crowd around me is going nuts, glasses raised as they toast and cheer for the HU win in Madison, Wisconsin. My eyes are glued to the screen, to Z. He’s skating around and girls are throwing flowers at him. He laughs and waves, that familiar shuttered expression on his face.
Taylor wiggles in his seat. “Four fucking goals. Huge game for him. Mind-blowing.”
Julia thumps him on the head with her finger. “Stop with the play-by-play of the hot hockey players.”
“You said hot—do you mean Eric?” Taylor says with snark and then turns to me and pats me on the back. “Sorry, love, all that testosterone got me jacked.”
Putting on a brave face, I laugh. I wouldn’t even be here tonight if my friends hadn’t insisted. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror behind the bar and sigh. My hair is lackluster and flat, my eyes have shadows under them, and there’s zero lipstick on my lips. I’m empty. And I’m so ready to get the hell out of Sparrow Lake.
Julia slaps a hand on the bar. “I need everyone’s attention.”
We all look, and I’m thinking she’s finally going to spill the beans on boning Eric then falling in love then getting cheated on—or so my theory goes, at least—but she waves at the bartender and orders us a round of tequila shots.
She hands them out and looks at me. “I just want to toast Sugar. She’s had a shit few weeks, but she did get some good news today.”
Taylor and Poppy lean in. “What happened?”
I smile. “I got my acceptance email and official letter from Belmont in Nashville. It’s a topnotch school and the tuition is surprisingly reasonable. I’m headed to law school, bitches!”
Whoops go up and hugs ensue. We toss back drinks and they continue to congratulate me, and I can’t help but smile. What I don’t tell them is that I did indeed get an email from the dean of admissions at Vandy, and he was thrilled to offer me a spot that opened up because someone dropped. I figured it was the letter of recommendation that sealed the deal and even though that is a legit way to get in, the appeal had faded. I told him no.
“Urgent” by Foreigner rings on my cell.
“What’s up?” I ask Mara, infusing my voice with joy.
“Just called to say good luck on your trip to Davenport. Also, I saw they won.”
I draw a doodle with my finger on the bar napkin. I leave tomorrow to fly to Birmingham to attend George’s will reading. I realized this will be my only opportunity to say the things I want to say, to see half-siblings I might never see again. Part of me is torn, nervous about stepping into their perfect little world, anxious about how I compare. But, I know I don’t want any regrets, and if that’s really true, I need to see them.
“Thanks. I’ll keep you updated.”
There’s a long pause. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you? It wouldn’t be a big deal. Luis can hold down the fort for a spell.”
It would be nice to have company on the flight and then especially when I walk into that house, but…
“Thank you, but no. You’re being sweet but you can’t spare the time, and actually, I’m looking forward to getting out of town.”
She tells me she loves me and I end the call, finish up my drink, and tell my friends goodbye.
“So when you get back, you’re gonna be rich, right?” Poppy says as the trio walks me to my truck.
I huff out a laugh. I haven’t said a peep about the money, and it’s driving them crazy.
Julia smirks at my dented-up Toyota. “Wouldn’t it be nice to drive something else?”
“Mercedes.” Taylor snaps his finger at me. “I know what you bloody like.”
I give them a final hug since I won’t see them until after spring break. I head back to the dorm, and I guess I should be preparing to meet my “family”, but all I can see in my head is Z. I hope…I hope he’s happy.
It’s much later, when I’m asleep, that a loud bang reverberates on my door. I open my eyes, sit up, and grab my phone—it’s one in the morning. Shit. Julia? Did she forget her keys? She would have texted, though. I get up and walk over to her side of the room, and sure enough, she isn’t home. I recall Taylor and Poppy wanting to try out