“What did you think?”
“That whatever’s eating you has to do with him.” She lengthens her vase, then manages to give it a curvy lip. “I know Rae’s been wrapped up in Harrison, so if you need someone to talk to, you can try me. My track record’s a little skewed, what with all the Brad drama, but I’m a good listener.”
“Thanks, Laney.”
She shoots me a smile that disperses some of my glum mood.
I go back to trying to mold my clay into something… anything at this point. Unlike Samantha, no nimble fingers guide my own. By miserable attempt number forty-seven, I give up and carry my lumpy creation to the drying rack. Of course someone has to set their perfectly symmetrical vase next to mine.
“You’re better at singing, right?”
I turn to find Ten looking down at me, one corner of his mouth kicked up.
I gesture to the gray thing. “I was going for ashtray with warts. I think I nailed it.”
The other corner of his mouth rises. “I think you did.”
Samantha sets her vase down on the other side of Ten’s. “Thanks for all your help, Ten. You have real awesome hands.”
As though he’s embarrassed by the attention called to his hands, he slips them into the pockets of his khakis.
“Happy to help,” he says.
I stare at the bulge in his pockets, but then lift my gaze as I realize how staring at that general area could be misconstrued.
Without another word, I return to my table and swipe my tote off the floor. It feels like it weighs a ton.
“Want to sit out on the bleachers for lunch?” Laney asks.
“That sounds nice.”
“By the way, I called your dance coach.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I’m going for my first lesson tomorrow after class.”
“You’re going to love her.”
I tell Laney about Steffi’s quirks, and then I tell her not to be alarmed by the brightness of her wife’s hair. Rae meets us halfway through lunch—Harrison-free. I’m not jealous, but I’m glad to have my friend to myself. When she’s with him, I fade into the background, become one with the yellow lockers. It’s not her fault, though; it’s all me. I step back to make room for him. I did the same thing when she was dating Jasper’s older brother.
“So one of Harrison’s old teammates is coming into town next weekend,” Rae says.
I chew on my tuna fish sandwich, watching the track team run laps—the entire team… not just one runner. Sure, Ten stands out more than the others, but that’s because he’s so tall. It wasn’t even my idea to come out here.
“And I was thinking we could double-date,” Rae says. “Or triple-date if you and Brad are free, Laney.”
Ten tilts his face up in my direction, or maybe he’s looking at the sky. Probably the sky. I’m too far up to see what his eyes are focused on.
Rae flicks my knee. “Earth to Angie.”
“What?”
“The triple date. You in?”
“What triple date?”
Rae and Laney exchange a look.
