Page 96 of Blue Line

She walks over to the bed while I sit up and adjust the pillows behind me and sets the tray down, wrinkling her nose.

“I love you, Hads. But after you eat, you need to shower.”

I nod before taking a bite of a taco. She smooths the blanket down on the edge of the bed before sitting and turning to face me. I focus on the food in front of me, my first proper meal since I got here.

“Thanks for the tacos.”

“Wes sent them,” she says quietly.

“Oh,” is all I can manage as I pick at the chips, dipping a broken one into the guac before plopping it into my mouth.

“Holt said he wasn’t feeling good when he saw him at the arena earlier. Said Wes had to leave the ice because he was nauseous.”

“That sucks.”

We may have broken up, but that doesn’t mean I want him to be sick. I don’t wish him any harm. Quite the opposite. I want him to find his happiness.

“I’m not one to pry, usually, but I’m worried about you.”

I take another bite of my taco, using the time while I chew to figure out what to say.

“I know. I’m sorry. I don’t want to worry you or my brother. I probably should get a flight home to Ontario.”

Even though I don’t want to leave Florida. I’m sure my parents would be happy to have me there, but it doesn’t feel like it’s my home anymore. This house doesn’t feel like home either, if I’m being honest. There’s only one place that feels like home, but I don’t live there anymore. So I guess I’m homeless.

She leans forward, patting my leg through the blanket. “That isn’t what I said. You don’t have to go. I hate seeing you like this. Holt does too. He wanted to come up here and talk to you himself, but I told him I’d handle it. I love the man, but I’m not sure how his bedside manner would be right now.”

I blink back tears. I’m so glad my brother has her. I’m so glad I have her.

“Things got real between me and Wes. Then shit hit the fan, and we broke up.” I run a hand down my face and take a ragged breath, trying to hold it together. “I fell in love with him. I don’t know when or how it happened, but it did, and now it’s over. I’m not sure if he loved me.” My voice cracks.

I shake my head because how do I tell her the fears buried deep inside me? That I’ll end up alone one day because everyone will leave me. Holt has Becca and Hazel now. I’m happy for him, but he doesn’t need me, not the way he did when Hazel first came into his life. And Callie, she’ll find someone to love, she’ll start a family, and I’ll be the long-forgotten friend. I thought maybe Wes could be my person, but in the end, I wasn’t good enough for him. I’m never good enough for anyone long-term.

I cover my face with my hands as the tears stream down my cheeks. I thought I was all cried out, but apparently not.

The bed shifts, I feel the tray being moved, and then Becca is wrapping her arms around me.

“Oh, Hadley.” She rubs my back as I continue to sob. “You’re wrong. You’re so wrong.”

“What do you mean?” I hiccup.

“That man loves you. He’s infatuated with you. I could see it the first time I saw the two of you together. That’s why we decided to push you together. Maybe we shouldn’t have meddled, but …”

I pull away, staring at her. “You did what now?”

“There was no SportsCenter leak about Wes being engaged. We made it up …”

“But his agent …” I sputter.

“He was in on it too.”

“The endorsement deal that wanted us both?”

She shakes her head. “They already wanted Wes. His agent suggested you be part of it too, and they said yes. They think you’re engaged.”

“Does Wes know, or was he in on it too?” I cross my arms, leaning back against the bed. I can’t believe they made this shit up.

Becca chuckles. “No, he wasn’t in on it. He had no idea.”