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“I’m gonna keep reminding you until you believe it, but I love learning all these things about you.” I bent down and kissed her on the mouth softly. She let out a hum of contentment before I pulled back. “Yeah, really like kissing you.”
She blushed as the timer dinged. She removed my plate and scanned the room before pulling out her desk chair with her leg. “Here, you can sit there so it’s more comfortable for you.”
“Where will you sit?”
“The floor?”
“Then we both sit there. I’m sitting by you.” I sat criss-cross as Audrey slowly lowered herself next to me. Everything felt right here. We spoke about my mom and her dad, what they meant to us and how the remaining parent sort of died when they lost their spouse. We talked about our clinicals and how badass Marcy was. We also joked about the grossest things we had to do.
It was so fucking easy being with her. I wasn’t stressed about my family or my siblings or the NHL. I was happy. The future had a million possibilities that could happen, but they didn’t freak me out as much. This bond, this connection with Audrey surpassed all the doubt. I just had to make sure it didn’t destroy her relationship with Quentin.
That was the only seed of worry I had because if she had to choose between him and me, he’d come first every time.
17
Audrey
It had been two days since Theo spent the night, and my stomach still fluttered thinking about it. We’d spooned. The entire night. I’d never slept next to another human like that nor had I felt so safe. Theo made me feel… normal, secure, and protected. I didn’t realize one could feel this way, and I couldn’t keep a dreamy smile off my face.
I walked in a semi-trance to my classes that Monday, lost in thoughts, and that was why I didn’t see my brother until we were ten feet apart. It wasn’t often we crossed paths on the quad, but seeing him in person caused a horrible pang in my chest. All the horrible feelings from Saturday came back, clouding every good thought I had, reminding me I knew better than to be happy.
That didn’t happen to me. Good things never did.
“Auds, what up, sis?” Quentin flashed a smile as he clutched his bag to his shoulder. Two other guys on the team stood next to him, all of them wearing Wolves shirts with the hockey logo, but I couldn’t even speak.
My words were stuck between the anger and hurt. My text to my mom last week was still unanswered, yet she’d accepted the cash I sent her with that’s all you have? Quentin never reached out to me first. My pulse raced, and my head spun. Breathe. Theo’s kind yet firm voice from Saturday repeated in my head, and I sucked in oxygen.
“You good?” Liam or Lenny or Landon asked. He was tall and played defense, I was pretty sure. He seemed to pick up on my spiraling, but I nodded and avoided their gazes.
I kept walking. My legs took charge to get me away from him. If I could just walk faster, I could take the first left, and sure, it’d be longer to the lab, but it’d be easier.
“Audrey, what the hell?” Quentin’s voice was laced with annoyance. “Is there a reason you’re not stopping?”
“Class,” I whispered, still not slowing or looking at him. There was too much hurt in me, too many feelings.
His fingers wrapped around my forearm, gently, and he stilled me. “Are you okay? You’re acting weird.”
“I’m fine.” I stared at the sidewalk, where three ants went after a chip. They had to have friends on the way soon. “I need to go, Quentin.”
“How are clinicals going? You started, right?”
Oh. He wanted to talk about this right now? No. I jerked my arm out of his reach and mumbled, “I’ll talk to you later.”
He let me leave, thankfully. But my heart raced. My pulse was elevated, and it made me dizzy, but I couldn’t stop. I didn’t want to talk to him or see him. I needed more time. I heaved for breath as I pushed into the building with our labs.
I leaned against the wall and let the cool tile sooth me for a few minutes. My phone buzzed, Quentin probably, but I didn’t glance at it. I wasn’t ready.
For someone who avoided confrontation at all costs, this was overstimulating. Too much. I wasn’t equipped to handle these feelings.
“Auds?”
A familiar, safe voice neared me, and I sought on comfort in it. I found Theo’s kind eyes and ran toward him. He wore a sweatshirt and shorts with a backward hat, and he opened his arms wide for me, and I slammed into him. He surrounded me in a huge hug, his cologne and the fresh scent of laundry filling my nose. His heartbeat was strong and consistent, and I matched my breathing to his.
There.
Calm.
“Honey, what happened? I’m glad to see you, and I was worried how you’d greet me, but I was not expecting a bear hug.” He chuckled and tried to end the hug, but I clung harder. “Are you okay?”
