“We’re ending the second week by visiting Kluvberg. I checked the dates—you’ll be just starting Scholenberg.”

“Whoa, very cool,” I respond, a bit more emotion in my voice. I’m imagining the atmosphere at Scholenberg will be similar to that of an enemy army camp. A friendly face will most definitely be welcome.

Natalie keeps chatting, continuing our mostly one-sided conversation. She only pauses for breath when some of our other teammates come up to congratulate me on Scholenberg as well.

I mostly lean against the counter and people watch, content to let others come to me. Usually this is the portion of the evening when I’d make the rounds, but I’m drained. Emotionally, at least. My legs are still itching to run. Some of the other partygoers would probably be a bit taken aback if I started doing sprints in the kitchen, though.

Plus, I’m drunk.

I’m not usually much of a drinker. In my experience, people tend to drink for fearlessness or to forget. I’ve never had the first issue. There is nothing I would do drunk that I haven’t already done sober. The second motivation is why the corners of the kitchen look hazy right now. The last time the number of members in my immediate family shifted was not exactly a cause for celebration, and I wouldn’t say the last sixteen years have made me less cynical about the general notion of romantic commitment, nor the specific institution that fails as often as it perseveres.

I take the final sip of my drink and drop the empty cup on the kitchen counter behind me. It’s already littered with abandoned ones, some half-full, most empty. When I turn back around, it’s to a welcome sight. A hot, hunky sight.

“Drew!”

The dark-haired captain of Lancaster’s hockey team glances over from the doorway. He’s being trailed by two girls who both give me death glares as he bounds over to me.

“Want to get out of here?” I’m not the type to bother with pleasantries or false platitudes, but I usually throw out a “Hello” at least.

Drew doesn’t seem to mind the lack of polite greeting. He grins. “Hell yeah.”

“Please be done by two,” Anne requests from her spot next to me. “I have to be up at nine tomorrow.”

I smirk. “Wear headphones.”

Chapter Two

Pristine. Green. Empty. Those are the first adjectives that come to mind as I study the emerald carpet spread out before me.

I’m here.

I’m finally, really, truly here.