It was only one time, but I made sure to work hard so Coach wouldn’t bust my ass. He still caught on and I got punished for it.
“Also, what the fuck?” I give another squeeze of my bottle. “Why’d you tell Thea about Anna?”
He shrugs, dodging the stream of water. “She asked, and you know I tell her everything. She was going to find out regardless. You told yourparentsAnna is your girlfriend, you dumb fuck.”
“You know when you said you’d be my best friend, I didn’t think you’d make her your best friend, too.” I glare at him. “God, do you two really talk about everything?”
“Everything.” He blows me a kiss. “Don’t overdo your jealousy. You already did enough of that yesterday.”
“I wasn’t jealous. I was annoyed that Alex continued to ask when I’d told him to fuck off.” And he still had the audacity to follow her on Instagram. I don’t think now’s the time to mention that because he’ll think I’m jealous, which I’m not.
“Thea was right, you’re crushing so hard.” He laughs and skates away when I throw my bottle at his head. It misses him completely, plopping hard against the ice.
“I’m not.” I skate after him with my stick, but he swerves left and right, laughing maniacally.
“Sylas has a crush! Sylas has a crush!” he shouts, his voice and the sound of skates slicing against the ice reverberating around the empty arena.
I stop chasing after him, not sure why I even began. Now he’s really going to assume I like her. “You’re a childish fuck.”
“And you’re a stupid fuck.” He skates idly up next to me, picking up my bottle and tossing it over. “So what if you like her? What’s wrong with that?”
I think about it hard and really let it settle.Whatiswrong with that?
“We hardly know each other. I met her about eight days ago. We’re too busy to make it work.” I remove my helmet, running my fingers through my sweat-drenched hair. “I don’t know if she likes me like that. How do I even know if Ilikelike her?”
“Dio.” He pinches the bridge of his nose, shaking his head. Then he fixes me with a look that screamsYou’re fucking stupid. “Get to know her. Time is just an illusion. Make space in your calendar. And yes, you dumb fuck, you have a crush. Who gets matching tattoos with a girl they hardly know?”
“We were drunk,” I counter pathetically.
He saw it in the locker room and asked about it. I should’ve kept my mouth shut.
“Regardless, you have a crush. Own it.”
“How can I own it when I’m not even sure I really do? We’re not going to stand here and act like Anna isn’t hot because we both know she is. What if this is just me lusting because she’s attractive?” I’m not trying to sound like an ass, I’m genuinely curious.
I’ve never been in a relationship. I have nothing against them, but it’s never been something I want. But…I don’t know…I kind of like the idea of spending more time with Anna. We don’t need to be undressed for it to happen. We could talk about anything and everything and I’d be okay with that. We wouldn’t even need to talk, we could just watch a movie and maybe cuddle. Jesus, since when do I like to do that?
He hums and scratches the back of his head. “I don’t know. Why don’t you find out?”
“How?” I pause, picking up my phone as it vibrates with a text.
Dad: If Anna isn’t working, let’s have dinner tomorrow.
Dad: I’d like to get to know your girlfriend.
“Why do you look like you’re about to pass out?”
I show him my phone.
“Let me guess, he’s not asking.” I nod and he rolls his eyes. “Sounds like my dad.”
Our dads go way back and have a lot in common. They love money and the ability to tell people what to do.
He looks pensive for a moment until his entire demeanor brightens. “Take her. Play up the whole charade, get to know her, and if you fall for her then you fall. If you don’t then at least you gave it a shot and then you can fake break up.”
“She works a lot, and she didn’t agree to keep this up.” I can’t imagine Anna wanting to keep pretending to date me or spend time with my parents.
He shrugs. “It’s either you do it or your dad knows you lied. You know he won’t stop until you comply.”
