still. Come on. You can't deny that you're happy that we're one step closer to being brothers for life?”

“You’re acting like we’ve just discovered we’re going to the same college when we’ve known for months.”

“That’s because we are two weeks away from graduating. You and me. It’s Covey U to start, but who knows what the future holds for us.” He raised his brows. “Maybe we’ll even end up on the same NHL team.”

“Let's focus on actually getting drafted before worrying about the team we’re on.” I was still nervous even mentioning it. Cade and I had been invited to attend the Draft live, which showed that several teams were looking at us, but that still wasn’t a guarantee we’d get drafted. We could just as easily end up one of those players sitting in the arena, faking a smile because we weren’t chosen just in case the camera panned on us.

“How does Amy feel about you moving to California?”

I shook my head and huffed out an annoyed breath. “I don’t think she cares.”

“Really?”

Shrugging, I adjusted my backpack on my shoulder. “She’s staying here, and I’m moving away. It’s kind of a moot point.” Cade’s lips flattened, so I continued explaining. “We don’t really talk about the future.”

“Or the present, apparently.” Cade chuckled and as much as I hated to admit it, he had a point. Amy and I had been dating for years, but it had gotten to the point where we were more like friends. Neither one of us was willing to break it off, so we were just kind of waiting out the inevitable to happen.

Unfortunately, Amy becoming less of a distraction had made it hard to ignore the fact that I’d been crushing hard on Cade’s little sister, Madison, for as long as I could remember. Not that I’d ever act on those feelings, for a myriad of reasons. The main one being that she probably didn’t even look at me that way, anyway. She was a good girl, who studied and worked hard. She didn’t need me around screwing things up for her or her family. Not to mention the fact that she was my best friend’s little sister. Yeah, I doubted that would go down well.

Cade crinkled his nose. “You two are so romantic,” he said sarcastically. “I can’t wait to get into one of those real relationships and have sex with one girl that I hate all the time.”

“I don’t hate Amy.”

“Then do her a favor and break up with her.”

“That’s a lot of hassle for something that’s going to happen no matter what, anyway.”

Cade shook his head. “Always the charmer. I only hope that when you get to college, you’ll meet someone that you can’t live without. She’ll have the same interests as you, and you won’t be able to stop smiling. Although, I’m not sure your face knows how to do that.”

I raised my brows and blew out a breath because I hoped I would be different, too. Moving across the country from the one girl I couldn’t get my mind off should help that.

“You coming to the gym?” Cade asked as he turned the corner in the hallway.

“Yup.” I pointed my thumb over my shoulder. “I've just got to get my foam roller from my locker.”

Cade's smile grew. “I bet you do.”

I groaned because the team watched one viral video of a guy using his roller highly inappropriately and now they teased me, thinking I did all those things too. When I got to my locker, I pulled out my black foam roller, but paused because I heard some interesting noises to the side of me.

Breathy moans and loud gurgles echoed around this small section of the hallway, and I couldn’t deny that my interest was piqued. I took a step to the side and the noises got louder. Really? Someone was getting lucky in the hallway? When anyone could walk past?

Horn dogs.

Curiosity got the better of me and since this was the most action I was getting for a long time, I figured I’d have a sneaky look. Quietly, I followed the sounds, trying to make my large frame less conspicuous. Turning the corner, the noises were so loud it was like I was right next to them.

Fuck.

I was.

Wait.

What.

The.

Fuck?

Amy?

Her head was tilted back, and she was smiling brightly as some random guy kissed her neck. His hand was inside her shirt and she was crying out in pleasure.

Standing there frozen, I was watching my girlfriend make out with someone else, and I didn’t know what to do. So I let my reflexes take over, and threw my foam roller at the dark-haired dude coping a feel. It stunned the idiot and bounced off his head before falling to the floor and rolling to my feet.

“Da-Dash?” Amy sputtered out, looking horrified. Her cheeks were flushed and her lipstick was smeared across her face, but she didn’t look unhappy about being there. I honestly didn't know what to feel, but when the guy turned around and I registered it was Henry, a teammate of mine, my pride took over.

“What the fuck are you doing, man?” I said, pushing him into the lockers, and watching as his eyes widened with horror. What the hell did he think was going to happen? They might have been under the stairs, but we were still in the hallway, and anyone could have seen them.

Henry's face was smeared with glittery lip gloss, sending a chill up my spine because I knew what it felt like to be on the receiving end of that. It was sticky and tasted like fake strawberries. I also knew that shit didn't come off for days, either.

“Dash. I'm sorry.” Amy's words barely filtered through my brain as she pulled on my arm, trying to get me to distance myself from Henry. At the moment, I didn’t care about her. I just needed to prove a point to my teammate.

Wait a minute. Why was I more bothered about Henry going behind my back than my girlfriend cheating on me?

Man, I really should have broken up with Amy years ago. It wasn’t fair on her or me because now, she was upset for hurting me, and I couldn’t care less. Really, I should have been the one that was saying sorry for even entertaining this mess.

“He-Henry?”

The hall went silent.

Or at least I thought it did because her voice had no problem breaking through my thoughts. Mainly because her voice played in my head like a melody even when she wasn’t around.

Madison.

When I looked over at my best friend's little sister, I saw something I didn't expect. Tears. She was watching me pin Henry up against the locker and was crying about it.

Why the hell was she crying over that douche?

I looked between the two of them, and Henry’s brows were furrowed.

“Madison, I can explain.”

Hold on, was there something going on between them?

My fists clenched because something about that fact really pissed me off.

“Madison, is everything okay?” I asked, ready to drop Henry on the floor and take her away from this place if I had to.

She looked at me, almost embarrassed. Her lips trembled and then she dropped her gaze to the floor, taking in a deep breath.

Tiff, her cousin, was at her side in an instant and drew her into a hug.

“You’re an asshole, Henry,” Tiff spat out. I had no doubts that if she wasn’t so busy consoling Madison, she’d slap Henry across the face because she might have been quiet, but she was feisty when she needed to be.

“I'm sorry, Madison,” Henry said.

Okay, that was all the confirmation I needed. There was something going on between them.

Chuckling bitterly, I shook my head, trying to convince myself not to do something stupid.

She wasn’t mine.

She never could be.

Too late.

None of my commonsense arguments worked because I’d already made my decision.

Henry had made Madison cry, so he deserved everything that was coming to him.

With Henry still pinned to the locker, I did what anyone would do in my situation. I punched him square in the face because he deserved it.

The crack of his nose echoed through the hall, and blood splattered across my face. I looked unhinged, but I didn’t care. No one hurt Madison and got away with it.

“Dash, stop.” Amy was clutching at my arm, doing her best to pry me away while Madison watched from my other side. She wasn’t trying to stop me, so I took her lead and punched him one more time, just in case he didn’t get the message with my first blow.

I was almost certain I’d broken his nose, but he could sue me and throw me in jail for all I cared. As long as I’d never have to see Madison cry again, then I’d be happy.

Shit. I probably needed to speak to someone about my obsession.

“Back up!” The principal yelled, and the crowd immediately dissipated. Madison and Amy didn't leave, though. In my haze, I almost couldn't tell them apart, they looked so much alike.

“Break it up, boys.”

Principal Hader grabbed my shoulder, and he pulled me back, away from Henry. When he realized it was me, he stifled a cough.

“Daniel? What on earth are you doing?”

I wiped the blood off my face and didn't answer. Saying I was defending Madison’s honor would not only confirm to everyone in the hallway that I was a simp for her, but it might freak her the fuck out.

Madison was just watching from behind the principal with awe. I hung my head in shame because I knew I shouldn't have acted like that. My mom wouldn't have liked it, but then again, she also wouldn't have liked to see a girl crying over an idiot like Henry.

“My office. Now.” He pointed straight down the hallway, and the students parted like the Red Sea. I took a deep breath, ready to take my punishment because what was the worst they could do? I was graduating in two weeks. I’d passed all my classes; and had been accepted to Covey U. They could take everything they wanted away but nothing mattered more to me than making Madison feel better.

By the time Principal Hader was done lecturing me, school was out, and I was officially barred from my graduation ceremony since that was the only form of punishment he could really give me. Like I cared. It wasn’t like my dad was going to be able to get the time off work, anyway. Besides, high school didn’t matter nearly as much as getting a good spot in the draft next month.

Walking out of the school, it was funny knowing this would probably be the last time since I was also banned from my final classes. Again, fine by me. We were only watching movies to bypass the time, anyway.

Would I miss this place?

Nope. My best friend was coming to college with me. We’d already applied to share a dorm. I had pretty much everything I needed from this place, so maybe it was time to go.

The only thing I’d miss…well, that wasn’t someone I was willing to think about much, because if I did that would be entertaining the idea that something might actually happen between us, even though I knew that wasn’t possible.

“Hey, Man,” Cade hollered as I walked into the parking lot. He was leaning against his old truck, waving at me. Since I had no other form of transportation, I waltzed over to him and took his hand in a bro hug.

“What are you still doing here?”

“I’m your ride, so I figured I’d wait for you. It’s the least I could do after you rearranged the guy’s face that upset my little sister.”

“So, they were dating?”

Cade sucked in a breath and looked away. “Honestly, I’m not sure, but Tiff said Henry was an asshole and strung Madison along for a few months.”

Why was I getting the urge to punch that idiot again?

“But Madison’s good. She’ll survive.” He waved off any further questions on the topic.

“You sound awfully calm for a guy whose sister dated his teammate.”

“I’m calm because the way you punched Henry’s nose told every guy in this school what they needed to know. No one’s going to go near her now.”

“If they do, I’ll happily give them the Henry Newman treatment.”

“Have you spoken to Amy? I saw her eating up the drama when you left.”

“Nope, and once I turn my phone on, her number’s getting blocked.

“So cold, Dash, but I get it. You guys weren’t exactly the example of high school sweethearts before this debacle.” I cringed at the mere thought of being called a ‘sweetheart,’ because I didn’t like people thinking I’d gone soft.

Cade tipped his chin back to the school. “How’d it go in there?”

“As expected, No more school or graduation walk.”

“Ah, tough break.”

“Not as tough as the break on Henry’s nose.”

Cade squeezed my shoulder and grinned. “Look at you trying to be funny. Honestly, I didn’t think you had it in you.”

“Yeah, well, sometimes you’ve got to laugh at the situations you end up in.”