Page 39 of Unforgettable Player

“Can I?” I gesture to the couch.

“Yeah, ‘course.”

We’re quiet for a few seconds.

“You okay?”

“Mm.” He nods, running a hand over his stubble. He didn’t shave before going to bed.

“Scout feels like shit about what she said.”

Connor looks at me. “She doesn’t need to. I should have told you guys what was going on.”

“So, you were put on academic probation?”

“Yup.”

“Connor, why didn’t you ask me for help?”

The sad smile is back. “I was embarrassed, I guess. I don’t know. We don’t talk much at school, or … we didn’t.”

I can’t help but scoff. Does Connor Ryan—hockey star and chiseled god—seriously think he couldn’t walk up to nerdy old me and strike up a conversation?

“What?”

“Sorry, nothing. It’s just … you know you can talk to anyone you want, right? You call the shots.”

“Pfft.”

I make my tone serious, so he knows I’m being sincere. “I’ll help you any time you like, Connor. You only have to ask.”

He nods, frowning down at his hands. “So, bet you won’t want to kiss me ever again now.”

“Why not?”

He glances up, a challenge in his eyes. “Because I’m a loser.”

“Connor, you are not a loser.”

“Sure.”

“Connor, the job … in Palo Alto….” I trail off, not knowing how to ask him if he was fired, too.

“What about it?”

“Are you … still working there?”

He lets out a huff through his nose. “Yeah, unfortunately. Scout was right, I don’t love it.”

“So, what are you really doing here?”

He shuffles, keeping his gaze averted when he says, “I was given a six week ‘mental health break’ after I went off at my boss in a progress meeting.”

I frown, confused. “Why did you go off at your boss?”

He shakes his head. “I don’t even know. I thought I was smashing that job, like it was the one consolation—I’m good at it. But then he started giving me all these suggestions of ways I could be better, and it was like everything just came falling down on top of me, you know? Like I can’t be good enough at hockey to get signed, I can’t be smart enough to pass my classes and now I can’t be good enough at sales to ace this job I hate.”

I don’t know what to say. “Connor, everyone needs to improve at things. Literally everyone. You can’t be perfect the first time. I’m sure your boss wasn’t criticizing you.”