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“Yeah, I think so.” I rub the back of my neck, squinting up at him. “Why?”

“Do we need to have a conversation about safe sex?”

I scramble to my feet, my cheeks burning. “Oh my God. Are you trying to make me die of embarrassment?”

“No. I’m asking questions.” He shrugs, unbothered. “Your mom was eighteen when she got pregnant with you.”

“I’m sixteen, and I haven’t had sex yet, if that’s what you wanted to know.”

“Okay. Just remember, if you want to talk about it, I’m here.”

I grunt, turning away. “Yeah, sure. As if you won’t make fun of me about it.”

“Aha, so you’ve been thinking about it.”

I haven’t just thought about it. I made a whole plan, one that started with kissing Isla. Then, I’d ask her to be my girlfriend, and eventually, we’d be each other’s firsts. But all of that went to shit because of that stupid dare. Because I let it happen instead of setting boundaries.

Shoulders slumping, I avoid the implication. “When I decide I want to do that, I’ll talk to you.” I look to my right, toward Isla’s house, even though I can’t see it from here. She said she’d talk to me today. Will she? I don’t remember seeing her when I got back to the gym with Sienna last night.

“Sounds good.” He comes closer and wraps his big arm around my shoulders. When he lets go, I focus on the Winnie-the-Pooh tattoo on his wrist. He’s proud of it. Even when the Thunders’ fans would make jokes about it, it never bothered him. Why can’t I be more like him? He would’ve never gotten into the situation I’m in currently.

I want to get tattoos when I’m older too. More like Uncle Xander’s, though. More abstract, no color.

“Xander called Bella last night when she and your mom were together. He was on his way to the school. Apparently, Isla hadn’t even been at the dance for a full hour.”

I stiffen, my heart sinking.

“I was hoping you’d know why she left so early.” Dad takes a step back. “It was her first dance. Xander and Bella were so excited when she said she wanted to go, so when she left so early, it made us all worry that something happened.”

“I don’t know. I was with Sienna.” My voice cracks, and I clear my throat. “Is Isla okay?”

“Yeah, your mom saw her when she got home. She’s okay.”

“Good.”

Fragments of phrases flash through my mind, something about Isla and Turner…but the words don’t make sense. I guess I heard something, but I don’t know what exactly.

“Let’s go home.” Dad looks at his wrist, checking the time. “We’ve got just enough time to have breakfast before practice.”

I groan. “Can I skip today? I feel awful.”

“Lemme think about it.” He purses his lips, eyeing me up and down. Then, he shakes his head. “No. You can’t. And if I beat you back to the house, you’ll be washing my car, and your mom’s, for a whole month.”

With that, he takes off.

Un-fucking-believable.

By the time I get to the rink, my headache is almost gone. Unfortunately, my mind is still foggy, so I have no clue how I’ll survive three hours on the ice.

At least I’ll see Ash and have the opportunity to ask him about the dance. If I’m really lucky, I’ll catch Isla before she leaves so we can have the talk she promised.

In the locker room, Ash is sitting on the bench with Turner beside him, both half-dressed in their gear, talking.

“I feel bad for her, you know?” Ash says. “Moving across the country for better opportunities is fine, but not when you’re only sixteen.”

I set my bag on the bench beside him, and he jerks, his head whipping around, his eyes going wide.

“Who are you talking about?” I ask.