The conversation skated away from Michael and me to Kellie’s latest dilemma. I couldn’t help but check my phone every thirty seconds to see if Michael had texted me or not. There was nothing. No news of what my dad wanted to ask him, and the longer the radio silence went on, the more my nerves frayed at the edges.
Maybe it was something about his internship. That made the most sense, but the weight in my gut grew as the morning stretched into lunch. I’d already texted him once, but there was no indication he’d read the text yet. I didn’t want to be needy and ask again, but shit, this was a lot.
Kellie and Lilly went to the library to get a head start on homework, and that left me and Mona at the apartment. I didn’t like the way she studied me, like she knew something about the future I didn’t. Michael was honest to a fault, and I had to trust that.
“I’m going out,” I said, craving some fresh air. Maybe I’d stroll toward the rink. Just to see if they were still there.That’s creepy.
“Oh yeah, to where?” Mona asked, essentially calling me on my bluff.
“To walk. It’s beautiful outside.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“Oh, you don’t have to,” I said, not sure what reason I could give her. “I just need to clear my head. Alone.”
“No worries.” She frowned for a beat. “Hey, I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t want to stress you out. I love you to death, Naomi. You know that, right?”
“Yeah, I know.” I smiled at her, and that eased some of the tension in my gut. I couldn’t shake the feeling that last night and this morning were just a dream. It had to be my nerves creating fake scenarios because of how much I was into him. I had it bad.
“Let’s watch How to Get Away with Murder later, yeah?”
“You got it.”
I left the apartment in the same thing I wore last night, but it was cold enough I didn’t care. Plus, the sweatshirt smelled like Michael’s place, and I was probably a little lovesick.
LOVESICK?Love? Did I love him?
I stared at an old oak tree that had been around for decades as I contemplated the answer. I thought about him all the time. I wanted to take his pain and make it my own, and my heart beat twice as fast when he was around. If I wasn’t in love with him yet, I would be very soon.
He had to be feeling something similar with all the things he said. He was an open book, and maybe it was time I attempted that too. I got my phone out and texted him.
Naomi: I hope everything is okay. I’m trying this new “Reiner” thing where I’m honest as hell. I want you to know I’m falling for you, hard.
Wow. I sent it and shoved the device into my pocket. That was exhilarating and terrifying. But it was worth it. I wandered around the quad for a good thirty minutes before heading into a different cafe. Still no response from Michael and I was hungry.
“Nana?” Cami’s voice startled me, and I spun to see her right in line behind me.
“Hey, hey,” I said, pleased at the surprise.
“How are you doing?” she asked, her brows coming together in a way that had me on edge. That made no sense. Why would she assume I wasn’t doing phenomenal?
“Um, good, why?”
“The sudden change with Michael? I assumed y’all were hooking up, but this’ll have to shift that dynamic, I’m sure. Dad won’t let him have a moment of free time.” She snorted and squinted at the menu on the wall. “Have you had their salads? I shouldn’t eat carbs, but fuck, I’m hungry.”
“What change, Cami? What are you talking about?” I asked, the metaphorical shoe dangling from a cliff, ready to drop and ruin my momentary bliss.
She winced. My fearless, ballsy sister winced. “Hank quit. Something to do with family out west.”
“Okay?”
“Michael’s the new assistant coach for the team. Didn’t he tell you? Did dad not send you a text too?”
My head spun, and I gripped the counter in front of us. Assistant coach. To my dad. For the school team.
No one told me.
Not either one of them. How could they ignore me over something so important? My eyes stung, and my stomach cramped with pain from betrayal, disappointment, and resignation. Keeping this from me was an active decision.
