Page 66 of Keeping Score

“Oh my god!” I gasped, watching him lean into her touch rather than stiffen and shrug away. “He loves her.”

“Duh.” Brody rolled his eyes. “I’ve known it all along. I can’t believe you haven’t noticed. Here I thought you were going to give me the inside scoop.”

I guess I’d been too wrapped up in Brody lately to notice anything else going on around me.

Plus, the weird-as-hell lunch I had with my dad that still had my head spinning every time I thought about it.

It had been everything I ever wanted since I was a girl, but finally getting it? It felt strangely hollow.

I hadn’t done enough in my career yet. I lacked the accomplishments I wanted so desperately to show him, to prove that I was a daughter he could be proud of. The same way he was still proud of Liam.

But I didn’t want to talk about that now. I didn’t even want to think about it.

I just wanted to dance with the boy who made me feel all the things I never thought I’d let myself feel.

When I tugged him to the dance floor, he came with me willingly. Despite the protests from his teammates, sullen at the thought of losing their comic relief, he stared only at me.

We swayed on the dance floor, while Elvis Presley sang about the humiliating experience I was currently going through without my consent.

I really couldn’t help falling in love with Brody.

It just happened. He encompassed me entirely, not in a way that felt scary, but in a way that felt safe.

Chapter Sixteen

Brody

Idrove to Rhode Island.

I didn’t really know what else to do, I just knew I needed time to clear my head and figure out the next step. Driving usually helped.

Maggie had gone to work earlier than usual, eyes still red from crying the night before. Liam hadn’t answered any of the numerous texts I sent him, telling him off about being a jerk to my girlfriend. And with all the tension running rampant in our group, I really felt like imaginary walls were closing in around me with each breath I took.

So, I got in my car and I took off south. I thought maybe the ocean might bring me some peace of mind. I mean, didn’t Ernest Hemingway write a novel about that very thing?

I don’t know. I never actually read it. All I knew was that the sea was supposed to take away the stress of life. Or at least make you forget about it for a little while.

Coach didn’t love that I was blowing off morning practice, but I guess even he could tell that I was unraveling a bit at the seams. Plus, after years of not missing a single game, practice, or event, he probably figured he owed it to me.

I could’ve stopped at any of the beaches along the way, but all of the local ones felt too close, and I had plenty of angsty songs left on my playlist that I wanted to listen to. Besides, I needed space from the problem, which led me all the way out of state.

It only took about an hour and a half before I got to the Rhode Island shore. Partially because I left after rush hour, but probably mostly because I was speeding.

And it took me about three solid minutes of staring out at the vast majestic stretch of blue before I realized it wasn’t going to do shit for me.

But I knew what would.

Some of those deep-fried clamcakes I smelled coming from the shack down the road.

My hands in my pockets, I treaded down the sidewalk, trying to figure out what the hell to do about Liam and Maggie.

It was weird, but I felt all disheveled because of it, like it was my life being wrecked by their rift. I knew on some level that it was their shit to deal with and it went far beyond what I was capable of fixing, but it felt like I couldn’t relax until I had at least tried.

If I couldn’t help the people in my life, what good was I to anyone?

After ordering some clamcakes and chowder, I made my way back to the seawall with my emotional support snack in tow, resorting to the only thing I could think to do in that moment.

Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I shot out a text to the one other person who might be capable of helping me fix this mess.