Page 42 of Embrace

“I can take her,” I blurt out on instinct. I’m not sure where it comes from, but I feel the need to establish that. Cole’s not a bad guy, but the thought of them alone in his car just feels wrong. That’s not where she’s supposed to be.

“No, really. I’m okay,” Scarlett says. “I promised Sierra we’d have dinner, anyway.”

Cole changes the subject and starts talking about our first gameback, and whether Coach is going to decide who’s going to be captain or if we’re not naming anyone. But I’m barely paying attention to the conversation. I keep glancing at Scarlett, who looks entirely too uncomfortable sitting there.

“Maybe he’ll pull the same move he did freshman year when Aiden wasn’t there for a game. We had what, like, three alternate captains?”

“When did he do that?”

“The game against Brown,” Scarlett says absentmindedly. As if she realized she said it out loud, she straightens. “I mean, it probably was.”

“No, you’re right. It was Brown. I remember ’cause I was dating this girl from there,” Cole says. “You know your hockey, huh?”

She plays with the sleeve of her sweater. “I don’t. I just— That was a guess.”

I laugh. “No way, you’re totally a fan. Have you been watching my old games, Scar?”

She rolls her eyes. “You wish, Ishida.”

“Oh, it’s Ishida now, is it?” I lean in closer, nudging her hand with mine. “Is that the name you’ll have on your back when you come to my game?”

“Depends. How much are you going to pay me?”

“Well, he will be captain then, so you’d be lucky to get a jersey,” Cole chimes in.

“I still have mine,” Cassie says, nudging my arm lightly. I’d nearly forgotten she was there. Hell, I almost forgot Cole was here, and he’s sitting right in front of me.

When I look back at Scarlett, she’s gone quiet. She glances at her phone, looking like she wants to be anywhere but here. Before I can say anything, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I drop a few bills on the table and push out of the booth, making Cassie do the same.

“We gotta go,” I say. “See you at practice, Cole?”

He nods.

“See you Saturday?” Cassie asks, her hopeful blue eyes watching me as her arm brushes my shoulder.

I nod, then extend a hand to Scarlett. “You coming?”

Her expression twists, like she half expected me to just leave her there. The thought makes my chest ache. Scarlett nods, murmuring a soft “Excuse me” as she slips past Cole, who’s smart enough to move without a word.

Once we’re outside, she gently pulls her hand from mine. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone secure a date so fast,” she says as we head toward my car.

I shrug, unlocking the door. “It’s barely a date.”

She shoots me a look. “Oh, it’s definitely a date. She was staring at you like she’d wilt if you said no.”

I laugh under my breath. “Come on, you got a date just as fast as me.”

Scarlett shakes her head, her hair bouncing with the motion. “That was a pity date.”

“Trust me, Scar. A date with you could never be a pity.”

Her lips part like she’s about to argue, but she snaps her mouth shut and turns toward the window. The ride back to campus is silent.

Fourteen

Scarlett

“I’ve never seenyou home on a Saturday night,” Sierra says.