Free Breaking the Ice by T. Torrest Page B

gorgeous.”
       “What did you wear?”
       “Huh?”
       “New Year’s Eve! What did you end up doing?”
       I was excited to tell her about Zac, but didn’t want to look like I was trying to trump her big news. Besides. I didn’t even know where to start. I got tipsy and threw myself at him until we hooked up in my car , for godsakes? At twenty-three and twenty-one, I would have figured we’d earned the right to hook up on a mattress, for crying out loud. We’d have to come up with a better plan for next time.
       “Oh, I ended up at Johnny’s. It was a good night. Played some pool, drank, the usual.”
       “Well, good. I was worried you’d stay home without me there.”
       “Believe it or not, I do have a social life outside of you, brat.”
       That made her laugh. “I know, I know. Hey, we’re coming home tonight, so I’ll come over and show you the pictures, okay?”
       “Sounds like a plan.”
       We were winding our conversation down, but then suddenly, she said, “You know… I didn’t want to ask about Zac, but I’m surprised you haven’t said anything.”
       Jeez. Word sure travelled fast. “I wasn’t trying to keep it from you. I just figured I’d fill you in on the details when you got home.”
       “Well, he already called Simon and told him everything.”
       That was unexpected. But I was curious to hear what he’d said. “He did?”
       “Yeah. He sounded really pissed about it.”
       “Wait,” I said, confused. “What are you talking about?”
       “Dallas, Avery! What do you think I’m talking about?”
       Dallas? “Case, I may be a bit slow on the uptake here, but I have no idea what Dallas has to do with anything.”
       “You don’t know? Oh Jesus.” Case expelled a deep breath before continuing. “Avery, Zac got traded to Dallas last night. He’s probably already on a plane there now.”
       My stomach sank straight out of my body. “Zac’s been traded? He’s gone?”
       I’d seen his evasive maneuvers with every other girl he’d hooked up with, so it’s not as though I should have been surprised. But we were friends, for godsakes. Did one single hookup put me in the Must-Dispense-With-Immediately Club? Actually up and leaving town without telling me? Even if the trade was a surprise, he could have at least called . But he didn’t say anything about it.
       He never even said goodbye.
       I couldn’t stay on the phone an extra minute. I needed to find out if what she’d just told me was the truth. “Hey Case? I’ve got to go.” I felt sick, but I didn’t want her to worry, so I added, “I can’t wait to see you.”
       “Me either. I’ll come over as soon as we get back.”
       Good. I was going to need my best friend with me during something like this.
       “Looking forward to it. See you then.”
       There was a hesitant pause on her end while I waited for her to say goodbye. “Hey Avery?”
       “Yeah?”
       “I’m really sorry. I thought you knew.”
       We hung up the phone and I sat there staring at the floor while I caught my breath. The news was churning my stomach, and I couldn’t make sense of it. As badly as I wanted some verification, I was too afraid to make it real.
       I needed to talk to my father.
       I went downstairs and found him sitting at the dining room table, going over his roster—or, as he normally referred to it: his bible. I repeated the words that had been swirling around in my brain for the past ten minutes. “Hey, umm… McAllister’s traded?”
       Dad didn’t look up from his book. “Yep. Dallas.”
       I already knew it was the truth, but hearing Dad say as much actually confirmed it. I tried to remain calm as I asked, “Who’d we get for him?”
       “Boucher. From Montreal.”
       “Boucher is good.”
       “Yep.”
       I stood there flipping my slipper on and off my heel. “Did he… Did Zac want to