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Chapter 69: Cassidy
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##Chapter 70: CassidyBook Two: Don't LeaveHe's playing with a lot more aggression than normal. Over the past few months, I've learned that Cole is a smart player who understands the fundamentals of the game. He hits when it's necessary and advantageous for the team. And his hits are always clean and legal. He's not one to draw a penalty for being a cheap shot.Just as I think that, Cole slams into one of the other team's forwards. The sheer force of his hit sends them both crashing into the boards. The crowd winces at the reverberation that ripples throughout the chilly arena. I freeze and watch as the other player drops to the ice.It's not a surprise when Cole receives a penalty for roughing.To make matters worse, he argues with the ref as he skates over to the penalty box before throwing himself inside. After he slumps onto the bench, one of his coaches rips him a new one.Stunned, I watch with wide eyes as the older man's arms cut through the air.Brooklyn leans toward m
STay Chapter 71: Cassidy
##Chapter 71: CassidyBook Two: Don't LeaveI suck in a deep breath as my thumb hovers over the screen of my phone.I'm scared.Scared to see him.Scared to hear what he has to say.But I know he's right. We need to talk about what's going on between us.OkTwo letters.That's all I'm capable of typing before I hit send. Even though our dorm room is tiny, I pace as I wait. It only takes a few minutes before there's a soft knock on the door. I grab the handle and open it to find Cole standing on the other side of the threshold."Hi." Barely can I force out the greeting. Already, everything feels different between us.He jerks his head as his whiskey-colored eyes collide with mine.As they do, I realize with a sinking heart that whatever is happening between us is much worse than I originally suspected. Cole's hands are shoved into the front pockets of his jeans. He's wearing a Western Timber Wolves sweatshirt with the hood pulled up over his head. His mouth is a tight slash acr
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##Chapter 72: CassidyBook Two: Don't Leave"Cass, I know you're hurting, but you have to snap out of it." Brooklyn shoots me a concerned glance as we walk across campus before adding, "You're beginning to scare me."Snap out of it.If only I could.If only it were that easy.It feels like I've been sleepwalking through a dense fog for the past ten days. Other than breaking up with Cole, I don't think I could tell you what else happened. And everything in my life has suffered because of it.I keep telling myself that I need to pull it together. There is no way I can fail out of school for a second time. Especially when I'm starting to make progress with my parents. Meeting with both of them last week and having everything go smoothly was the only bright spot in an otherwise crappy week.If I'd held out a tiny scrap of hope that this breakup with Cole would blow over, that hope has been fully extinguished. I've barely seen him. There hasn't been one single text or call exchanged
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##Chapter 73: CassidyBook Two: Don't Leave"Hi, Cassidy," he murmurs.His gaze holds mine captive for a heartbeat. Before I'm able to think of a way to extend the conversation, the moment ends and I realize other students are piling up behind us, waiting to enter the lecture hall.He holds open the door as I continue staring up at him like a lovesick puppy. My fingers itch to plow their way through his tousled strands. Instead, I tighten my hand so I won't be tempted to reach out and touch him the way I want to.I've missed him so much more than I realized.It's almost painful to be this close to him. To have his masculine scent slyly wrapping its way around me.It takes effort to shake myself out of the trance that has fallen over me as I force myself to break eye contact and step over the threshold. "Thank you.""No problem."As I walk down the thinly-carpeted steps, I feel him shadow my movements. A tiny spark of hope flares to life within me. Is it possible that he'll sit
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##Chapter 74: CassidyBook Two: Don't LeaveEven though I've arrived early for my lunch with Cole, I couldn't be more aware of Luke's presence beside me. It doesn't escape me that his friendship is the reason Cole pulled away in the first place. The last thing I want to do is exacerbate the situation by being seen with him.From beneath my lashes, I glance around the open space but don't see Cole anywhere.As much as it makes me feel like a crappy friend, I want this lunch to go smoothly.I pause.When he does the same, I say, "If you don't mind, I'm going to wait for Cole alone.""Sure." His lips curve into a smile as he leans over and presses a kiss against my cheek. "Text me later and let me know how it goes."Grateful for his understanding, I beam. This is the first time since Cole walked out of my dorm room that I've allowed myself to be hopeful that we could hash out our issues."I will."After we say our goodbyes, he disappears, getting swallowed up by the thick crowd. The
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##Chapter 75: ColeBook Two: Don't LeaveWell shit.With my brows pinched together, I watch as Cassidy races from the Union like the hounds of hell are nipping at her heels.In my head, I saw this lunch working out differently.I blow out a frustrated breath and turn my attention back to Vanessa and Andrea before glaring at them. "Seriously, what did you do that for?"They both collapse into a fit of giggles. "It's so fun screwing with these girls who want to get a great big taste of Cole."I roll my eyes. "Yeah, well, I was kind of hoping to smooth things over with that particular girl. Up until about a week ago, I was seeing her."Vanessa's eyes widen. "Then maybe you should have said something, instead of letting me paw you in front of her."Andrea links an arm through her friend's and takes up Vanessa's side. "Yeah, Cole. We thought she was one of those silly groupies who are constantly throwing themselves at you. Usually, you're more than happy when we intervene."She's ri
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##Chapter 76: CassidyBook Two: Don't LeaveThe ice is the only place where I can lose myself. I pass the puck to one of my wingers and fall back to guard our goal. The last thing I want to think about is how my relationship with Cole has gone up in a burst of flames.How is it possible that almost a month ago, I couldn't imagine us being apart?And now-A hard hit from the left knocks me off my skates. I crash onto the ice and roll to my back. Even with all my padded protection, it hurts like hell. My eyes water as I fight to find my breath. I haven't taken a hit like that in years. It feels like the very life has been knocked from my body.I open my eyes and stare up into Sammy's narrowed blue ones.What the fuck!I can't believe she trucked into me like that!When I'm finally able to suck enough oxygen into my lungs, it still takes a few moments before I can grit out the question. "What the hell, Sammy?"She shrugs her broad shoulders, which look even more massive underneath
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##Chapter 77: CassidyBook Two: Don't LeaveThe week leading up to Thanksgiving break flies by at breakneck speed. There are papers to write, tests to study for, hours spent at the tutoring center, and hockey practice to work myself over in so I can fall into a dead sleep at the end of the day and not spend more time stewing over Cole.Does it work?Not really.I've arrived at the painful conclusion that I screwed up the best relationship I've ever had.After my late-night dinner with Sammy, I decided to take a giant step back from the situation and focus on the reason I'm at Western in the first place.Academics.I'm pouring all my time and energy into my courses, and trying hard not to dwell on Cole or Luke. Until I decided to pull back and get clarity, I hadn't realized how much everything was spiraling out of control.I think Dr. Thompson would be proud of me for doing what's best for myself and seizing control of my life again. I miss her insightful comments and conversations.
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