“What about me?” He quirks his eyebrow at me.
“Got a girl hiding anywhere?” I tease as I eat a fry.
Wyatt grunts and shakes his head. “Nah.”
“Don’t want one?”
“It’s not that necessarily. It’s more like I’m not in a rush. If I find someone I like enough, then I won’t deny it, but I’m not actively searching.” He shrugs, dipping one of his fries in ketchup.
I nod in understanding. “I get it. I wasn’t looking for Cora, yet she fell in my lap.”
“You really like her, huh?”
I sigh. “More than I can explain.”
“Good. You two deserve each other.” He sounds like he really means it too.
“Thanks, man.”
The conversation turns to hockey, school, and life in general. We sit at the table for so long we get milkshakes just so they don’t kick us out.
By the time I get back to my dorm room, I can’t stop smiling. I feel like I made a friend tonight, and I fucking love it.
fourteen
I’m standing in my dorm wondering what I’m doing. After that shit of a shift at the center, I don’t want to be alone. I knew Peyton was working tonight, but now that I’m alone, all I want is comfort.
Sliding my phone out of my pocket, I dial Kellan. He answers on the second ring.
“What’s going on, beautiful? You make it home?”
Hearing his voice has my feet moving. I want to be with him.
“I’m walking to your dorm. Can I hang out for a bit? I don’t want to be alone.”
“Of course. My roommate is here, but he’s always on his game anyway. He won’t even notice if you are here, and even if he does, I’ll deal with him. Do you want me to come get you?”
I step outside the dorm, breathing in the fresh air. Then I turn, taking off at a brisk pace to get to his dorm. “No. Maybe come downstairs, though?”
I hear him moving. “I’m coming down. Do you want to tell me what’s wrong now or when you get here?”
I hiccup on a sob, and tears start to spill down my face.
“It was so bad. I got a new case today. It was a simple visitation, but the mom threw a fit when I told her she couldn’t walk the kid down to the vending machine by herself. I had to shadow them. She went off on me. I don’t even know what happened. She struck me in the face. I’m okay. It’s not even bruised, but it was scary. Security came and took her out of there.” I suck in a breath, letting out a sob. “The worst part is the child witnessed it all. She was so upset, Kellan.”
“Shhh. I know, beautiful. It’s difficult when people don’t care how their actions affect others.”
I turn the corner toward his dorm and see him standing there waiting for me. He jogs toward me, hanging up the phone.
Then I’m in his arms. I sob against him as he runs his hand down the back of my head. I have no clue how long I stand there like that, but he doesn’t complain about it.
When I finally pull back, he frowns at me.
“Where is your jacket? You’re shivering. Let’s get you inside.”
I look at him, frowning. “You’re in a T-shirt.”
“Yes, but I was only waiting for you. You walked all the way over here without a jacket. You’re going to get sick.”
