-ONGOING-
*mature content*
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Sloane Casey's life takes an unexpected turn when she becomes the new physical therapy assistant for the college ice hockey team. Needing the credits for her physiology studies, she is prepared to handle bruises and sp...
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Malachi
The pool cue feels heavy in my hand, the smooth wood a familiar comfort as I line up my next shot. The ball cracks against the others, sending them scattering across the table. Nico watches from the other side, his expression somewhere between bored and amused, as if he's seen this a hundred times before. And, honestly, he probably has.
"Getting sloppy, Kai," he says with a smirk, his voice cutting through the low hum of video game sounds coming from the living room where Leo and Theo are battling it out on the Xbox.
"Yeah, yeah," I mutter, leaning over the table to take another shot. My aim is off, and I know it, but I can't bring myself to care. My head's not in the game. Hell, it isn't even in the room. My head's just been somewhere else lately, and it's starting to piss me off. I miss, the ball bouncing off the edge of the pocket and rolling to a stop inches away. "Yeah no you are definitely just getting lucky."
Nico raises an eyebrow, but he doesn't say anything as he lines up his next shot, sinking two balls with ease. He's always been better at pool than I am, but usually, I can hold my own. Not tonight, though. Tonight, I'm just off.
Maybe it's the headache that's been lurking at the edges of my skull all day, the dull throb that no amount of Advil seems to touch. Or maybe it's the nagging feeling that I should be doing something else—anything else—besides standing here, pretending like everything's fine.
But it's not fine. Hasn't been for a while.
As I watch Nico take his next shot, a perfect bank off the side, sinking yet another ball, I can hear the distant echo of my dad's voice in my head, telling me I'm not pushing myself hard enough. That I'm not trying. But I know better. I am trying. I'm trying like hell, but nothing feels right anymore.
"What's going on bro?" Nico asks, leaning against his cue as he studies me. His tone is light, but there's a flicker of concern in his eyes that he tries to hide behind his usual cocky grin. He knows me too well.
"Nowhere," I reply, a little too quickly. "Just a headache."
Nico's expression doesn't change, but he lets it go, and I'm grateful for it. The last thing I want right now is to talk about what's been weighing on me.
From the other room, I hear Theo let out a triumphant yell as he beats Leo, again, by the sounds of it. I glance over just as they're tossing their controllers onto the couch, the match apparently done. It's late, and we should all probably call it a night, but I'm not ready to deal with the quiet just yet. Not ready to be alone with my thoughts.
"Yo, how about we hit up Dick's?" Theo suggests, running a hand through his hair as he walks over to join us. "I'm feeling a few drinks after that beatdown."
Leo groans, shoving Theo lightly. "Rematch tomorrow. Best out of five."
Theo just laughs. "Sure, bro. Whatever helps you sleep at night."
