“It means diapers,” I offer up.
“Well, you’d better find a way to handle it, Callan,” Gwen says, refocusing the conversation. “I don’t think the attention is going away anytime soon.”
“Just what I wanted to hear,” he grumbles.
“Can you all stop hogging the burrito bar?” a female with a high-pitched, unfortunately familiar, voice says. “Some of us are hungry.”
“I think the word you’re looking for is hangry, Ana,” Gwen says, “and when did you start eating burritos? Do you realize how many calories are in one?”
“I’m having a cheat day,” Ana retorts, “and you’re not my mother, Gwen. Careful what you say to me, or you might find yourself sitting on the bench at our first game.”
“Don’t be a bitch, Ana.” Thor narrows his eyes at the head cheerleader.
“It’s all yours,” Callan says to Ana as he edges around Gwen. “I was only checking out the options.” His eyes dart to mine for a second. “Sorry again.” He heads off in the direction of the salad bar, and I wonder if he can feel all the eyeballs glued to his back.
“Way to go, ladies. Scaring our star player off on his first day. That’s got to be some kind of record.”
“Fuck off, Thor,” Gwen says, rescuing my plate and handing it to me.
“Callan doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy who lets anyone intimidate him,” I say, “and Ana is correct. We’re causing a traffic jam. Time to move before we’re scolded.”
“You’re right, Gwen,” Ana says a few seconds later as I add a heaping side of rice, cheese, and guacamole to my plate. “Burritos are way too fattening.” A catty smirk spreads across her mouth as she deliberately eyeballs my plate. “Think I’ll stick to salad after all.” Her hips sashay as she strides across the room toward Callan and the salad station.
“She’s such a bitch,” Renee says as we walk toward our table.
“Only eating salad will do that to a girl,” I joke.
“Hey!” Gwen pokes her finger in my chest. “Not all of us have amazing genes and can eat what we like and not put on a pound.”
“I know I’m lucky, and it wasn’t a dig at you.” I squeeze her hand as we approach our usual table.
“I must leave you here, gorgeous,” Thor tells Renee as he helps her into her chair. “I promised Callan I have his back, and I need to sit with the team today.”
“Go do your thing, sexy.” Renee tilts her chin up and puckers her lips. Thor kisses her deeply, and we all groan. Since those two got together in April, they’ve been all over one another like a rash. Not that I begrudge my friend. I’m happy she’s happy. Thor is a bit of a clown, but he’s one of the good guys, and he treats her well. The PDAs just get a little too much sometimes.
“Some of us are eating,” Gwen drawls, savagely stabbing a piece of tomato with her fork.
Thor breaks their lip-lock, smirking over the table at us. “No need to be jealous, squirt. Your Prince Charming is out there waiting.”
“It seems your idiot quota hasn’t been reached for the day. Didn’t you get the memo? I’m over men.”
Gwen has the shittiest luck with guys, and after her last disastrous breakup, she has sworn off relationships.
“Could’ve fooled me with the way you were drooling over the Irish guy in biology,” Lyn says, momentarily lifting her head from the book she’s reading as she shovels fries into her mouth.
“A girl can appreciate the menu without sampling it,” Gwen retorts. “You’re not into guys, so it’s no surprise you don’t get it.”
Thor slips away while the girls get into it again. Lyn and Gwen can always be relied upon to butt heads.
“Goddamn it, Gwen. For the last time, I’m pansexual. It’s not about gender for me. It’s about deeper connections.”
“She knows that,” I interject before it turns into an argument, subtly kicking Gwen’s leg under the table.
“Don’t mind me.” Gwen shoots a semi-apologetic look Lyn’s way. “I’m in a funky mood today.”
Nikki bites loudly into an apple, spraying juice over the table as she noisily chomps down. “You’re not fooling any of us, Gwennie,” she says after she’s finished eating. “You’re in a funk because you don’t have a guy. Just admit it. You don’t know how to be alone. I bet you’ll be in a new relationship within a month.”
“Don’t be mean,” I chastise our other friend. “Gwen is allowed to change her mind. It’s her life.”
