“Today was a small Caesar salad, a chicken sandwich, a banana, and a white chocolate chip cookie.”
“I hate you.” Her jaw drops, and she shakes her head. “I had a protein bar and a handful of pretzels because my Uber Eats app was being glitchy.”
“I hate me too. And I hate that I find it so freaking hot. Why is this my fetish instead of cosplay?” It’d be so much easier to explain.
“It makes sense, actually. You’ve spent so much of your life taking care of yourself and Wren, now someone’s taking care of you.” She shrugs one shoulder.
“I can never tell him.” I lean forward. “And neither can you!”
“Tell him and then kiss him some more.”
Just the thought of our last kiss makes my stomach do a complicated series of somersaults. I glower at Kinsley.
She chuckles. “Fine. I’ll keep your secret, but can you ask him to pack double? Your fab best friend needs to eat too.”
The next afternoon while working on beam, I take a fall and twist my ankle. Coach tells me to call it a day so I don’t make it any worse. I sit on the side at the gym with my foot propped up and watch the other gymnasts.
Kinsley comes over after she finishes with floor. “You’re still here?”
“Travis has a game tonight. I didn’t want to interrupt his routine.” I check the time on my phone. “He should be leaving for the rink soon and then I’ll head out.”
“So considerate, but I have to wonder if it’s dual purpose.” She narrows her gaze playfully. “Are you avoiding him?”
“Shut up.” I’m not avoiding him so much as keeping myself away from temptation.
She takes a seat next to me.
“Are you done for the day?” I ask her.
“Yeah.”
“What are you and Skylar doing tonight? Do you want to grab dinner?”
“She’s working late, but I’m free.”
“Great. Where do you want to go?”
She grins. “I know the perfect place.”
“Our friendship is officially over,” I tell Kinsley as we take our seats.
“Hot dog?” She holds up our dinner. Two hot dogs with ketchup and mustard and a side of relish for her.
Begrudgingly, I take my hot dog and then let my gaze fall to the ice where the Moonshot hockey team is warming up.
“Trickery and deceit,” I mutter as I take a bite. It’s delicious.
Her laughter is barely audible over the music pumping through the speakers.
She leans over. “Is this a bad time to also remind you that you owe me ten dollars?”
I had been certain that Travis’s offer for tickets was a one-time thing, and Kinsley bet me that there’d be two waiting at will call. She was right. Has he really been putting aside tickets for me at every home game?
“Yes,” she says as if she can read my thoughts.
“He probably forgot.”
She shakes her head and yeah, I don’t believe it either. The idea that he’s been putting tickets aside for me since he asked me to come, weeks ago, makes me feel all warm inside.
