21. Eden
EDEN
TWO DAYS AGO, LATE IN THE WAVES GAME
UGH, a dinner date invite from Jake? I put away my phone, needing to consider my options. He’s perfectly nice, but there’s no sizzle. No goose bumps.
Maybe there would be if you spent more time with him, though?
I hate situations like this. I don’t want to lead him on…but who knows what could happen? I don’t want to make the wrong choice.
In the meantime, Connor’s weird for the last part of the game. Standoffish? Maybe that’s not the right word because it also seems like he lost his confidence.
Either way, it’s back to hot-and-cold Connor. Story of our dynamic since the meeting with Milo.
I can’t read his mind, and he’s not communicating whatever is causing him to switch up his moods. It’s irritating. I know he has to keep a boundary between us because of his job, but he can at least stay even-keeled? Friendly?
Friendly isn’t what you want, though. What either of you want it appears.
Hushing the voice in my mind—there’s no point to thoughts like that—I’m relieved to see Bree in our living room when I get home. I really need to talk to her about all of this.
“Thank God you’re home because—”
I’m interrupted by the flush of he toilet and in walks Alondra from the bathroom. She must be here to hang out with Bree.
“Hey Cap, how’s it going?”
“Hey there, what are you two up to?”
“We’re finishing up some reading for our Black American Literature class, and then we’re going to watch a Passion Peninsula episode.”
“Wild swing in topics there,” I tease, and they giggle.
I guess no chat with Bree is happening now. I’m uncomfortable talking about either Connor or Jake in front of anyone else. Especially not someone on the team, showing my indecisiveness when I’m supposed to be the leader.
I join them for the Passion Peninsula episode, and it’s ridiculously on-point for my own situation. A woman named Kyra has to choose between a safe, sweet guy, Jason, and a mysterious, broody guy, Tanner. During the recoupling, she has us on our toes.
“I am choosing the person who makes me feel deeply, who keeps me thinking, who makes me tingle, and who I find very sexy. I can’t wait to get to know him better. I choose Tanner.”
“Oh man,” says Bree. “But I get it. He’s hot as shit, and Jason would be too nice for her.”
Never mind that they’ve only been on the peninsula three days, so who the heck really knows—but okay, universe, I get the memo.
I bring out my phone and tap out a reply to Jake.
EDEN: Hi, I’ll definitely stop by Hockey House with some of the team! But I’m not able to get dinner. I’m sorry.
I deliberately leave off the suggestion of “maybe another time” or anything else that would lead him on. To his credit, he doesn’t push.
JAKE: No worries.
Sigh. Decision made.
The next few days are consumed by school and soccer, keeping me too busy to dwell too much on my love life. Helpfully, when I see Jake in class, he’s chill. Even-keeled. He doesn’t seem thrown by the fact I declined the dinner, which is nice.
Too bad he’s not what I want.
Thursday brings another game, again at home. We end up in a draw, 1–1, which is our first non-victory, but at least it’s not a loss either.
When I’m back at the dorm afterward, I still have plenty of energy, a natural adrenaline high that follows a game. Definitely should get a group organized to hang out tonight. With Jake being laid-back earlier this week, I feel even more comfortable having us head to the hockey party.
EDEN: Gathering at the Hockey House tonight? Anyone in?
A flood of “Yes” responses means we’ll have a decent crew for the night.
EDEN: Yay! Meet up in me and Bree’s room at ten, and we’ll head over.
This is going to be fun. It’s only six, though, so I have some hours to kill.
Heading to the bathroom, I pick up my blow dryer, my hair still damp from my post-game shower. Five minutes later, it looks reasonable. A little product later and it’ll be fine for the party.
Maybe I should eat someth—
Knock, knock.
“Eden, some guy is out front for you.” It’s Becky from next door, once again playing building doorman.
Some guy? I look at the clock, and it’s close to seven. But I said no to Jake?
Ugh. I’m literally in my dingiest gym shorts—a high school legacy—and a US Soccer T-shirt. The perfect loungewear after a game, but not exactly “a guy is visiting” type clothes.
Jake isn’t supposed to be here anyway. He’s going to get what he gets.
“Thank you!” I shout back to Becky.
As I make my way to the front lobby of the dorm, I see the back of the visitor’s head, but that’s enough to tell me I was mistaken.
It’s blond, not brown-haired.
It’s Connor.
I stop in my tracks, suddenly self-conscious about my outfit again. Only, he turns around before I can retreat to go change.
His eyes are lit up, intense. I guess we’re back to hot Connor again.
“Eden.” His eyes rove over me, and he adjusts his glasses.
“Hi…”
“I’m sorry, I know you’re probably getting ready for your date. But…” He takes a step forward, looking deadly serious. “Please do not go out with him. Jake.” He says the last word like it hurts him.
He takes another step toward me. Suddenly we’re only a couple of inches apart. His tall frame fills the space around me, and I tilt slightly so my back rests against the wall for support.
“Jake?” My voice is barely above a whisper, overwhelmed by his presence and now trapped.
“Yeah, your dinner for tonight.” A thread of regret comes through his voice.
Wait. Jake? Dinner? How does he know about that? My confusion wakes me up a little.
“I’m not going to dinner with Jake. I turned him down.”
Connor’s face goes through a cycle of emotions: from surprise to relief to elation.
“You did?”
“But how did you know?”
He shuts his eyes, and then sighs. “I saw his texts. At the game.”
“Oh—”
He reopens them, contriteness shining through. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to look.”
“Okay.” A squeaking sound from one of my dormmates’ doors makes me aware of our current position out in the open. Him, so near me, as I lean against the wall.
I stand up a little straighter. “Why are you here then?”
“I—” He looks around, but the halls are empty. “I wanted—”
Stopping there, he brings his left hand up to my face, lightly gliding his index finger and pointer finger along my cheek. I suck in a breath when I see the look in his eyes.
It’s filled with affection—and determination. Like he’s made a decision.
“Eden, I want to tell you so many things, but can we do it somewhere private?”
Curiosity streams through me, not to mention my body is now a puddle. “Yes.”
He takes a step back, giving me space to lead us up to my room, but then I realize Bree could come back at any time.
“Actually, we probably should go somewhere else.” I glance down at my loungewear. Shit. “Although I’m not dressed for anywhere decent.”
He smiles. “You look perfect. Just come for a ride with me.”
Before I know what’s happened, I’m in the passenger seat of his car as he drives us away.