Chapter Twenty-Six

Ember

“I’m glad we’re doing this,” Cam says, handing me a bowl of popcorn as he sits down. “Between school and hockey, I haven’t seen you in forever.”

“Did you already forget about our amazing Thanksgiving?” I ask. “I mean, I have no idea why you would try to forget about that.”

“You know, I honestly take offense to them not believing I can keep you safe,” he argues. “I like to think I’ve done a pretty great job.”

“You have. I wouldn’t be here without you.”

“And I’d have no one forcing me to watch a rom-com.”

“This isn’t just a rom-com, Campbell. The Broken Hearts Gallery is a cinematic masterpiece.”

“Whatever you say.” He laughs as he presses play. The first time I watched this movie with the girls, we rewatched it every night that week. We couldn’t get enough of it.

“Have you talked to Maia recently?” The question comes about twenty minutes into the movie, and part of me wonders if he’s been trying to ask it this whole time.

After all, he used to get roped into our rom-com movie nights when they were dating.

“Yeah,” I reply. “I’ve talked to her.” I leave out the part about me seeing her just a few hours ago.

“How is she?”

“Cam, where’s this coming from?”

“Is she seeing anyone?”

Maia hasn’t been a topic of conversation between us since they broke up; I never would’ve seen this conversation going in this direction.

“No.” I shake my head. “She’s gone on dates, but nothing really stuck.”

“Right, dates.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why do you care?” I ask and don’t mean for it to come off as harsh as it does.

“We used to do rom-com nights with her.” He shrugs. “I guess this just got me thinking about her.”

“Do you miss her?”

I know I’ve stepped too far. I can see it on his face, but I want to know. I know she misses him; that’s why those other dates never worked out, even if she tells me differently. And deep down, I know—

“A girl asked me out.”

“Oh… yeah?”

“Yeah, to the hockey banquet.”

“And you said yes?”

He sighs. “I felt like I couldn’t say no.” He grabs a handful of popcorn. “I mean, I don’t think it’s a date. She’s just in the sorority, and we’re supposed to bring someone with us; it makes us look better, I guess.”

It might not be a date, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t hoping to get somewhere with him by the end of the night. The sorority girls took on organizing the hockey banquet for one reason… to be another notch in a hockey player’s belt.

Or at least that’s what Tate told us while complaining about having to go. I guess Fletcher makes her go every year so he can avoid going with a girl who only wants a story to tell her friends.

“I’ll probably spend most of the night with the guys,” he shrugs. “They’ll all be there, so.”

“Will they?” I wonder. Declan hasn’t mentioned the banquet, even though he’s had ample opportunity to do so.

Not that it’s fair of me to be upset. He couldn’t bring me to the event even if he wanted to because Cam would be there. Plus, we haven’t even had the exclusivity conversation yet, so I still don’t know what we are. Every time I try to mention it, I chicken out.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, just wondering if Brinley would be there,” I reply.

“It’s her sorority, so probably,” he shrugs before turning back to the tv. “If you want, I can cancel my date and bring you.” There’s hope in his voice that he’ll have a reason to let down that girl.

“No, I don’t want you to cancel your date.”

“I can talk to the guys,” he continues. “Maybe one of them can bring you. If you want, of course; I know this isn’t really your cup of tea.”

I feel my heart begin to race. A public event, with Declan, in front of my brother. Longing stares. Fidgeting limbs. A mistake waiting to happen, but maybe we could sneak off and make out in a janitor’s closet. It’s always been a goal of mine.

“Zeke’s going solo,” he begins. “Or Jeremy, but I don’t think he’s itching for a date.”

I wait, but he doesn’t say Declan’s name.

“You mean out everyone, Zeke’s going solo?” I laugh, pushing for information he doesn’t know I want.

“Yeah,” he says. “Fletcher brings Tatum to all hockey events. Brooks will bring Olivia; I think Jaxon is bringing this girl Sadie. She’s in the sorority.”

I make a mental note to check in with Brinley about Jaxon bringing one of her sorority sisters.

“And Declan’s going with Mollie.”

I feel like I’m gonna be sick. My mouth goes dry, and I try to blink away the tears.

“Mollie?” I cough when I hear the crack in my voice.

“Yeah, I guess she asked him, and he said sure. Plus, it’s her sorority, so he probably thought it’d make sense.”

“Yeah, makes sense.”

“Are you okay?” he questions, but I turn back to the tv.

“I’m fine,” I lie. “You’ve just made me miss my favorite part of the movie. We should rewind it.”

I bite my lip to choke back the tears, but unfortunately, they rush to my eyes. I take a breath and try to forget about the conversation.

Maybe I should’ve had the exclusivity talk after all.