I haven’t slept. I spent all night next to Cole.Just a broken arm. A concussion. Nothing major.But without Kingston, it could have been worse.After the 7th time of me thanking him, he told me it’s okay and he understands.They left around 2am. After Dam and Tate arrived.Tate looked adorable in her little pink pyjama set and Mr. Cuddles in hand. Damien looked sleep deprived and angry.I was the same up until Miles told me what he did and Kingston told he how he did it.Drunk dancing on a table. Really. Cole. Really.“Em, you should go home. Get some sleep and a shower. Come back when he is getting discharged and will spend the day with the four of us.” Damien whispers in my ear, to not wake Tate or Cole up.“But-” I go to speak.“Go home, Emmy. I texted Miles to pick you up. He’ll be here in 5. Ok, if something happens I’ll ring you.” He responds, not taking no for an answer.I get up kiss Tate on the forehead, squeeze Cole’s hand which I haven’t let go of since I graspe

It’s Sunday, meaning the boys and I hang out at home watching NHL replays, drinking some beer and eating some pizza. A lot of it. We are 5 growing men. We go through one each easy.We’re on the second game of the day. We never agree on movies or shows. So the ice hockey is a save bet to watch. Dillon sits on the floor in front of our long grey couch, Miles is in the corner looking uninterested. Cole is sitting next to me and Austen is asleep on the other side of me. I turn to Cole “How you feeling after yesterday?” Referring to his concussion and wrist.“Not to bad. Em was worried. I hate doing that do her. Coach ripped into me. But wrist should heal quickly. No practice for me for a bit. Em was pissed, but she hasn’t spoken to me since yesterday and Damien already yelled at me at how it would affect Em and why I can’t do it again. I swear he will put an ankle monitor on me, if I play up again. He texted Miles to make sure I don’t drink.” He spills out to me.“Yeah Emerson was re

She turned me down. She actually said no. That was not how I thought it would go. Well it wasn’t exactly a no. It was a brush off. Not a friend zone either. And I did notice the sign of hesitation and the nudge she got from Addison.But Professor Hadley and my no show of a partner are to thank because now I have a reason to see Emerson. I search for my phone whilst at my desk. It has to be somewhere. Nope not under there. Fuck where did I leave this time. “Hey man, I found your… what the fuck are you looking for?” Austen bursts into my room.“My phone” I turn responding, seeing him holding it up.“What this, an email that your partner is Emerson. How you going to tell Cole that one?”“One I didn’t decide the partners and two how the fuck do you know my password. Also give me my fucking phone.”“No and your password is the last year the Bruins won the Stanley Cup not hard to guess. You basically lived in that jersey as a kid.”“Asshole”“Yeah that’s the only way I like it.

It was a tough game last night we lost 3-2. We fought hard but it wasn’t enough.Practice was going to be extra gruelling this week.Coach always makes us work harder after a loss. Not that I blame him.It also sucks that it was a home game. And Em came and stayed watched it all.Somehow, between now and then we all agreed to a games night.That is hosted at our place. All the guys are here along with the girls.But my eyes are trained on one brunette.In her light pink sweatpants and cropped white long sleeve she looks fire.It’s a simple outfit.But damn this girl takes simple and makes it something fucking special.The girls showed up with the goods though. Beer. Wine. Snacks. And all the games.Monopoly. Uno. Scrabble. Cluedo.Dillon is dealing out a round of UNO. When I notice Austen reach over to grab Josie’s hand. Why the fuck? Oh shit? That’s who he’s been taking on dates and has been writing all those little notes for? Josie, the best friend of the girl I’m

A familiar warmth encloses my back. Cole. He pulls me into his lap. I’ve been silently crying for hours now. “Shhh Em. It’s alright.” I gaze up and he’s there. Kingston came with Cole. “How did you find me?” I ask in a very hoarse tone from all the crying. “Emmy I will always find you.” I reach out to grab onto Kingston’s hand. He takes it and squeezes. These two boys right here found me. They knew I was missing and they found me. I didn’t show up at class that’s probably how Kingston knew I was missing. “Are you ok, Em?” he looks down and says. “Yeah I am. I woke up after a nightmare and wasn’t going back to sleep. So I came to only place I knew they’d listen.” “Em, don’t do that again. You can’t run away and not tell anyone. We all care about you and are here for you, right here. We aren’t going anywhere. I’m going to let Damien know you’re ok before he calls a freaking search party, alright.”Cole says standing giving my shoulder a little s