Clipped by Love (Bellevue Bullies 2)

I’m such a social butterfly.

Since we moved into the house they gave my dad, I’ve kept to myself. I go to my classes and sit in the back, praying and hoping that Jayden, or even Jace, doesn’t walk in. Thankfully, they haven’t. I haven’t even seen them. Thank. God. I don’t know how I will handle that, but I better get ready. I’ll be seeing him sooner rather than later.

Camp starts Monday.

The house they gave my dad is right next door to the Bullies’ frat house, and the team will move in after camp. I thought that would exclude me, but then we found out that wasn’t the case. The board threw the mother of all fits because Dad just assumed I was going to be on the team. I mean, why wouldn’t I be? But apparently they hadn’t heard of me, so they said that I had to try out—which is really pointless since my dad is the coach, but whatever. Then they said if I’m gonna play on a team with boys, then I have to be a full member of the team.

Which means I have to live with them.

This wasn’t the case in Arkansas. I got my own locker room, shower, and housing with my dad, but apparently, there are a bunch of fucking assholes around here that want to make my life a living hell. In truth, they want to scare me off. But they won’t. I’ll be part of the team; it will be like I have a dick. And yeah, my dad is not happy about it, but no one is gonna ruin my chances of getting what I want. He threw a fit, threatened to quit, but I talked him off the ledge. I mean, really, it’s not a big deal. Dudes don’t bother me, I can handle my own, and if one of them touches me in a way I don’t like, I’ll kill him. But the main reason my heart is palpitating in my chest and I have clammy hands is because I’m going to be around Jayden almost all the damn time.

And he doesn’t even know I’m here.

I take in the four-story house and let out a breath. Maybe I can be on the top floor and him on the bottom. Maybe I can figure out a way never to see him and never to deal with him, but even I know that’s stupid to even try to attempt. A hockey team is supposed to be a family if they want to win. I’m going to see him, I’m gonna have to talk to him, and I’m going to have to act like he didn’t reject me and turn me into a little crybaby. It’s gonna be hard. I can still feel the sting of his rejection, but I won’t allow that to derail me. This isn’t about some stupid fling on the beach. No, this is about me getting to the NHL.

And no one is going to hold me back from that.

When my phone dings, I look down to see that it’s a text from Delanie.

My daily text, that is.

Delanie: Have you seen him yet?

I’ve gotten this text every day since we moved here. It’s becoming very annoying, but at the same time, I wait for it. Not sure why, but I do. Nonetheless, I roll my eyes as I answer her back.

Me: Don’t you think I’d tell you if I did?

Delanie: No, I think you’ll find a place to hide and never come out.

Me: Dramatic much? No, I haven’t seen him. But then, I’m not looking.

Delanie: According to Jace, they are living with his mom till they can move into the frat house.

Glaring at my phone, I type my next sentence very angrily. I put the caps lock on just to make sure she knows I mean business.

Me: I SWEAR TO GOD IF YOU TOLD JACE I AM HERE, I AM GOING TO FLY TO ARKANSAS AND KILL YOU.

Delanie: Whoa, psycho, no! I was just asking questions and got that out of him. Jeez. Calm your tits.

Me: Your life depended on that text.

Delanie: Yeah, I got that. Why am I friends with you?

Me: Must be my loveable way.

Delanie: Must be.

I smile and decide that I miss her. She was my first real girlfriend. I never really had those growing up. Never gave anyone the chance to be my friend, but I did with Delanie. Or she made me. One of the two.

Delanie: So, yeah, they are at their mom’s, and you haven’t seen either of them just walking around?

Me: It’s a big campus.

Delanie: Yeah, but only rich people go there. How many of those are there really in Nashville?

She’s such an airhead.

Me: Delanie, it’s the music capital of the world, and most of the people who live here have sex and then have kids. So yeah, lots.