A chorus of snarky comebacks fills the space, and we dissolve into laughter.
“Laugh while you can, but soon you’ll be needing that air to catch your breath.”
She wasn’t lying. By the time practice is over, I’m sweaty, exhausted, and ready to eat.
Cheese swats my ass as she skates off the rink. “Nice scrimmage, Jinx.”
I grin after her, following Oopsie Daisy off the floor.
“What are you doing for dinner?” I ask.
She smiles, all teeth. “Hot date!”
“Sounds fun,” I say. Anything else I’m about to add dries up in my mouth as Coach glides in front of me, a bouquet of flowers in her grip.
“These just showed up for you, Jinx.”
I follow her gesture. My eyes haven’t left the pink carnations since she came to a stop in front of me. I’m frozen.
Pink. Carnations.
My stomach drops, and suddenly, I’m right back at Chad’s house, Landon holding out a bouquet just like this, an almost shy smile on his face.
“They reminded me of you.”
Coach holds them out, but I stare at them as if they might bite me.
When she lifts them higher, I force my hands to move and take them. A card perches on a plastic holder, my name—Willow—scrawled in a familiar slanted script. If the flowers hadn’t given it away, the handwriting would have.
“Who are they from?” Daisy asks when I don’t immediately look at the card.
I wet my lips, unable to pull my gaze from the delicate petals.
“A fan, probably,” I lie.
“Finn?” She wags her eyebrows suggestively.
That would be so much better than the reality.
I force a half-hearted smile. “Probably.”
She beams. “Well, are you going to find out?”
On autopilot, I pluck the card from the holder. Setting the bouquet down on the railing, I slide my finger beneath the seal. My heart thuds loudly in my ears as I tug the card free.
Willow,
I know you hate me. I don’t blame you.
Please meet me so I can explain how sorry I am.
7 p.m. at the Mexican place outside your apartment.
Landon
Explain? My fingers curl around his words, crumpling the thick paper.
What could he possibly say? Nothing.
