Page 98 of Rookie Moves
Maybe Joey will be the one who could get through to my dad. It’s no secret he’s the favorite son, so there’s a better chance of him listening to Joey than me.
Plus, without my dad, I don’t have anything. I don’t have any savings or any way to pay for bills or rent. He’s paid for my tuition and pays off my credit card every month.
And if I go with Colby, I can’t rely on him to pay for everything while I find a job. Who knows how long it could take, especially if he ends up in Canada and I need to get a visa. He needs to focus on his upcoming rookie season, not worrying about me.
No matter what I do, I’m trapped in an uncomfortable situation, and I don’t see an easy way out.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
TYLER
“Holy shit,” Liam mutters, eyes going wide as we step onto the grass.
The football field has been transformed for the graduation ceremony. Hundreds of chairs are lined up, forming an arc facing a large stage, and the brass band is playing to the left, all of them dressed in their uniform.
I glance up at the stands, beginning to fill with family and friends, but there’s no point looking for mine because I know they’re not here yet. Joey texted to let me know Dad’s meeting ran over, and they’ll get here as soon as they can.
If they show up at all.
The numbness that settled over me last night hasn’t disappeared. I drove back to campus feeling empty, like I was nothing more than a hollow shell.
My phone burns a hole in my pocket beneath my gown, a painful reminder that I haven’t replied to Colby since yesterday.
He texted multiple times, asking how I got on and whether I got home, then again this morning asking if I was excited to graduate, and most recently, telling me he’ll be in the stands watching.
I couldn’t bring myself to reply because I don’t deserve him.
I tossed and turned all night, trying to think of a way we could make this work, but the reality of it is, I need to go back to Arizona and try to find a way where I can be the partner Colby deserves.
Someone who can support himself while supporting Colby as he achieves his dreams, and I can’t do that if he’s having to pay for everything.
And as much as I hate to admit it, I need to work for my dad while I figure it all out.
We’re led to the table where we check in and receive our name card, then head to our seats. The sun is blazing above us, and one of the professors comes around, passing out water.
“Please put your cap on,” she says as she hands me a bottle.
Nodding once, I force a smile and place the black cap on my head. Liam reaches over to adjust it, and I swat his hand out of the way.
“Cut it out,” I grumble. “I can dress myself.”
He laughs, the sound so carefree and light compared to the heaviness I’m feeling.
“I’m going to miss living with you,” he admits, turning to face the stage. “We’ve had a lot of fun over the years.”
My chest tightens at the earnest tone of his voice.
Since that night he caught me on my way to Colby’s, Liam has been checking in on me more than usual. I still think he suspects I have an unrequited crush on Colby, but he hasn’t mentioned it again.
I’ve tried to spend as much time with him as possible, as well as studying, sitting finals, and seeing Colby. He’s already got a contract waiting for him in Minnesota that’ll see him playing for their AHL affiliate team in Iowa, though I don’t think it will be long until he makes his NHL debut.
“We have,” I reply, a genuine smile crossing my face. “I couldn’t be more grateful that we were put together to share a dorm.”
Liam glances over at me, his eyes turning a little misty despite the wide grin on his face. “Will you come and visit me? Maybe you can come in the winter, and we’ll play some pond hockey.”
I snicker under my breath, remembering the last time we played pond hockey. Liam ended up on his ass at the same time a bunch of snow fell from the trees and covered him. We weren’t supposed to be on there, so I guess it only served us right, but we laughed so hard my stomach still ached the next day.
“As long as you don’t skate near any trees.”
