Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
“I don’t know what I’m going to do when you’re gone,” he mumbles as he moves his free hand and kneads at his temples.
The harshness and unmanaged control that Aiden possessed when I first arrived is absent. Today, he looks like a different man. A man who knows his struggles and is trying every day to master them.
He looks comfortable. Happy.
How can I ever take this look away from him? How can I risk it?
I’ll do it after they win the round.
You have to. You have no choice.
The truth always finds a way to come out.
As much as I’d love to bottle up this moment and keep things just like this, I refuse to live in a lie. It’s not fair to either of us.
I hold his stare and smile sadly. “Whatever you do, tell me you won’t forget me.”
He narrows his eyes on me. “I’d never forget you. I—”
“Pinky promise on your puck?” The words rush out, desperation taking hold.
His brow furrows. A strangled look passing over his face. At first, I’m not sure why his mood has changed. But when his jaw locks and he drops my hand, I realize what’s happened. What I’ve just said.
It’s not the sort of thing you’d forget.
A simple promise exchanged by two friends. One born out of hope and fear of being forgotten.
“Aiden…” I start, trying to work out what I’m going to say.
I knew this day was coming, but I didn’t want it to be like this.
“What…” He shakes his head. “What did you say?”
My mouth opens, but words don’t come out. I’m suddenly speechless. Unable to form words. My heart hammers in my chest, and panic threatens to overtake me.
“Let me explain.” My voice pitches.
I watch as Aiden funnels through a series of emotions. Confusion. Shock. And now… anger.
“What”—he draws the word out—“the fuck did you say?”
I shake my head, trying to think of something to say, anything to say.
Where did you go?
Have you missed me?
Please don’t hate me.
“I-I—”
“You what?” His voice rises and his hands lift to his sides. “Speak, Cassidy, because my mind is going to some very dark places right now.”
“Please calm down and let me start from the beginning.”
“There’s only one thing I need you to say, and something tells me you know exactly what that is.”
“Aiden.”
He jumps up from the couch. “Who the fuck are you? Is Cassidy your real name?”
“Yes. My real name is Cassidy. You just…”
My head lowers to the ground, shaking back and forth.
“Goddammit. Look at me,” he bellows. “Just say it.”
My head pops up, and my mouth opens and closes, tears collecting in my eyes.
“Say it,” he repeats, taking a step toward me, face turning red. “Just fucking say it.”
“Pip,” I yell. “Is that what you want to hear, Aiden? My name? It’s Cassidy. But you know me as Pip.”
His face drains of all color. His mouth drops open, but he only allows me to see the emotion for a second before he’s doing what he’s always done to protect himself.
Building a fortress around himself.
He straightens his back and crosses his arms, erecting the walls he so often uses.
Never on me.
Until now.
“I’m sorry.” My voice is low and tormented, the words sputtering out as my cheeks dampen.
What else can I possibly say? There’s nothing to excuse what I’ve done. The secrets I’ve kept. I was wrong.
“You think you can run, but one day, I’ll catch you.”
His expression is terrifying, stone-cold eyes that look right through me.
There’s no warmth. No signs that point to fond memories of the girl I used to be. He looks at me like I’m a stranger.
Worse.
He looks at me with pure hate. The way he used to look at her. The one person who deserved his loathing. His mother. The first woman to betray him, and now I’m no better than her.
“Please talk to me,” I beg, taking two steps to close the gap between us.
He doesn’t move, but he certainly doesn’t reach out to me.
“Please,” I ask once more.
“What was this? Some ploy? For what purpose?” He huffs a humorless laugh. “Cassidy. What the fuck? All this time, I thought this was…that we were a sweet collide. Something big and strong and unbreakable. But this wasn’t a collide. You fucking shattered me.”
Disdain drips all over my name, and it’s not lost on me that he doesn’t call me Pip. Because to him, that time in our life is long gone.
“Aiden, I didn’t mean—”
“Are you like them? All the others that have tried to get close to me. To use me? Just want a piece of the player.”
“No. Of course, not—”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?” he snaps, each word that leaves his mouth sounding harsher than the last.
I’m trembling. My entire body shakes from the chilled atmosphere. The only noise in the room, as he waits for me to speak, is the chattering of my teeth.