Share
Chapter 21: Cassidy
Related chapters
STay Chapter 22: Cassidy
##Chapter 22: CassidyBook One: StayI inhale a deep breath and squeeze my eyes shut again. I'm irritated at myself for allowing all this garbage back inside my head. Maybe I disappointed my family, but they let me down me too. When I needed them to stand by me, they'd taken the easy way out and shipped me off, leaving me to deal with the fallout by myself.My eyelids fly open when Cole wraps his arms around my shoulders and pulls me against his hard body. He doesn't ask any questions. He simply holds me until I'm strong enough to move forward again. I don't understand what it is about Cole that makes me feel so safe."If they kept my gear, it would be here." As we step into the back room, Cole looks around the shelving units my father built to house all of our old equipment. It's crammed full of clear bins that contain skates, socks, gloves, pants, shoulder pads, and jerseys. Fiberglass sticks take up a whole shelf as do the oversized bags."Holy crap, it's like a hockey store in her
STay Chapter 23: Cassidy
##Chapter 23: CassidyBook One: StayMy father has always been blunt, and he cuts right to the heart of the matter as he stabs a finger at me. "That's no longer your equipment to take. You forfeited it when you got kicked off the team and flunked out of college."The razor-sharp comments leave me wincing, but I keep my face an emotionless mask. I'll be damned if he sees how much his words and attitude are still able to inflict damage. Sometimes it's difficult to believe we were ever close. I'm his eldest and the only daughter who followed him into hockey. He used to be so proud of me and my accomplishments.Both on and off the ice.Miranda and Lexie had refused from the beginning to take skating lessons. He didn't bother trying to get them to play hockey. I, on the other hand, had loved it from the very first lesson. Sometimes I wonder if the reason I'd loved it so much was because we were the only two who shared it. Hockey was a bond that neither my mom nor my sisters could penetrate
STay Chapter 24: Cassidy
##Chapter 24: CassidyBook One: Stay"What's up with your hockey hottie?"Ever willing to force her nose where it doesn't belong, Brooklyn swipes some bright red lipstick on before shoving a finger into her mouth and dragging it out again.My brows slide together as I watch her. "Maybe you'd like to be alone right now?"She rolls her eyes before giving me a you're so clueless look. Since it's nothing out of the ordinary, I'm not offended by it."That's how you remove excess lipstick from the inside of your lips, so it doesn't end up on your teeth." She bares her sparkling white teeth in the mirror to make sure they pass inspection."Huh." Impressed with that beauty tip, I tilt my head. "Neat trick."She winks before brushing out her thick blonde mane. Normally, Brooklyn leaves her hair loose so it can flow freely down her back because guys go crazy for her long glossy strands. They love it in a way that makes them want to wrap it around their fist and yank her head back (Brooklyn's wor
STay Chapter 25: Cole
##Chapter 25: ColeBook One: Stay"Hi sweetie," Mom calls out a greeting as I walk through the front door.I pause, flooded with memories of what it felt like to walk into Cassidy's house. The tone and feel of our houses couldn't be more different. Even with no one there to greet us, the vibe had felt strangely tense."Hey, Mom."Even though I'm nearly twenty, she wraps her arms around me and pulls me in for a hug. Other guys might fight the intimacy or grumble under their breaths, but I don't.Honestly, I don't give a shit what anyone else thinks.I know what it feels like to lose a parent.So, if the woman wants to give me a hug every once in a while, I'm cool with it.My mind tumbles back to Cassidy and her father. The stilted awkwardness of their interaction had felt like a suffocating blanket. Even though part of me hadn't wanted to leave her with him, it had been a relief to get the hell out of there.His demeanor had been so cold and distant.Angry.I'm still trying to figure ou
STay Chapter 26: Cole
##Chapter 26: ColeBook One: StayI clear my throat and glance away, attempting to downplay the situation. "It's just a girl I've been seeing."One brow arches. "I didn't even know you were involved with someone."I jerk my shoulders.Aw, hell.When I remain silent, she continues. "I take it there's a problem with this girl?"I'm not even sure how to answer that question. For the life of me, I can't figure her out. All I know is that I want to crack the Cassidy code. It's just going to take some time to do it.After mulling it over, I say, "She's a very private person.""Umm hmm. Go on."I almost groan.Not the go on.I seriously hate the go on.It feels like I'm reliving my middle and high school years all over again with things like open communication and dialogue, and, god help me, resolution.It's time to downplay the Cassidy situation before it spirals further out of control."It's just really new." I shrug, striving for nonchalant. "It might not even work out."Sometimes I wonder
STay Chapter 27: Cassidy
##Chapter 27: CassidyBook One: Stay Meet me downstairs ASAP with your hockey bag.I stare at the phone in my hand before typing out a response.Are you serious?Just do it.Bossy much?The eye roll emoji pops up on the screen.Fine. I'll be down in 5.I grab my hockey bag from the closet and throw on a navy jacket before heading out the door. Once out on the sidewalk, I find Cole's Mustang idling at the curb in front of the dorm. When he sees me, he pops open the trunk before hopping out of the vehicle as I jog over.He gives me a quick kiss on the lips. Before I can register the gesture, he pulls away, looking strangely hesitant."Ready to go?""Yeah. Why are we heading to the ice rink at nine in the morning?"His expression becomes shuttered, as he holds open the door for me. "You'll see."With our gazes locked, he hunkers down, grabbing the seatbelt before pulling it across my chest and clicking it into place.My brows slide together as I study him. Even though he kissed me in gre
STay Chapter 28: Cassidy
##Chapter 28: CassidyBook One: StayI don't hear from Cole for the rest of the weekend. By Sunday night, I finally break down and shoot him a text. He answers it, but like the car ride to the rink, the distance is palpable. And because I'm unwilling to put myself out there, I don't bother to contact him again. It only confuses me more as to what we are to one another, if anything.I thought for sure he'd be waiting outside the dorms early Monday morning for our usual run, but I failed to see the text he sent late Sunday night saying he wouldn't be able to make it. So, I ran by myself. Instead of being an easy and relaxing job, it just felt lonely.He's pulling away.I can feel it happening.Even if I wanted to fix what's wrong, I wouldn't know how.When he doesn't show for Psychology later that morning, I begin to wonder if something is really wrong with him. For ten solid minutes, I debate the merits of shooting him another text when someone in a back row barks out a laugh. As I swin
STay Chapter 29: Cassidy
##Chapter 29: CassidyBook One: StayThat's a plot twist I did not see coming.Another burst of laughter follows. "Yeah, we're cousins. Our moms are sisters." "Oh." There are so many thoughts crashing through my head."You thought we were something more, huh?"The question is asked slyly, as if she didn't know exactly what I'd been thinking. The smile curving her lips, however, tells a different story."No, I didn't." Of course, I'd thought they were something more. They look ridiculously cute together. She snorts before raising a brow. "Are you sure?" Her voice brims with undisguised humor. The girl is practically chortling.It's not a good look."Okay," I finally reply through stiff lips, "maybe I thought you two had something going on.""You could have just asked him." This time, when her gaze darts to mine, I don't think about the road in front of us. "Or me." I shake my head and focus on the darkness flying past the car. "Maybe I should have."Questioning Cole would have ma
Latest chapter
