“Positive. Need a room?” I grab the black binder notebook that holds the sign-up sheets.
“I, uh… was hoping you were getting off soon.”
“Nope.” I fake smile again. “I’m working late today.”
“No, you’re not.” Ava decides right then to butt into my business. “You’re off in like five minutes.”
“Oh, great.” Eli’s smile is too pretty.
“Well, I was supposed to be off, but they asked me to work on a special project.” God, I’m a terrible liar.
“What special project?” Ava needs to get a life and stay out of mine.
I turn my head so only she can see the scowl that’s crossing my face. “I’ll tell you about itlater.”
“Oh.” She snickers. “Right.” She turns to Eli and says, “You looked like you were having a good time at Paradise on Saturday night.”
“Paradise?” Eli blinks a few times. His head slowly moves down until he’s looking me in the eye. “I met up with Cody.”
Like I care.
“Sure, you did,” Ava singsongs. “Who was she?” She holds up her phone and shows Eli the same photo as she showed me. “See?” She snickers. “You looked like you were having a really good night.”
“I…” Eli looks at me again. Now he knows. “She was just a puck bunny. She hugged me, then I pushed her away.”
“Puck…” I start, my voice husky. So much so I have to clear my throat. “…bunny?”
“Girls who are into hockey players.Anyhockey player.”
“She’s pretty.” I mean, I can only see her back and a little of her face, but from that she looks like they’d match.
“You’reprettier.”
Oh, now I know he’s full of it. And it makes me mad. “Yeah. Right.” I turn and make my way into the little office behind the desk.
Inside the office, I step past a chair just as I feel a hand on my arm. “Em.”
I squeeze my eyes shut and do my best to gather myself. “No.” I shake my head. “It’s okay, Eli.” Turning around, I’m now facing him. When I look up, there’s concern written all over his handsome face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause any drama. You can go out with whoever you want. I… this means nothing.”
“It’s not nothing, Emma.”
“Well, I had no right to assume you and I were––”
“What? We’re what?”
“A thing.” I don’t know what to call it. “An item.” I guess I’m funny because he laughs. It makes me embarrassed––again. I’m sure tired of feeling that way. “Never mind.” I turn and bend so I can grab my bookbag, but Eli beats me to it. Picking it up, he throws it over his shoulder. I feel a little sorry for him because my bag is heavy. But only a little.
“So youareoff work?”
I’ve got no reason to lie to him. “I am.”
“Can we go somewhere and talk?”
Why would he want to talk? I sure as heck don’t have anything more to say. Even if I did, he’d probably just laugh.
“Please?” His voice sounds almost vulnerable. “Em?”
Well, crud. “I have a few minutes.”
