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He doesn’t turn around, but his chuckle resonates across the air as I head in the opposite direction. I smile despite myself.
As I walk, I consider how few people surprise me. I’m shocked that Sam was one of them. It piques my curiosity for the first time where he’s concerned, wondering what lies beneath the pretty package. Maybe he’s more than I initially thought, though I’ll likely never find out. We don’t exactly run in the same circles.
But it’s interesting when you get a brief glimpse beneath the surface … how much you can truly see. And how many more questions arise.
I shake my head to clear it and get lost in planning my mural again.
CHAPTER SIX
SAM
I pull another stack of T-shirts out from the chest of drawers, folding them haphazardly and throwing them into my duffel bag. My mom would cringe at my packing job. I pause to look around my bedroom, making a mental list of things I don’t want to forget. I head into the closet to grab some shoes.
I took my last final this morning in Econ. I think I did well enough to skate by. I’ve never been motivated to excel in classes. But I’ve always done just enough to secure my spot on the ice. It’s not that I’m dumb or incapable of being at the top of the class. I just don’t find school interesting. Hockey—that’s my main priority. It has been since junior league, when the coaches started to focus on my talent and put dreams in my head of playing in the pros. My priorities shifted then and haven’t changed since.
I glance around at the bedroom where I spent my first year of college. Freshman year is now officially finished, though I never felt like a first-year student. I can thank the hockey team for that. I had an instant group of friends—brothers—as soon as I stepped foot on campus. We played together and partied together. I was accepted from the beginning, lauded even, across the university. It was an easy transition for me from high school. I got to play the sport I loved, and I was celebrated for it.
Mike steps into the room, leaning against the doorframe as he watches me shuffle around the space. We’re the only two at home right now. “What are you doing?”
“Packing.”
He scoffs. “I can see that. Where are you going?”
I haven’t told Mike about my plans for this summer. In fact, I haven’t told him much of anything lately. I never filled Chase in either, though both are my roommates. Chase and I are still barely speaking. If we weren’t teammates, I’d turn my back on him for good. But we are on the same team, and he does live in the house where I rent a room, so we’ll both have to get over it. Even so, it’s going to take time for the sting of betrayal to ease from my bones. Every time I see Oakley and him together, I’m reminded of what went down between the three of us. It still hurts, though the ache is lessening every day.
Mike, Chase, and I have already secured this house for the summer and next year, and I’ll pay my part. Maybe it’s a mistake to live with Chase again next year, but I like this place, and I like living with Mike. I enjoyed living with Chase, too, until everything went down between us. But I shouldn’t have to move because my old friend stabbed me in the back. He should be the one who’s uncomfortable in this situation, not me.
“Camp,” I answer Mike’s question.
I was invited to attend an exclusive hockey camp for the summer a few months ago. I accepted right after hearing about my mom’s cancer diagnosis. It seemed like the right thing to do. Get as far away from this place as I can for a few months. Focus on the one thing I’m still sure about. Hockey.
I can tell that my one-worded answers are annoying Mike.
His brow furrows as he crosses his arms. “Camp? Since when?”
“A few weeks ago.” I shrug, shoving some socks into the corner of my bag.
“Why is this the first I’m hearing about it?”
I glance over at him with irritated amusement. “I didn’t realize I was supposed to clear it with you first, Mom.” I start packing again. “If you’re worried about my portion of the rent, don’t be. I’ll pay my third. And I don’t want anyone staying in my room while I’m gone.”
“I didn’t know you were leaving until about two seconds ago, so I haven’t had time to find someone to crash in your room,” he grunts. “I just thought you’d be around …”
“Ahh, are you gonna miss me, Mikey?”
He flashes his middle finger, and I chuckle.
“Is this because of Chase?” he asks after a beat. “He isn’t going to be around much. He’s heading back to the city for some construction job and crashing with his parents. He’ll be here a few weekends at most.”
He doesn’t add that Chase will be spending all his free time with Oakley, but I know that’s the case. They’re connected at the hip these days. He’s probably with her right now.
“It’s not because of Chase,” I answer, and it’s partially true. Though, I must admit, it’s a bonus, not having to see him or my ex-girlfriend for the next eight weeks. I think we all need a cooling-off period. “I want to focus on hockey. I need to if I want to get called up next year. This is one of the best camps in the nation.”
Mike asks more questions, so I give him some of the details. I’m headed to Massachusetts. I’ll stay in the sports dormitory on the campus of Boston U with a bunch of other guys who are also attending. We’ll play hockey during the day, honing our skills, working with some of the best coaches in the country. And we’ll likely party at night, hitting up the bars in the area, putting my fake id to good use, and taking advantage of all the big city has to offer.
“That sounds awesome,” Mike admits.
“It will be,” I say while zipping up my bags.
