My Hockey Boyfriend Kept Me a Secret, So I Went Public with Someone Else Chapter 09

My Hockey Boyfriend Kept Me a Secret, So I Went Public with Someone Else Chapter 09

[Amelia’s POV]

“What?”

His grip on his cup was tight, knuckles white. His throat bobbed.

“When you helped me that day… I was so happy… I like you.”

The air smelled like fries and grilled burgers. The noisy street behind campus was full of people. I thought I’d heard wrong. I shook my head. When I looked up, the guy across from me looked like he was about to bite through his lip. His skin had gone red.

He… he seemed serious.

Instead of feeling happy, I mostly felt sorry. That someone could be this nervous just to say three words.

“I’m sorry.” I took a breath. “I can’t.”

His eyes were already wet.

“Half of that rumor is true,” I said, sighing. “I am Chase’s girlfriend.”

“Sorry!” Someone at the next table knocked over their milkshake.

Logan probably didn’t follow gossip. He hadn’t heard any of the stuff about Chase and me.

Our table was quiet for a while, until the food runner came. I started talking about the rules Chase had set. Logan listened without interrupting. He just sat there quietly.

I needed someone to listen. The silence had been killing me. The beer

loosened everything, and the tears came.

A pack of tissues slid across the table.

“And now everyone thinks I was cheating on him, that I was playing both sides. But he’s the one who wouldn’t let me say anything…”

“Amelia…”

I cut him off. “Just Millie.”

“Millie. If it makes you this unhappy, why are you still with him?”

I stopped.

Why? Because Nina had asked me to stay through the end of the semester? Or because I’d liked him for so long, swallowed so much, that walking away felt like admitting all of it meant nothing? Sunk cost fallacy. I knew the term. I knew better. But letting go felt like erasing myself.

Logan saw me hurting and sighed.

“If I had a girlfriend like you, I’d want the whole world to know.”

He moved to the seat next to mine and handed me water.

“Thanks.” I took two sips. Then he made me choke.

Logan lowered his voice. “I get it if you can’t leave him yet. I can wait. Or… you’re so good, Millie. He won’t show you off, but I will. I really will.”

I was tipsy. I tilted my head and looked at the guy beside me. His eyes were clear, no alcohol in them. His face was red — but not from

drinking.

He saw me looking. He even started shaking a little.

“I’ve always wondered…” I leaned closer. “We’ve only talked a few times. Why do you… just because I helped you at the store?”

That wouldn’t happen in a novel. Love at first sight? Come on. Tons of pretty girls liked Logan.

Logan seemed to remember something. He smiled to himself, softer now.

“It’s more than that, Millie. Way before you ever noticed me, I already…”