I hate that's what Laura's been reduced to, but in everyone else's world around me, that is exactly who she is.
No one knows about the fact that we were just on the cusp of something real. I've kept that secret from everyone.
I kept my word to her. I fixed that swing, and never texted her, even though I’d typed out a message multiple times. Each time I ended up deleting it because I wanted to respect her.
Still, I do sometimes wonder what would have happened between us if we hadn’t kept everything a secret, or she had heard me out, but I get it. I fucked up.
“I wouldn't want to intrude,” Erik drawls out.
“Intrude all you want,” Amelia answers for me before patting my cheek. “You’re going. They’re going. Dan is driving. End of discussion.”
Dan, the cameraman-bodyguard hybrid, gives me a grim thumbs-up.
I groan, grabbing my shirt. “Fine. But if Dad shows up because you GPS-shared us again, I’m leaving.”
Chapter 17
“Is there a reason we had to drive forty-five minutes to this rink when there are three perfectly good ones closer to campus?” Noelle asks, lacing up her professional skates. They don’t look like her usual ones, but she said that was the point.
“Oh, and let’s not forget the one that’s actually on your campus. You know, the one you live five minutes away from and I’ll be skating on tomorrow.”
Grumbling, I tug at my rental skates, wondering why the laces seem designed to cut off circulation rather than provide actual support. My feet already hurt and I haven’t even stood up yet. “I already told you, I don't want anyone from school seeing me.”
“Right.” Noelle rolls her eyes. “Because the actress brushing up on her skating skills is too embarrassing for anyone to see.”
I ignore her mocking and try to tighten my laces again. It does nothing.
“I’m still confused about that, though.” She leans against the rink boards and glances at the empty rink. I knew 8 a.m. on a Friday morning would be the best time to come. “None of your snobby friends are going to be at the rink.”
“They aren’t snobby.”
She whips her head back in my direction, her dark ponytail flying across her shoulder in the process. She raises a brow, but I can barely see it with her perfect bangs. “You’re joking, right? Your friends in high school used to carry around giant water bottles labeled ‘VOCAL HYDRATION.’
“Yeah, well, that was high school. We all make mistakes. Need I remind you that your high school boyfriend wore eye black for every gym class claiming ‘you never know when the competition starts.’”
“Oh, we’re going there, are we?” She laughs. “At least Jace could bench press me, and he did, on multiple occasions.”
I cringe, not wanting to think about Noelle and her extracurricular activities.
“You were too busy thinking Octavian Kingsley walked on water to realize how hated he was at school.”
“He wasn’t hated. He was the lead in every production we did.”
“Laura,” she says despondently. “The guy would do his vocal warm-ups in the hallway. It’s fine when you do it because you have the voice of an angel. He’s tone-deaf and made us listen to him. Every. Single. Day.”
“He was quirky, I admit.”
“Good. Now will you tell me why you are avoiding the hockey rink when it’s only meatheads like me there?”
“You’re not a meathead.”
Scotty isn’t, either. I saw that when we did ourRomeo and Julietassignment. I’m still not sure how I got credit for that entire class since I dropped it so early, but I’m not complaining.
The idea of seeing him, though… it’s too much.
“I just don’t want to be judged until I’m at an acceptable level, okay?”
Noelle purses her lips and pushes them from side to side.
