Chapter 32
Jack
I’d normally be excited about spending nearly a whole month at home with Momma, but for the first time, it feels bittersweet because being in Texas means leaving Alondra.
The thought of not being in the same room as her for that long makes my stomach twist into knots that only Alondra’s capable of untangling.
“So guess what?” I ask Alondra as we walk out of the library.
“What?” she asks, taking a sip of her coffee, shivering when the wind hits us. “It’s too fucking cold,” Al hisses under her breath.
“So we went to Twin City last night while you were with Macy, and I’m playing darts with Coop when this girl comes up to me.
She’s waving her arms around, spouting some shit about how I told her she was stunning and some angel from heaven, but then I ghosted her.
I’m trying to figure out what the hell is going on because I’ve never spoken to her before.
Then I hear Ellie laughing from the other side of her brother,” I say, laughing for a moment, and the look Al gives me says Ellie hasn’t told her what happened yet.
“Then, I connected the dots that she was one of the poor girls you were messaging from your brilliant idea to sign me up for a dating app.”
Al gasps, covering her mouth to hide her laughter, but the twinkle in her hazel eyes makes me want to do anything to keep it there. “You never did go on any dates. We picked out some really nice girls,” she muses, struggling to compose herself.
I shake my head because it doesn’t matter how nice they are—none of them are the girl next to me.
“I’m sure you did, but I won rock paper scissors, which is why I never went on any. You deleted the profile, right?” I ask, and she nods.
“Your girls were blowing up my phone once I stopped responding.”
I shake my head, chuckling under my breath as I wrap an arm over Al’s shoulder. “They’re not my girls.”
What I want to say is you’re my girl, but I don’t. Why can I say stupid shit so easily, but anything meaningful is so hard?
She bumps me with her hip. “Right. How could I forget you don’t want any girls?” Alondra says, her voice laced with sarcasm. I want to correct her, but I don’t. I’m still not where I want to be, but Al already has everything I have to offer her, even if she doesn’t know it. “So what happened next?”
“I told her she must’ve mistaken me for someone else until she showed me screenshots of my profile. Then, I had to explain how one of my friends thought I needed a girlfriend, so she signed me up and pretended to be me.”
Alondra turns her head to look up at me, her nose and cheeks bright red from the wind. “Must be a pretty great friend you have.”
“The best,” I reply, smiling at her. I know Al did the whole dating app thing because she wanted me to be happy, but I am happy. She makes me happy.
“Well, that best friend has another class to get to, so she can get her degree,” she says, slipping out from under my arm, but I catch her hand, pulling her back into me, careful of the coffee in her hand. Al laughs, the corners of her eyes crinkling. “Jack, I really do have to go.”
I tug at her hat, pulling it further down onto her head. “I know, I just wanted to get another look at you.”
Her face softens and she smiles at me. “Fine, you got another look, but I have to go.”
I don’t want her to go. I like seeing Al smile, especially when it’s at me. I like making her laugh. I like being with her. She tries to pull away from me, but I’m not ready yet. “Wait, just . . . wait.”
“What?” she asks, tilting her head.
“Do you have any plans for winter break?”
“Huh?”
I lick my lips quickly, trying to decide if this is the right decision. I’ve already been going back and forth about asking her since we got back from Thanksgiving, but if I think about it anymore, then I’ll chicken out. Truthfully, I don’t think I can make it a whole month without seeing her.
“Come to Texas with me.”
She blinks, staring at me for a moment, her jaw dropping. “What?”
“I want you to come to Texas. Momma would love to see you again, and I could take you to see the ranch I work at in the summers. I’ll show you anything you want, but I just want you there .
. . with me,” I say, rambling because I’m so fucking nervous.
I can’t believe I actually said it. “Please think about it?”
I take it a step further, leaning down to kiss her cheek.
Alondra’s still staring at me when I step back, and I think I might’ve broken her. She exhales a deep breath, her eyes scanning over my face. “Okay,” she says.
My heart leaps to my throat, and I try not to think about what it means. “Okay, as in you’ll come, or okay, you heard what I said?”
“You’re crazy,” she says, her curls twirling around her with the subtle shake of her head.
“Never said I wasn’t.”
“If I can find something reasonably priced, I’ll consider going, but are you sure you even want me there? I know how much you look forward to time with your mom.”
If anything, the fact Al’s taking my time with Momma into consideration, makes me more certain I want her there.
“I want you there,” I say without hesitation, but this time, I don’t kiss her cheek. I lean down, kissing Alondra deeply because I don’t give a flying fuck who sees.
I’ve honestly never enjoyed kissing someone as much as I enjoy kissing Alondra. And sex? My god, I can’t keep my hands off her. My back is scratched to hell, but it’s a small price to pay to have Al moaning underneath me.
I can’t get enough of everything with Alondra.
She smiles against my lips, pulling away before rising up on her tiptoes to kiss me briefly once more. “I really do have to go now, but we’ll talk more about this later.”
This time I let her walk away, but I really prefer to see Al walk toward me.
I shake my head, trying to shake my nerves because I already asked her, and at least Alondra didn’t immediately say no. I pivot, turning toward the end of campus the barn is at. I left my truck in the parking lot of the rink this morning, knowing I’d be back to meet up with Johnny and Coop.
Coach talked to me this morning about potentially moving Johnny onto a different line to give him more playing time, and I want to see him use the skills we’ve been working on against Coop, who is arguably one of the best goalies in college hockey.
I might not like who the kid associates with, but I can’t deny he has the potential to be a good player.
After changing into my gear, I grab all the shit I think we’ll need and head out to the ice, but I catch a glimpse of Al’s bag, unable to keep from smiling.
Johnny’s already out on the ice with another bulky figure, looking as unsteady as a baby deer taking their first steps.
I don’t bother hiding my laugh when I glide onto the ice, getting ready to go through my usual warm up routine as Johnny’s buddy falls flat on his ass.
“Richards, c’mon, man. Stop fucking around, you need to warm up before Coop gets here,” I call out, moving closer to them.
My smile fades as I realize who his friend is, and Johnny’s wise to look uneasy. “I will in a second, I just have to get Bradley off the ice.”
“What the hell is he doing here?” I ask, refusing to take my eyes off Alondra’s ex.
He has the nerve to smile at me, and I clench my jaw. God, I want to hit him, but it’d make me no better than him. I won’t let Bradley bait me, but this place is my sanctuary. He doesn’t get to be here.
“I thought it was fine since you’ve had people out here. He just wanted to learn to impress his girlfriend who likes to skate,” Johnny stammers, and the fact that Bradley’s now here, when he’s the reason Alondra quit skating, makes my vision turn red.
“Get him out of here, and don’t bring him back,” I scold, struggling to maintain my grip on my temper, and Bradley puts his hands up, feigning innocence.
“Sorry, Jack, I didn’t mean to cause any problems for Johnny. I just wanted to show Alondra how much she means to me by learning to skate.”
“Dude, let’s just go,” Johnny says, trying to pull him along.
Hearing him say her name after everything he’s put her through nearly sends me over the edge. Al can’t know he was here. I know she’s doing her best to keep him from controlling her life, but this is her safe place too.
“You ever go near Al again, and I’ll make sure everyone knows what a fucking piece of shit you are.” My voice is shaking with anger. I need to walk away before I do something I’ll regret.
Bradley shakes his head, a twisted smile forming.
“Actually, you can’t. There’s no proof of anything she told you because nothing happened.
Alondra must be afraid to tell you how she really likes it in bed.
A little roughness never hurt anyone, but she couldn’t get enough of it,” he says, winking at me, and Johnny’s jaw drops, as if finally understanding what a piece of shit his friend is.
The thread of patience I’m clinging to snaps as I connect the dots. I lunge forward, but I’m knocked to the side by Coop, who comes flying out of nowhere, preventing me from making contact with Bradley.
“Jack, you can’t throw the first punch. He’s not worth it,” Coop warns, blocking my path as I rip my gloves off, dropping them on the ice.
“Did you hear what he just fucking said about her?”
Coop grips my shoulders tightly while I struggle against him. “I know. I heard him, but she wouldn’t want you to get in trouble over him.”
But then Bradley opens his mouth one last time. “You might think you’re better than me, but I know who you really are, Schultz, and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
I freeze, and Johnny drags his pathetic ass off the ice. I see Coop in front of me, and I know he’s talking because his mouth is moving, but my ears are ringing, an icy chill seeping into my bones.
“911, what’s your emergency?”