Chapter 127 The Party

• I hadn’t given up on my plan to get Jack and Matt together, and the minute Matt’s concussion was healed, I decided I needed to stop putting it off. He still had a couple of bruises where he’d bashed his head, and a sore arm, but he was mostly okay. It was a relief to walk out of class a few days later to find him leaning against the far wall with an easy smile on his face–headache mostly gone, and his broken bone well on the way to healing completely.
• No one really spared his bruises a second look, and he didn’t wear a sling. Hockey players were often getting injured, and Matt’s friends seemed to take it all in stride. He still hadn’t told me what really happened, but I planned to ask him about it when we had some time alone. I didn’t like the idea of him keeping secrets from me.
• That night I paced my room, my thoughts jumbled. Tomorrow was Saturday, which meant Jack would be having one of his parties. The cabinet was already stocked with booze, and the freezer had a huge tray overflowing with ice. If I could convince Matt to come for the party, then maybe he and Jack would hang out. I hoped the alcohol and party atmosphere might take the edge off their animosity. Them realizing they still enjoyed spending time together was the first step. I just had to hope it didn’t go poorly.