I sat to unlace for good measure. This wasn’t his game to finish. But I knew my twin, and eight minutes wasn’t enough to convince him of that.
“Spend some quality time with Dad over the weekend?”
“This isn’t about anything Dad lectured me about. Or the fact that he thought taking me to the local rink during off hours was going to do anything for my self-esteem. I’m ready. I needed a break, I got hit hard with that loss, but I’m ready.”
I nodded. “I know it’s not easy, Troy. I know you fight to keep up with the others. I know you’re scared every time you get out there that you’re not good enough. It’s hard living with that kind of doubt and I’m not surprised it wore you down.”
He wasn’t looking at me, but was nodding, his mouth in a thin line, determined to stay angry at me for whatever reason.
He stood. “Yeah well, I’m also not buying that Harper cancelled on me for tomorrow, I think that’s you just being spiteful.”
I rubbed my eyelids. Since she texted me, I had to give him the message. “Why don’t you go ask her yourself then, you know where she works.”
“Don’t patronize me, I’d do it. But Harper wasn’t part of what I asked you to cover for me, was she?
Tiredly, I removed my gear. “No, she wasn’t.”
He shook his head as if disgusted with me. “You know I dated that girl for a few months in high school.”
How could I forget. “What’s your point?”
“The second you told me she drew that sketch of me, or you, at practice, I knew there was something up with you guys. I watched her all fucking weekend. She knows you’re not me.”
I shook my head. Anger building in me for bringing her into our fight. She was innocent. And he was making her out to be a liar?
Not on my fucking watch.
He wiggled his finger when I said nothing. “I bet she knows.”
“You’re fucking crazy. She doesn’t know.”
He scoffed and clapped his hands together. “I bet part of the reason she’s back in town and suddenly all over you, is because she wants me back. And you’re going along for the ride.”
“She doesn’t want you. I’m the one she wants,” I howled and instantly regretted it when he stepped back with an all-knowing grin.
“She’s pretending you’re me.”
“You’re delusional.”
“She’s not an idiot, August,” he snapped.
I exhaled, taking his Jersey off my back. “I didn’t say she was. She’s being misled, Troy.”
“Do you really think she hasn’t figured it out by now? What fucking dreamworld are you living in?”
“I’m living in a reality. You’re the one who’s dreaming," I said calmly.
"She can’t have me and she’s playing along.” He laughed. “I think she’s having fun with it, riding it out for as long as the meek brother allows.”
That wasn’t true.
It couldn’t be.
Harper had no idea.Iwas the one misleading her. It wasn’t the other way around.
I left everything but my own skates on the floor by his hook. “You’re up in two minutes. Good luck,” I didn’t look him in the eye when I said it, but I meant it. I wished him luck because he was going to fucking need it.
Back at my apartment, I buried the skates in the back of the closet. It was going to be a while till I ever used those again.
