Page 37 of Golden Days

I swallow and nod, not trusting anything that might come out of my mouth. There’s something about this girl that makes me want to open up. But can I trust it? Can I trust her?

She’s already declined my offer for the pro-am, and yet I’m unable to let it go. The clock is ticking, after all. “Can I ask you why you won’t do the pro-am?” I say after a few minutes of silence.

She sighs—not in annoyance. Rather, she seems dejected. “I really wish I could. I just—” She bites her lip and looks out the window. “I can’t afford it,” she admits quietly.

My hands tighten around the steering wheel. Of course, I hadn’t thought of that. “What if I told you that everything is included?”

She brings her hands to her thighs where she fidgets with the hem of her dress. There are a few green stains on it from the grass. “Even if travel and stay would be included, it’s more than that. I would have to miss a whole week of work, which would set me back.”

Even though my first instinct is to offer the money, a whole week’s pay, I get the sense that’s not what she wants.

Twisting her fingers together, she says, “I’m so close to getting my hours completed for the certification by working at the club. I can’t jeopardize that. I’m sorry.”

“I understand.” I nod, even though, deep down, I selfishly want her to change her mind.

We’re both silent for the rest of the drive. “Thank you for the ride,” she says when I pull into the club parking lot.

“Anytime,” I say, fingers curling around the steering wheel so I don’t do something stupid like reach out and pull her toward me. I sneak a glance at her only for my breath to catch in my chest. Fuck, she’s pretty. All round-faced innocence, freckles, and plump lips.

Hazel hesitates for a moment, her hand still on the door handle. “If things were different, I’d do it in a heartbeat,” she says, watching me with her deep brown eyes.

My lips part, but I don’t know what else to say. I land on, “Good night.”

“Good night, Levi.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Hazel

I get home later than usual to find all three of my roommates playing video games on the couch, the place where I’m supposed to sleep. And is that⁠—

“Brody, are you sitting on my pillow? That’s where my face goes, man.”

“Sorry, sorry,” he says and takes one hand off the controller to toss my pillow aside. It lands next to the trash can, and I deflate.

I should have cockblocked Rosie and just spent the night at her place.

The three of them continue to play and yell out obscenities at each other, ignoring my presence.

“Are you guys planning to go to bed soon? I really need to sleep,” I say, digging around in my suitcase and finding a pair of black shorts and a work shirt to wear tomorrow.

“We just started this match, so it’ll be a while,” Brody says, his gaze not once moving off the TV. Nick and Jack give me apologetic looks and I’m starting to think this is Brody’s payback for breaking up with him.

“Okay, where am I supposed to sleep then?” I ask, my voice more tired and weary than I intend. If he tells me that I need to figure it out after the long day I’ve had, I might actually have a breakdown and cry.

“Take my bedroom,” he says.

I gape at him. Jack frowns and looks between us. I should turn the offer down because sleeping in my ex’s bed is weird as hell, but I’m so damn tired that I just let it go.

“Okay,” I mumble, “have a good night.” The fridge is barely stocked, but I’m able to find a water bottle and take it with me to the bedroom, where I quickly change into a long t-shirt, wipe off my makeup, and crash on the bed.

My alarm goes off in the morning, and I mumble to myself about needing five more minutes, but before I can reach out and snooze it, the ringing stops. Huh, that’s weird.

My eyes slowly open and I sense an arm around my waist before I can fully see it. I blink rapidly, turning to look over at the person behind me. At first, I think I’m still dreaming, but no. It’s a shirtless Brody, his dark hair mussed from sleep. I’m so shocked and I stop breathing for a second.

He looks at me and smiles. “Morning.”

I blink a few times and push him back to what used to be his side of the bed. My pillow might not be heavy, but I swing it at his face as hard as I possibly can.