Heartbroken (Gritt Family Book 1)

by Gabrielle G.

  Heartbroken

  Gritt Family Series 1

  Gabrielle G.

  Heartbroken, Copyright ©2020 by Gabrielle G. All rights reserved.

  Cover Design: Cleo Moran - Devoted Pages Designs

  Editor: Pam Gonzales - Love 2 Read Romance

  Proofreading: Darlene Palma & Athena D. Lexis - Sisters Get Lit(erary) Author Services

  Paperback Formatting : Devoted Pages Designs

  No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written consent of the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, band names, incidents are the product of the author imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or publisher.

  Disclaimer: This book contains explicit mature content and language and is intended for adults ages 18+. For more details on the issues in this book, please consult a healthcare professional.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Introduction

  Playlist

  1. Then - Alane

  2. Now - Alane

  3. Then - Aaron

  4. Now – Aaron

  5. Then – Alane

  6. Now – Alane

  7. Then – Aaron

  8. Now – Aaron

  9. Then – Alane

  10. Now – Alane

  11. Then- Aaron

  12. Now- Aaron

  13. Then - Alane

  14. Now - Alane

  15. Then - Aaron

  16. Now - Aaron

  17. Then - Alane

  18. Now – Alane

  19. Then - Aaron

  20. Now – Aaron

  21. Then - Alane

  22. Now – Alane

  23. Then - Aaron

  24. Now - Aaron

  25. Then – Alane

  26. Now - Alane

  27. Now – Aaron

  28. Now - Alane

  29. Now - Aaron

  30. Now – Alane

  31. Now - Aaron

  32. Now – Alane

  33. Then – Aaron

  Epilogue - Alane

  Merci, etc.

  Also by Gabrielle G.

  About the Author

  I’ve avoided my hometown for twenty-seven years for one reason.

  Aaron Gritt.

  Now that I’m back in Springs Falls, I’ve done my best to not run into him.

  But if I happen to, let’s hope he isn’t as hot as he was at eighteen.

  But the universe is funny that way.

  My life is proof of it—secrets and all.

  So, I’m not surprised when he stands in my classroom before me as the parent of one of my students. Forgiving him when he walked away had always been hard, but not as hard as it is to finally tell him the truth.

  Can you forget your first love?

  I didn’t.

  Even if I didn’t recognize her right away, the girl with a star-shaped birthmark was always somewhere on my mind.

  But she isn’t the competitive and driven seventeen-year-old captain of the girls hockey team I loved anymore.

  I don’t know what happened, but she has lost her fire and never made it into the pros like she dreamt of.

  Now I know why, and it’s my turn to decide if I can forgive her.

  A second-chance, small town romance novel you won’t be able to put down.

  Heartbroken Soundtrack

  Brown-Eyed Girl – VAN MORISSON

  Happy Together – THE TURTLES

  Ironic - ALANIS MORISSETTE

  Losing My Religion – R.E.M

  No Diggity – CHET FAKER

  Daughters – JOHN MAYER

  Sinners – LAUREN AQUILINA

  Nothing Compares to You – FREEDOM FRY

  Take Me to Church - HOZIER

  It Must Have Been Love – MARIA MENA

  Someone Like You - ADELE

  I Try – MACY GRAY

  Faith – GEORGE MICHAEL

  Perfect – ED SHERAN

  Two Punks in Love – BÜLOW

  DEDICATION: To those who believe it ain’t over ‘til it’s over. (Thank you Lenny Kravitz.)

  1

  Then - Alane

  “Have you seen him, Al? Like seriously, he’s the cutest on the hockey team.”

  It’s been five weeks since we started high school, and my best friend Patricia can’t shut up about her crush. He’s all she talks about. All. The. Time. How he wears his jersey, how he sways his hips on the ice, how he never has girls hanging on to him like the other players, or how he’s so smart that he’s one year ahead. I’m wondering when I’ll get the report on his bowel movements.

  She doesn’t care much about the team, but as the youngest captain our female hockey team has ever had, I do. I need to be focused one hundred percent at every practice, so I can prove to my parents that I can get into Bishop’s Academy—the best hockey prep school in the state. I need to enroll for my last year of high school, so I can get my chance of becoming a professional hockey player. I don’t know why, but hockey has always been my passion.

  Ever since I learned to walk, I wanted to skate. Every bounce of the puck fascinated me when I was two; still does at fifteen.

  I’m the best on the ice.

  When our captain had to step down because of an injury, the team voted for me to be captain, it was an odd vote of confidence, but it boosted my self-esteem even more. We could become an excellent team, if our players chased the actual puck more than the boys on the hockey team, who barely acknowledge us just like the rest of the school. The only one who’s here at every practice, watching us and sometimes cheering for us is Patricia’s crush, Luke Gritt, also known as one of the Coach’s sons.

  Of course, Patricia thinks he’s here for her and he’ll make his move any day now; I’m not so sure about that. Contrary to her wishful thinking, I really don’t understand why he comes. Luke watches me, but not as if he’s interested in me or wants to go out with me, more as if he’s studying me. When my eyes meet his gaze, he acknowledges me with a nod of his head. Patricia is right; he’s cute, if you like fourteen-year-old boys with whiskey eyes and dark blond hair.

  “Did he nod at you or at me? Why would he nod at you? Do you know him or something? Can you introduce me?”

  Lacing up my skates, I ignore her and hit the ice for warm up. I don’t know Luke Gritt. We share a few classes, but that’s it. I know his reputation as a hockey player, and from what I saw, he’s good, even if it seems to me that he would prefer to be drawing. He always has his nose in a notebook. He’s also the brother of Aaron Gritt, the goalie for the boys’ team.

  Aaron is the most handsome boy on that team, but he’s a distraction I know my game can’t afford. My brain needs to stay in my practices, in the game, not wrapped up in some good-looking, grumpy boy who apparently can’t stand the human race.

  That’s the thing about the Gritt brothers.

  If the youngest is all smiles and sunshine, the older one is a dark cloud around the school. For most girls, and especially my best friend, the sun shines right through the dark sky that Aaron is. For me, he blocks the sun every time with his sandy blond hair and blue eyes, or are they grey? I’ve never been close enough to see them clearly. Shaking my head, I try to focus on the practice, which is about to start.

  Head in the game, Alane! Head in the game!

  I go around the rink a few times before Coach calls out the drills of the day. It starts pretty easy with two equal lines in the middle of
the ice. Coach passes the puck to the first person of one line, who then passes it to the next player in the opposite line. It’s nothing exciting, and I’m restless, needing to do something else, to do more, to work harder. We are not five-year-old players. One of the girls passes way far off its mark and the others begin to giggle.

  I sigh in frustration.

  “Smith! Is there a problem?” Coach yells.

  “No, Sir!” I reply as if I’m in the army.

  “Come here a minute, Smith!” I skate toward Coach, my head down, knowing that a lecture is waiting for me. I’ve heard it from every coach since I started to play this game. I need to be more patient with my teammates, a real leader needs to keep their attitude in check, and I will never get to where I want to go without a team. It’s killing me just thinking about it. Luke’s eyes are on me again, and he raises his eyebrows in an amused manner. I’m sure he knows his father is about to chew my ass out, and he seems ready for the show.

  “I’m sorry, Coach. I didn’t mean to give you attitude. I just get frustrated when they giggle to get the boys’ attention.” Coach Gritt’s eyes widen in surprise.

  “Look, Smith, you seem like a sweet girl, and I know it can get frustrating. I’m not going to give you the speech of being better with your teammates. I know you do well; you’re just not as interested in boys as they are. It’s okay. I’m sure your father is happy about that. I called you here because I think it would be great if you’d train with my son. He could be in the nets, and you can do special drills with him. It will probably push you further. What do you think?” I look at Luke on the side. So that’s why he comes to our practices. His dad certainly told him about his plan, and he wanted to be sure I was up to his standards. I’ve seen him play, and I know I can beat his ass on the ice. Luke is grinning now and seems really amused by all of this. I’m going to wipe that smile off his face, that’s for sure.

  “Say yes, Smith!” he shouts from the other side of the rink.

  “Get ready, Gritt! I’m going to kick your ass!” I answer back, skating back to my team.

  “You won’t, Captain! Not a chance!” he yells back, jogging toward the lockers. Coach Gritt is behind me, also heading to the team to give his next instructions.

  “Can you stay after practice today? I’ll call your mother, so she won’t worry.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “We’ll make a schedule later. Now, back to practice.”

  Once practice ends, I’m not even sweaty. The girls go to the locker room, and I stay behind on the bench, readjusting my equipment. Patricia is pissed at me for some reason that undoubtedly has to do with Luke.

  “Ready, Smith?” This voice is not the one of a fourteen-year-old. I raise my head slowly, appraising every part of the body belonging to the boy facing me. I can’t make out his muscle tone under the equipment, but I know it’s not Luke. As soon as my eyes find his, I feel myself blushing. Aaron. And his eyes are blue-grey, like the livid bruise I see on his cheek.

  “What happened to Luke?”

  Aaron looks at me confused. “He’s there,” he says, jerking his head in his brother’s direction. “Certain to be drawing some shit, waiting for me to drive him home.”

  “Language, Son!” Coach Gritt says from behind him.

  “Sorry, Dad,” Aaron mumbles before skating away.

  “Are you ready, Smith?”

  “Can I have a minute?” Coach nods, and I skate towards Luke.

  “I thought I was skating with you, Gritt,” I tell Luke once in front of him. He’s sitting on the bleachers, feet on the bench with a notebook on his lap and a pencil in his hand. He looks behind me, in the direction of his brother, but I don’t dare look, too afraid I will meet his gaze again. If I can, I will avoid his eyes for the rest of practice.

  “What gave you that impression?” Luke says, focusing back on his workbook.

  Is he for real? “You told me to say yes.”

  “I did.” He smiles. “I just never said it was with me.”

  “Smith!” Aaron says, “I don’t have all day!”

  I spend the next hour skating up and down the ice, trying to be faster and better than Aaron but failing every time. He’s just quicker, stronger and more agile than me. As much as it frustrates me, it gives me the push I need to be better, but mainly, better than him. I work hard to play better than most of the boys my age, and I won’t give up during my first practice with one.

  “When is the next practice, Coach?” I ask a little out of breath.

  “Every second day after the boys or girls’ practice. So, three times a week. Afterwards, if the two of you want to add some more, I’m not against it,” Coach Gritt answers with a strange glimmer in his eyes.

  “Fine by me.” I remove my helmet and untie my soaked blonde hair from the tight ponytail giving me a headache. “Gritt?” I say turning to Aaron.

  “Hmm?” He seems to be daydreaming or brooding again. “What?”

  “You good to practice three times a week with Smith and I, and alone with her on weekends, if needed?” Coach repeats to his son.

  “Whatever you need, Dad. It’s my punishment, after all.”

  “Punishment?” I’m a little startled by what I just heard. Training with me is a punishment for him. Nice, jerk! Aaron points at his shiner on his cheekbone.

  “Don’t take it personally, Smith,” Coach says. “Aaron is at my beck and call for a little while. I knew you needed help to excel, so I asked him to assist.”

  “What did you do?” I ask Aaron, who’s glaring at me with annoyance.

  “Nothing,” he mumbles, taking a sip from his water bottle before turning around and skating away off the rink. Definitely a jerk.

  “Do you need a ride, Captain?” Luke screams.

  “I’m good. Thanks, I’ll call my mother!”

  “Don’t bother her. Aaron and I can drive you home!”

  “Help me, God,” I hear Coach mumbling behind me while packing his things.

  “Come on, Captain!” Luke insists. I can imagine the discussion that will come up with my mother, if not one but two boys drop me off at home. There is no way in hell the ride is worth the trouble. I shake my head to refuse once again.

  “You can use the phone in my office, Alane,” Coach says before walking away.

  “Your loss.” Luke shrugs, making his way towards the lockers as well. I stay inside the rink alone, enjoying the silence and solitude while I untie my skates.

  That’s why I arrive first at practice and always leave last. I love being on my own in the arena. It makes me feel important somehow, as if my dreams are tangible. I stay a few minutes more, lying down on the bench, raised on my elbows with my head tilted back, and I inhale deeply with the smell of sweat floating around, letting the cool air of the arena bring my temperature down. Every time Aaron looked at me, my heart raced. I feel ridiculous for the mini-crush I have on a guy who’s clearly not interested in the least. Luke seems more interested in me than his brother, but I’ll never get close to my best friend’s crush. I’m not that kind of friend.

  Head in the game, Alane! I repeat to myself to chase Aaron from my mind.

  When I’ve taken it all in and feel ready to go home, I sit up and open my eyes, only to find a set of blue eyes watching me intensively. Aaron is on the other side of the arena, looking shocked as if he saw a leprechaun on the ice. He’s looking straight at me, and I’m not sure why. He seems mesmerized, but I know it can’t be from seeing me. I feel him gazing at me from head to toe and my body begins to feel warm. His gaze is like a thermostat, building the heat in me in a way only he can turn on whenever he wants.

  I can’t move, I can’t speak, I can’t breathe.

  As fast as he appeared, he backs away, his eyes still on me with his lips tight and his jaw clenched. I stay petrified until he disappears through the doors.

  Luke’s head pops in.

  “Bye, Captain. See you tomorrow in science.” He waves at me.

  Closing my
eyes again, I repeat the only words that can calm my pounding heart.

  Head in the game, Alane! Head. In. The. Game.

  2

  Now - Alane

  Woken up by the ringtone of my phone with a number I don’t recognize, I check the time.

  9:45 P.M.

  Still foggy from my accidental nap, I lift my head off my students’ science homework and let the call go to voicemail. I stand up to get ready for bed. As soon as the phone stops blasting, remorse invades me.

  What if it’s an emergency? What if something happened to Adam? What kind of mother would I be letting an emergency call from my son go to voicemail? Oh my God, what if he got arrested and I’m his only call? What if he needs me? What if he’s hurt? Or hurt someone? I need to calm down and set my head straight. I need to relax. He’s safe. He’s always safe. The scenarios are always in my head. It could be a wrong number for all I know.

  Adam is all right.

  Adam is safe.

  Adam is well.

  Adam’s safety has always been a trigger for my anxiety attacks, but I haven’t had any in a while. Since being back in Springs Falls and leaving him behind in Phoenix, my anxiety has returned. I worry a lot about Adam. More than about my sick mother I take care of, the reason I came back here. I don’t like being far away from him. I never liked it.