Game Changer by Kelly Jamieson Page 0,25
all been great. They’ll make sure I’m okay too.”
“That’s good.”
My throat feels scratchy. I take a quick sip of my coffee as I follow her back into the living room where Grandpa is watching a new show.
Back at the resort, I change into board shorts and head down to the pool to find Molly. I find myself out of sorts. Anxious. Guilty. Sad. I really, really want to see her, because her quiet understanding and sunny outlook feel like something I need right now.
I find her at the pool bar talking to a good-looking dude, who’s looking at her like she’s the most fuckable thing he’s ever seen.
Jesus.
“Hey,” I say.
Molly turns to me, her face lighting up. “Oh, hey! You’re back. Wow, what time is it?”
The dude looks at me, then back at Molly. “Uh…”
“Oh, Justin, this is my friend Jax. Jax, this is Justin from New Orleans. He’s here for the convention. The one that has all the rooms full.” She rolls her eyes.
I frown, my gaze sliding back and forth between them, then reach for Justin’s hand, eyeing him.
The bartender sets drinks on the counter in front of Molly and Justin, and she pays for hers while Justin charges the rest to his room.
“Do you want to get a drink?” she asks me.
“Yeah.”
“Why are you looking like that?” She sips her margarita. “Bad day?”
“Uh.” I become aware that I’m still scowling. “Yeah.” I order a beer from the bartender.
“I’ll wait with you.” Molly smiles at Justin, who picks up several drinks and starts off with them.
“Who the fuck is that?” I ask.
She shoots me a startled look. “I told you.”
“You just met him here?”
“Yes.” She wrinkles her nose at him. “Is there a problem with that?”
I pause. Is there? “You almost got married a few days ago.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “What does that mean?”
“I don’t know. I feel like I need to watch out for you. You’re Steve’s fiancée.”
“No. I’m not.” She lifts her chin and meets my eyes. “And I can look after myself, thank you. I was just being friendly. I wasn’t trying to pick him up.”
I rolls my eyes. “Glad to hear it.”
“Wait, what? Even if I was, that would be none of your business.”
“It is if you’re sharing my hotel room.” Okay, I’m kind of being a jerk. I feel like I can’t help it.
“I wouldn’t bring him back to your room, for the love of goats.”
“So you’d go to a stranger’s room?”
Her mouth fall open. “What is happening here?”
“I don’t know.” I rub my mouth. The bartender slides my beer across the counter, and I sign the bill to charge it to the room then grab the drink to take a big gulp.
“And furthermore.” She straightens. “Sharing a room with you doesn’t give you the right to tell me what to do with my sex life.”
I cough. “I’m not doing that.”
“Yes, you are!”
“No, I’m not!”
She inhales a long breath and lets it out. “Come on, what are we arguing about? We’re friends. I’m a grown woman and I can do what I want, and so can you. Although…” She pauses, then sighs. “Never mind.”
“What?”
“I was going to say I’d appreciate it if you didn’t bring a woman back to the room, but then I realized that you should totally be able to do that because it’s your room and I’m just the pesky friend who’s crashing your party.” She sighs again.
As if I’d want to bring another woman back to the room. “You’re not pesky.”
“Yes, I am. You’ve told me that before.”
“Okay, you’re pesky in a cute way. Look, I’m sorry. I don’t know why I reacted that way to seeing you talking to that guy. Like I said, I guess I still think of you as Steve’s girl and…” I stop, clear my throat, then continue. “And it didn’t seem right. But it’s true, you’re not his fiancée anymore, and it’s none of my business who you talk to.”
“Thank you.” She eyes me over her margarita.
I nod.
“Come on. Come meet them. They’re nice people and we were having fun talking.”
She leads me back over to the group. I don’t want to meet a bunch of people. I want her to myself. Ah well.
She introduces me to the group.
“Holy shit,” Justin says, eyes opening as big as margarita glasses. “You play for the Chicago Aces.”
“Yeah.” I smile. “You a hockey fan?”
“Big time! The Lightning are my team, but wow, it’s great to meet you.”
Everyone’s in awe, peppering me with questions about hockey and