“When is your break? I’ll buy your tickets now.”
“You don’t have to do that. I can pay for it.”
“We both have multi-million euro trusts,” Lotte deadpanned. “I can afford some airplane tickets.”
“Fine. But I’m taking you to a nice dinner in Amsterdam.”
“Of course you are. And the opera. Prince Gustav will be there one of these nights, I hear.”
Bash barked a laugh. “Are you still scheming to be Queen of the Netherlands?”
“Obviously. Next question.”
“I fully believe you can make that happen.”
“I swear Gustav was staring at me in class the other day.”
“You don’tneeda meet-cute at the opera to introduce yourself to the Crown Prince.”
“Yes, but itwouldbe so cute. When is your fall break, exactly?”
Bash rattled off the dates.
Moments later, Lotte said, “Good. Tickets are bought. I’ll email you the confirmation. So, what else is new with you, besides beating people up on the ice?”
“I don’t beat people up on the ice.”
“If you say so. Are you dating anyone?”
“No.”
“You answered that way too quickly. Who are you dating?”
“No one.”
“You are so convincing and believable right now.”
Bash and Lotte had a very close relationship. They weren’t just siblings, but best friends. Bash knew most things about her life (he assumed), and she knew most things about his. She knew that he liked to frequent the more hardcore clubs in Amsterdam and Boston, and she constantly begged for an invite, though Bash repeatedly told her that neither of them wanted her to see him in that environment. She loved him perhaps more than he loved himself, and was convinced that he would find the perfect partner.
“You sound different,” she continued.
“How on earth do I sound different?”
“Happier,” she said.
“It’s because I’m able to play hockey again.”
“No, that’s not it. That’s a competitive happiness. That’s not the tone in your voice. You seem comfortably happy.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to study therapy and psychology instead?”
“I’d be too powerful if I did that. I think you’re seeing someone, and I think you like him. Or her. Or them. If you’re not gay, you can tell me. I’m very open-minded.”
Bash glanced around. It was just him and the smoking woman. He took a deep drag of his cigarette, held the smoke inside him for a few heartbeats, and then released it. “I’m notseeinganyone.”
“I sense a however coming.”
“However, I am…engaging with someone.”
