We felt like strangers now. Old friends who no longer had anything in common.
I hated it.
I was beginning to hate most things in my life.
Chloe and Nate chatted as we followed the small convoy of Hawks fans out of Teller Valley, but I barely heard them, too lost in my own thoughts. By the time Nate pulled up outside the roadside diner, along with the other cars, the team had already moved inside.
“Does this usually happen?” I asked Chloe as we headed inside.
“Sometimes after a big win or if the ride is a few hours, Coach takes the team for dinner. It’s never anything fancy but it builds morale and gives the guys a chance to celebrate and eat something decent.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I gave her a small nod.
“Come on, it’s fun. You’ll see.”
“Don’t need to ask me twice, I could eat a small cow,” Nate said, looking inside.
Chloe let out a small sigh. “He’s so freaking hot.” Her gaze turned sad. “Why are the hot ones always off-limits or not interested?”
“He might be—”
“He’s not. Besides, my brother would have something to say about it.”
“At least you can’t get into trouble here,” I said.
“Oh, I don’t know about that.” Her lips twitched. “You know I don’t care what they all think. I’m glad you came. And I am sorry I didn’t invite you.”
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not. But I’ll find a way to make it up to you. Now let’s go give the guys something to moan about.” Chloe winked and pulled me inside.
It was chaos. Hawks players and their friends and families crammed into the small diner. Someone had loaded the old jukebox in the corner and some 1970’s music drowned out the conversations and chatter.
“Over here,” Kye called, scooching up to let us in. But there wasn’t room, so I grabbed a chair and sat awkwardly at the end.
“I’m getting one of everything,” he said, scanning the menu underneath the clear tabletop.
“Ten-dollar budget per person, remember, asshole.”
“Relax, I got it.” He waved Nix off, reeling off all his options.
“What do you want?” Chloe asked.
“Oh, I’m okay.”
I wasn’t sure I could eat.
“You should eat,” Nate said. “It’s been hours since we left school and you haven’t eaten a thing.”
It was true. They’d all had corn dogs from the concession stand, but I hadn’t wanted anything then either. The knot in my stomach had only grown worse every passing hour. A bitter reminder that I didn’t belong here.
That I wasn’twantedhere.
Harleigh caught my eye and said, “He’s right, you should eat something. We’re still at least two-and-a-half hours away from home.”
Home.
The word clanged through me.