Page 72 of A Little Jaded
“For what?”
“For not letting him get under your skin, either. For standing up for me without taking the bait and hitting him. I know, in a weird way, it was kind of a big possibility you'd fight with him, but the fact that you didn’t means a lot to me.” I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Thank you for being more levelheaded than Drake ever was.”
His nod is slow as if he can’t decide whether or not he agrees with me, and I hate it. The question in his eyes. The slight dip of his brows. The hesitation. I get it. He can be controlling. He can be bossy sometimes and a little over the top. But for him to wonder if he’s anything like Drake Haitt? For him to even think he’s in the same league?
I open my mouth to say something. Anything. But before I can, he presses his hand to my back and guides me to the family room. “Come on.”
“Ev—”
“Want to watch a movie or something?”
“A movie?”
“Yeah. I think we’ve had enough fun for one night, don’t you?”
I nod and let him lead me to the room he shares with Griffin.
Yeah. Whatever just happened in there? I think I’ve had enough of it, too.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
EVERETT
It’s been a weird week. After the last game night, things between Raine and me are different, but…not. And it sucks because I can’t figure out if I’m literally hallucinating or if the only thing that’s changed is my perception of Raine Anders.
I wasn’t kidding when I apologized for being a dick to her when we first met. I assumed so many things, made her feel like shit, and for what? For assumptions so far off base, they’re now laughable? It still doesn’t change anything. Doesn’t change my obligation to her or her obligation to follow through with this bullshit lie on the off-chance Drake is only lying low after our run-in.
Fuck, I don’t even know anymore.
My playing is shit, too. I’ve been so caught up in my own head I haven’t really shown up on the ice. I tried keeping it in check, but anytime I’m away from Raine, the possibilities of Drake finding her and hurting her rise to the surface, making me a fucking wreck. Add in tonight’s date with whatever-her-name-is, and I’m ready to tap out and surrender.
The fact Raine and I have barely said two words to eachother today doesn’t help, either. She knows I’m going out with someone else tonight, even though we haven’t talked about it. I don’t know why I feel guilty. Why I feel like I’m betraying her when it couldn’t be further from the truth.
So why do I feel like shit?
I’m even missing a game for this. Reeves seriously owes me.
As I roughly tug at the tie around my neck, a shadow catches my attention from the bathroom doorway. I look over my shoulder, but she’s gone.
“Raine,” I call out to her.
Raine reappears at the entrance, giving me a shy smile. “Yes?”
“I have a…thing tonight.”
“The wedding, right?”
Fuck, what I wouldn’t give to be able to read her mind. To hear her thoughts. To have a glimpse of what’s going on behind those forest-green eyes. Instead, all I see is restraint. Indifference. Unease.
I nod. “Yeah, the wedding.”
“Yup, I remember.”
She walks away again, but I repeat, “Raine.”
Stepping back into view, she folds her arms and leans against the doorjamb, giving me her full attention. “Yes?”
“You’re staying in, right?” I ask as I start to redo the knot around my neck, which feels a hell of a lot like a noose.