Chapter 18 Claire
Claire
“Guys, I can't wear a strapless, three sizes too small dress to this banquet! That’s like the worst idea I’ve ever heard!”
“Why not? It’s hot,” Sara tells me.
Jess laughs her ass off as she continues to look through my closet. Jacks invited me to his year-end hockey banquet as his plus one, but he forgot to tell me until the last minute.
The banquet is tonight and I have nothing to wear. Nothing. But I can't be too mad at my boyfriend, I’m just glad he asked me to go with him.
Clay never asked to go to any baseball stuff with him, but Jacks has changed that for me.
Over the past few months, Jacks has slowly changed everything for me.
He’s shown me what a relationship should be, and I’ve never once questioned his loyalty for me.
He comes over and does movie night with me and the girls.
I watch his games while photographing them and after we go out with the team and they all make fun of us but when Jacks leaves the table, they tell me how happy they are for us.
It’s been the best few months with him, and I can't believe I almost missed out on it.
I can't believe I almost let my fear get in the way of this.
A few weeks ago, I told my parents about Clay and how everything blew up. They were supportive as I word vomited the story to them over a two-hour phone call. They even offered to drive down for a few days to take my mind off things, but I told them I was fine.
And then Jacks came over and I spent an hour explaining that to them. They were worried at first, of course, but when I told them about Jacks and I, I knew they saw the look on my face and the twinkle in my eye.
This one is a good one, and Jacks even sat through their badgering of questions over the phone for an hour—with a smile on his face the entire time.
Clay barely interacted with my parents unless he had to. By the end of the phone call, Jacks had my dad’s phone number and a promise to teach him how to fish when he comes to visit Delaware.
I was shocked, but glad that he had made a good impression because my dad can be…tough. All of my friends in high school were scared of him—some of them still are, and I still laugh as I tell my dad about that.
“What about this one?” Jess asks me as she pulls a pink dress out of my closet that I’ve never seen before.
“What the hell is that?” I wonder as I walk over to her. I look at the dress—it’s a satin dress with a tiny slit at the bottom. It goes to around my knees, and when I try it on, it fits perfectly. Where did I get this?
“Wait hold on, something fell off it.” Jess then reaches into the back of my closet and pulls out a small note. She reads it, blushes, and then hands it over to me.
I know I asked you to be my date at the last minute, but I’m hoping this dress makes up for it.
It’s beautiful, but not as beautiful as the girl who will be wearing it.
Thank you for being you.
– J
I can't stop the smile that creeps over my face as I put the note down. Why is he so perfect?
“Oh my God, and I thought he couldn't get swoonier…” Sara says as she reads the note.
“I need to buy a casket. Seeing all this adorable and happy shit from you two is going to kill me.” Jess sits down, but she smiles as she does, so I know she’s kidding, if only partially.
“I don't even know what to say right now.” I pause as I fluff my hair out a bit. “He’s the best, I—” I have to stop the emotions from creeping up my throat or else my makeup that I spent way too long doing will be ruined.
A knock at my door stops the happy tears from falling, and Sara goes to answer it while I put my shoes on—white heels with cute straps. They go with everything, and they’ll give me a bit of height with Jacks, so it’s a win-win. “Well, don't you gentlemen look devilishly handsome tonight.”
“Hi, Sara,” Jacks leans over to hug her and she returns it. It brings a smile to my face at how much he loves getting to know my friends. He cares about me and my life, and the people I choose to have in it, and I wish I could explain how much that means to me. Words just don't cut it.
“This is my friend, Grant. Grant this is Sara and Jess.” Jacks formally introduces Grant to my friends. They’ve met in passing, but never officially.
“Hi. Nice to meet you guys.” He smiles, but I can tell he’s hurting on the inside.
Jacks told me that tonight was going to be rough for him, and that we should do our best to keep his spirits up.
I know all about the whole Grant, Ryan and Hads situation, and I hate Ryan, so I’m always firmly on Team Grant.
But unfortunately, Hads is going to the banquet with Ryan and not him.
I heard about Ryan asking her to the banquet in the beginning of the year, and when I saw the video of it online, I could feel Hads’ uncomfort through the phone.
I’m sure if Ryan hadn't done all that, she would have gone with Grant.
It doesn't take an idiot to see how they both look at one another.
It kills me to see Grant like this. He’s normally so full of life, but lately he just looks defeated, and I hate that. I’m sure they’ll find each other in the end, and I hope Ryan stops interfering with Grant’s life—it’s not fucking cool at all.
Jacks takes one look at me and clutches his hand to his chest. I slowly walk over to where he stands in my doorway and look up at him. Before I can speak, he kisses me.
When he pulls away from me, he eyes my body in the dress that he bought me. “You look absolutely stunning tonight.”
“I had a wonderful stylist,” I chuckle at him.
“Don't keep our girl out too late, boys! We’re not afraid of hunting you down if Claire comes back late!” Jess yells to us as I quickly grab my purse and close the door.
The drive to the banquet hall is short and quiet. Nobody said a word as Jacks drove us here. Now we’re sitting at our table, and Jacks is patting Grant on his back, silently letting him know that he’s not alone. That he’s here with him.
I love how close they are. It’s easy for anyone to tell that they really care about each other.
I know a lot of people talk about how sports teams often become a family, but these two really are brothers.
Just seeing their interactions up close has shown me that.
They would go to war for one another, and it makes me smile knowing that Jacks has someone like that in his life.
I know Grant would do anything for Jacks, and vice versa.
Grant hasn't taken his eyes off the door since we got here. Granted, we were early, but I don't want him obsessing about seeing Ryan and Hads together. I’m worried about him, so I try to make some conversation. “How are you doing, Grant?”
“I just want to get tonight over with.” Understandable.
“Well, if you want someone to dance with for a song or two, I’ll dance with you unless Jacks steals me first. I don't want to see you sulking all night. You deserve to have fun after the season you had.” I pat his hand because even if the team didn't end up having the greatest finish to the season, Grant did amazing. He’s even getting the award tonight for top defensive player for the team this year.
He had the most time on the ice and the most turnovers this season.
Jacks also had the most blocks this season, so he’ll be getting an award tonight too.
I’m so damn proud of these two. They make a hell of a team out on the ice together.
“Thanks, Claire, I appreciate it.” Then his gaze turns blank, and when I follow it to the door, I notice Hads is walking in with Ryan on her arm, but her eyes are on Grant.
Oh my God. I can feel the tension from here.
So many unspoken words pass through them at this moment, and I wish I could snap them both out of it and lock Ryan in a room so he stops coming between them.
But Jacks told me not to meddle, and to let it take its course, so I’ll pretend like I haven't seen or felt anything between those two.
Except when Ryan flashes a middle finger at Grant that he thinks nobody sees, it takes all of my willpower not to throw one back because I know Grant won't. He’s too good of a guy for shit like that.
Grant excuses himself, and I don't stop Jacks when he follows him to the bathroom. Fuck. It’s killing me not being able to help. Hads walks by our table, and I stop her to say hi. “Hads, I love your dress! It looks amazing on you.”
She smiles at me, but I can tell it’s a fake one. Something’s bothering her, but I doubt she’d tell me. “Thanks, Claire. Tell Jacks that I say hi.”
“I will.”
“You two are adorable together, by the way. I saw that picture on your Instagram of you guys a few months ago. It was really cute.” She fiddles with her dress, as if she's uncomfortable in it all of the sudden, so I do my best to ease her nerves.
“Thanks. I saw that you also like photography. Maybe we could get together and shoot some pictures sometime?” I may have stalked her Instagram after Jacks updated me on everything going on.
To that, she smiles widely at me. “I’d like that.”
“Great. Just email me and we’ll get something set up!”
“Sounds good,” she looks around nervously. “I better get to my table.”
“Have fun tonight, Hads.”
“I’ll try,” she says as she glances at Grant’s chair before walking over to sit next to Ryan. It’s a good thing that Ryan isn't sitting at our table. I guess their coach decided to divide the sophomores into two tables since there are so many of them.
The boys come back a few moments later just as dinner starts.
The buffet and short awards ceremony go off without a hitch, and before I know it, Jacks and I are slow dancing to a song with Ryan and Hads not far from us.
I see Grant watching them from over Jacks’ shoulder, and for the twentieth time tonight, my heart sinks through my chest.
“Come back to me, gorgeous.” I feel a hand on my face as I look up at my boyfriend's beautiful eyes. “Where did you go just now?”
“Sorry. I just…I feel bad that we’re having so much fun while Grant looks like a sad puppy. Are you sure there's nothing we can do to help?”
“It’ll work out in the end. We just have to trust that it will. I don't know how long it’ll take, but I have faith that everything will be okay.”
I lean my head into his chest as we sway to the music. “Okay.”
“Just enjoy this moment with me, please. I’m having the best time with you here on this dance floor.”
I listen to my wonderful boyfriend and when the song ends, I go over to the table and offer a dance to Grant. He accepts but as the next song plays—Can I Be Him by James Arthur—he tenses up. “We can wait for another song, Grant. I’m going to grab water. Do you want one?”
“Uh, sure. That sounds good.”
I turn to Jacks. “Babe, do you want one?”
“I’ll take whatever you want to get me.” Swoon. I head to the drink station and run into my friend Justin at the table.
“Hey, girl. You look stunning, tonight. How’s everything?”
I smile at him as I grab three waters from the cooler. “Everything is surprisingly amazing, especially after the shitty start I had to this year.”
“I’m happy for you. You deserve all the happiness that Jacks can give you. Just let me know if he pulls some Clay shit. I don't think he would, he’s too good of a guy, but still. I’m here for you always. Never forget that.”
“I won't, Justin. Thank you. Give my love to Miles, okay?”
“I will if I can ever get him off the dance floor! See you later!” Justin walks back to his guy and joins him in a slow dance, and my heart melts.
They’re just too cute. As I walk back to our table, I see Grant booking it out of the venue toward the parking lot.
What? When I reach our table, I see Jacks looking confused as I am.
“What's going on?” I ask him as I set our waters down.
He shakes his head. “I’m not too sure.”
“Do you wanna dance?”
“Only with you.” He pulls me onto the dance floor and I have vivid memories of us dancing in the rain together.
It hit me before that maybe it wasn't all fake in the beginning, and that maybe I just felt that way because of how scared I was that it could start to become real—Jacks and I. But now, I’m wholly content with what we are.
He’s my boyfriend, for real, and I’m his girlfriend, for real.
It feels good to be with him. It feels good knowing that I’m his and he’s mine.
Around five songs later, Jacks pauses our dance and practically runs off the dance floor, and I follow him.
Grant’s hustling back in here, with no jacket on, and his eyes are locked on someone across the room.
It’s like he’s not even in his body right now, and that scares me. What the hell is going on?
“Jacks, let me go.” Grant is seething. I’ve never heard him angry before.
Jacks shakes his head as he drags Grant out of the banquet hall we’re in. “What happened out there?”
“J, I need to do something. I need to punch the shit out of him.”
“You know that won't solve anything,” Jacks reminds him before he says something to me. “Gorgeous, can you take my keys and bring the car around?”
I’m about to answer when Grant speaks first. “No, we’re not leaving until I find out what that son of a bitch did to Hads.”
“What?” I whisper. “Did Ryan—”
He cuts me off. “Yes, he did. And when I find out exactly what he did to make her step away from me when I tried to comfort her, I’m going to make him hurt.”
“Gorgeous, go get my keys from the table and pull the car around.” Jacks tells me again, his hands still pressed firmly against Grant’s chest to stop him from moving.
“Okay, I will.” I don't say anything else as I do as I’m told. When the boys get into the car a few minutes later, I say nothing as I notice the dry tears on Grant’s face before I peel out of the parking lot and head toward Grand Mountain.