“Okay,” I sigh. “I thought I was gonna have to talk you off a ledge.”
“I would never. I love him as a person like a brother, but I would never have a crush on him.”
I nod in agreement, taking another bite of ice cream.
“Guess again,” she says.
Oh, we’re playing this game. I take a moment to think. She takes care of the equipment, which means it could be any hockey player on the team. “Is he just on the team or is he a boy at the Hawthorne House?”
She shrugs.
I narrow my eyes. “Is it Percy?”
“Percy is the most polite person on planet earth, and I would have to be polite back which means I would die.”
I ask, “You would die from being polite.”
She nods. “I would shrivel up.”
I blink. “Okay.”
“He would have to be able to handle my brother,” she says with big eyes. “Otherwise, I can’t waste my time.”
I look over at her and wonder who on earth could take on Benson Reeve. Maybe I’m biased, but he’s massive. He’s tall, muscular, and is rational. Nobody can mess with a man that’s rational. He’s always one step ahead.
“Does he like you back?”
She shakes her head. “It’s just an one-sided crush for now. He may have given me two minutes of his time, and now I’m like –– in love. He has a good smile, and he can cook.”
I sit with that for half a second. “Rowan?”
She squeezes her eyes shut and nods.
“G!”
“I know.” She looks overly excited to tell me this bit of information.
“Rowan?” I ask again. No way.
She nods. “He’s so nice. I don’t have his number or anything, but––” she shrugs, “I have my eyes on him. Do you know if he’s seeing anyone?”
I shake my head. “No, the boys follow the Hawthorne House rules.”
She deadpans. “Not Benson.”
I roll my eyes.
She continues, “He broke the rules, so now the boys are going to follow suit.”
I wince. “You think so? They seem to have a strong pact.”
“It’s their senior year, Lucy. That’s the best time to Camdenk the rules.”
I smile. “Yeah, true.”
Then the thought of Benson leaving soon hits me. It’s not an emotion I’m ready to deal with, so I shove it down.
“Rowan is nice,” I say. “He actually invited me to dinner tonight, but I canceled because I made plans with you instead.” I frown, feeling bad about it.
