Chapter 15
Fifteen
Karaoke Crew Chat
Symone
Yo… I left Shay off this chat.
Symone
Our girl needs a night out. No hospital, no basketball court. I know it’s earlier in the year than we normally start karaoke, but I already talked to Berkley, and her boss is totally good with setting it up for us. Y’all down to go tonight?
Bellamy
Always down for a random Wednesday karaoke night...I’ll be there with bells on.
Bellamy
No pun intended
Darby
You already know I’m in there like swimwear.
Me
I’d never stand my duet partner up! See y’all tonight.
Symone
Is Willow in town yet?
Bellamy
No… she got all moved in but then went to spend another week back home with her dad.
Darby
Boo!
Symone
Well, tell her we expect her at the next karaoke night.
After practice, I had time to run over and see Joey, and I was so relieved.
He was grinning from ear to ear when I walked through the door.
His pain is well managed, and even though he has a long road of recovery ahead, he was in good spirits, especially since he’s getting to go home this evening.
His case manager set them up with physical and occupational therapy coming to his house almost daily for the first few weeks, knowing that he’d do better mentally at home versus a rehab facility.
I know how stressed all this has Shay, as I’m sure Symone does, which is why she planned her a night full of mindless fun. And selfishly for me, I’m glad it’s Jordan-free fun.
I’ve had to bite my tongue again over the weekend, not wanting to piss her off on top of everything, but I could’ve pummeled Jordan when I realized she drove to that hospital by herself.
I even made excuses for him in my mind; maybe he had a few drinks that evening, so he didn’t want to drive her, but when we woke up in the middle of the night, still sitting in the waiting room, and there was no sign of Jordan, I knew damn well he made the decision not to choose her, not to be there for her or her family. And that pissed me the fuck off.
One day, I’m not going to be able to keep my mouth shut when it comes to him. I have over the years. I’ve told myself it’s not my place, and I know I have my own internal beef with him, but all these revelations lately go way past that.
I push those thoughts aside, not wanting them to be at the forefront when I see Shay, because I know I’ll have a harder time keeping them to myself.
My phone buzzes in my hand, and the name on the screen has me instantly smiling.
Peyton
What you up to?
Hesitating for a moment before I respond.
At the end of the day, while yes, my feelings for Shay are much more than just friends, we are only friends, and I have to remind myself of that.
I may not love it, especially with how Jordan’s treated her lately, but she also has a boyfriend…
who isn’t me. So why can’t I invite my friend?
My friend who I really enjoyed kissing the other night.
Me
I’m meeting up with some friends at The Wolfpack for karaoke night.
Peyton
Ahh the famous karaoke night.
Me
You should stop by. I’ll try not to embarrass myself while you are there.
Peyton
I just might do that.
A mixture of anxiety and excitement churns in my stomach.
Peyton
The melody to “You Look Like You Love Me” by Riley Green and Ella Langley hums through the air. I immediately recognize the male voice as Maverick’s and realize the girls were in fact not joking about him being able to sing.
A big smile takes over my face as I picture him on the stage, singing this song to a crowd of excited fans.
So, the guy can handle a hockey puck. Ride a horse. Sing like the next American Idol. And he can kiss.
I’m pretty sure, I’m convinced he can do it all.
My smile fades when I round the corner and find him on the stage. But not alone.
Smile wide. Eyes locked. Singing to Shay, who also has a microphone in her hand.
Shay Moore is one of the prettiest women I’ve ever seen. Long blonde hair in loose curls, strong and lean but curvy body, and always dressed in the perfect casual but stylish outfits.
She also happens to be one of the best point guards in the nation and a genuinely nice person. In my sophomore year, she wrote an email to our editor, commending my write-ups of the winter sports that season.
She has a boyfriend, and I know he’s good friends with her and her brother. But I also don’t want to be the stupid girl who plays stupid games, and I’ve known since before I ever got close to Maverick that his eyes always lingered on Shay for a little longer than they should.
He pulls her into a hug that almost has me convinced I should leave now. After that kiss the other night, I knew I was in uncharted territory with my feelings for this man. A hockey player, a jock, the exact person I said I’d never date, no matter how much I love sports.
Sports are in my DNA, but it was that same DNA that taught me not to trust a professional athlete or a soon-to-be one.
But then came Maverick Leblanc. The funny, lighthearted, caring, and loyal guy who I know would never treat his loved ones the way my father did.
And I still believe that, but it doesn’t mean he can’t hurt me. Especially if I let him, whether he intends to or not.
The song changes, and Shay takes one final bow before leaving Maverick on the stage.
“Opps I Did It Again” by Britney Spears comes on next, and the crowd goes wild. That’s when I notice Bellamy and Berkley sitting on the other side of the basketball girls.
The silly grin on his face has all the memories from this summer flooding back, and I remind myself he is the one who invited me here tonight.
After the kiss we shared at his house, I was worried he’d shy away but, thankfully, he hasn’t at all.
I’ve realized that those fears were fueled by my years of self-doubt.
So, I decide to make my way over to Bellamy and Berkley, not taking my eyes off the hilarious performance Maverick is putting on.
He spots me right before I sit beside the girls, giving me a big smile and pointing in my direction as he goes full-on Britney.
I give him a shy wave as the girls realize I’m standing there and scoot their chairs over, both pulling me in for a hug.
“Coming to see this riot?” Bellamy smirks, nodding in Maverick’s direction.
“Had to witness the famous karaoke night for myself.”
“Well, whatcha think?” She waggles her eyebrows.
“I have to admit, I’m impressed. I do think he needs to dress the part, though.” I laugh, and Bellamy gives me a pointed look. “Don’t tempt that boy with a good time. I guarantee he’d do it.”
We all watch as Maverick finishes his routine, the crowd goes nuts as he bows, and there’s no doubt this will be on social media by the end of the night.
When he comes off the stage, he makes his way straight to me, easing some of the anxiety I was feeling earlier.
“So glad you made it,” he beams at me, high-fiving Bellamy and Berkley, who are now in a discussion about what song they should sing.
“Me too. Honestly, I didn’t think you could actually sing.”
He laughs at that. “The verdict is still out, but I can carry a tune, at least. And these girls think they’re funny picking my songs for me.”
I wonder who picked the song he sang with Shay.
“How was your day?” he asks, taking a seat beside me, which makes it so I don’t have to face the basketball team. Not that any of them have ever been anything but nice to me, but for some reason, I don’t want to see the look on Shay’s face right now.
“It was good… I got some work done for the Howler Report in preparation for the beginning of semester shenanigans.”
“Can’t believe summer classes are over and we only have a couple of weeks before the fall semester starts.”
“Me neither.”
“Next semester won’t be the same without my new partner in crime.” He gently nudges his arm into mine.
“I know, but you’ll be too busy with hockey to miss me.”
His eyebrows pull together. “Well, I still plan to see you.”
I smile, a blush creeping onto my face at that. “Good,” is all I manage to say.
“Want something to drink?”
“Sure.” I eye Bellamy’s mixed drink, nodding toward her. “Whatever she’s drinking.”
He kisses me on the top of my head before flashing his signature smirk and heading to the bar.
A rush of excitement runs through me… That’s the first time he’s done something like that in public.
Maybe I am overthinking the whole Shay situation, and they truly are just friends.
Shay
She’s here.
She’s here for him.
My stomach is in knots as I watch the way he smiles at her.
I know I’m being incredibly selfish, but this is our thing. Did he invite her?
“Stop staring.” Symone nudges me.
My eyes snap to hers, and I see pity reflected back at me.
“Oh my gosh, you’ve finally realized it, haven’t you?”
“Yes, that she’s here with him.” My heart pounds harder than when I’ve run up and down the court on back-to-back fast breaks.
“Well, not that, but yeah, babe, I think she is,” she whispers, and her tone softens with her honesty. “But that’s not what I meant… You’ve finally realized he’s your person, haven’t you?”
Emotion clogs my throat at the reality of this whole situation.
I nod. “But I’m too late. I’ve never seen him like this with anyone. And before you assume, that’s not what woke me up from the delusion I’ve been living.”
She smiles gently. “I know, babe. Once you opened up about Jordan the other day at the hospital, I knew it was only a matter of time before it all hit you,” Symone says, referring to her visit with Joey and me word-vomiting my frustration with all things Jordan on our walk to the cafeteria.
This is so fucked. I don’t want to feel this way.
Peyton’s a super sweet girl; she’s supportive of all athletes, and even though she keeps the Howler funny, I’ve also read her reports after our games, and she knows her stuff.
She’s always there supporting us female athletes, which means a lot, since we usually get the short end of the stick.
“What do I do, Sy?” I plead with my best friend.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I know your heart, and I know you’re thinking of her too, but at the end of the day, I’ve seen how he looks at you for the past three years.
If you’re meant to be, which I think you are, it’ll work itself out.
But in my opinion, you should tell him before things get more serious, because if he feels the way I think he does about you, you’d be doing Peyton a favor.
I know Mav wouldn’t intentionally hurt her, but sometimes, the heart wants what it wants, and someone’s always going to get hurt in these situations. ”
Maybe it's the two mixed drinks I’ve had, but I pretend to slam my forehead against the bar table.
“Thank God, my timing is better on the basketball court.” I let out a sardonic laugh. “I don’t even know how to act right now.” I tug on my long blonde hair.
She nods to my mixed drink. “I think another one of those would help.”
And out of nowhere, Bellamy is beside me, asking if I want another round from the bar.
“Hell yes, good timing,”
She eyes me suspiciously, her gaze briefly flitting back to her stepbrother. “I thought so,” is all Bellamy says before she’s gone in the direction of the bar.
Two more drinks, and an hour of self-pity later, Maverick makes his way over to me and a few of my teammates.
I take a second to admire him as he walks.
He’s so freaking big. And I love it since he towers over my tall frame.
It’s not just his height, but his whole body.
If I were his opponent, I’d hate to see him coming.
A smile spreads across his face when he sees me looking, and even though I’m unreasonably jealous right now, my core clenches in response.
“You having fun, Little Moore?” he asks.
“Not as much fun as you, Beauty,” I say back, my tone sassier than I intended.
He laughs awkwardly. “I wanted to tell you bye. I’m going to head out. Symone said she was having a sleepover with you at your place, so she and Darby would be walking back with you.”
“Are you walking Peyton home?”
Did I really just ask him that?
“Well, kinda. She actually lives upstairs here, so I’ll make sure she makes it to her door, but I need to get home. We start two-a-days tomorrow.”
I swallow past a lump in my throat. “Cool.”
“You good?” he asks, his eyes bouncing between my own.
It’s then that it hits me how selfish I’m being to my friend, my friend who’s watched from the sidelines the past three years as I’ve dated someone who wasn’t him.
I force a smile. “Yes, tonight’s been nice. Thank you for everything this week with Joey.”
He smiles at the mention of my brother. “You know I’m always here for you both. At the drop of a dime.”
“The drop of a dime, huh?” My chest warms, as it always does with him.
He chuckles. “Yeah, that was some Cal Leblanc shit there. You know, they say we turn into our parents one day.”
That thought makes me laugh. “Great, I’ll be giving my daughter’s number out to hot strangers one day, then.”
A shit-eating grin covers his lips. “So the point guard does think I’m hot, huh?”
“Oh, shut up, Beauty.”
He gently taps my chin with his thumb, and I can smell the cinnamon on his hands. “Be good, and text me when you get home.”
Suddenly, I’m craving the taste of cinnamon on my lips, having the overwhelming urge to follow him and make sure no one else gets to.
Instead, I give him a wink and turn back toward my friends, unable to watch him leave with her.