Page 66 of The Callahan Effect

"You still do."

He shook his head.

"No, Mase." The sadness in his voice cut deeper than anger ever could. "Apparently I don't."

Before I could answer, the screen went dark.

The call had ended.

I continued staring at my reflection for several seconds before lowering the phone onto the couch beside me.

The silence that followed felt completely different from every other silence Jack and I had shared. This one carried disappointment instead of comfort, leaving me wondering whether I'd just lost the person who'd been my closest friend for so much of my life.

Jack moved closer until our shoulders touched. He rested his hand over mine, giving me the chance to gather my thoughts before offering any reassurance at all.

"I really thought he'd understand."

He will. Right now he's grieving the fact that the picture he carried of your life wasn't the real one. That doesn't mean he's grieving you.

"I hope you're right."

He laced his fingers through mine.

I turned toward him, realizing how different the day could have been. Coach could have rejected us. My family could have walked away. Instead, every fear I'd carried for years had dissolved as soon as I'd trusted the people who loved me enough to let me find my own path. Corey hadn't reached that place yet, but I couldn't force him there any more than anyone could have forced me to accept myself before I was ready.

I tightened my grip on Jack's hand. Whatever tomorrow brought, I knew one thing with absolute certainty. I wasn't facing it alone.

Jack drew me into his arms and for a long time neither of us moved. I rested my forehead against his shoulder, listening to the steady beat of his heart as the disappointment gradually lost some of its sharp edges. Corey had every right to be shocked. He'd believed he'd known every important part of my life, only to discover I'd hidden the biggest part of all.

"I hate that I hurt him."

You didn't hurt him by telling the truth. You hurt him by making him realize how much you've been carrying on your own. There's a difference.

"I hope he works that out."

If Corey called tomorrow, I'd answer. If he needed a week, I'd give him a week. If it took longer than that, I'd still be here when he was ready. Some friendships deserved patience.

I turned back to Jack, brushing my fingers lightly through his hair before leaning forward and kissing his forehead.

"Thank you."

He frowned slightly.

For what?

I smiled.

"For walking into my life when I least expected it."

Chapter Eleven

JACK

Three weeks passed quickly at Evergreen.

The uncertainty surrounding my developing relationship with Mason disappeared beneath an endless cycle of classes, conditioning sessions, practices, video analysis, and four demanding preseason games that allowed Dad to experiment with each line combination he wanted before the standings began to matter.

Evergreen finished the exhibition schedule with three victories from four outings, the only defeat coming in overtime after Dad deliberately reduced the ice time of several veterans to evaluate younger players in pressure situations. Nobody placed much importance on preseason records because they disappeared as soon as conference play opened, yet there was an unmistakable confidence growing throughout the program. Each practice refined the team's execution, exhibitions strengthened the chemistry developing throughout the lineup, and with every passing day it became increasingly obvious why Dad believed Mason had been the final piece we needed to mount another championship campaign.