The guy - some freshman, I don’t remember his name - hesitates. Then the door swings shut again.
When I look back at her, I see she’s pulled her scarf higher. She’s taken a step toward the steps.
“Guess you have to go,” she says.
Not a question.
“Yeah.” I should. Russo won’t wait forever. But I don’t move. “I’m-”
I stop. I almost sayI’m glad I came out here. Which is weird. And too much.
She tilts her head slightly, waiting.
“Forget it.” I shake my head, half-smiling. “See you around.”
She doesn’t say anything. Just gives me that look again - curious, unreadable - and then she’s gone down the steps, boots crunching on frost, disappearing into the dark before I can think of a reason to call her back.
I watch until I can’t see her anymore.
Then I go inside.
The rest of the night is noise and people wanting pieces of me I don’t feel like giving. I do the rounds. Smile when I’m supposed to. Let Russo drag me into conversations I don’t care about.
But my head keeps drifting back to the porch.
To the blonde girl who didn’t give me her name.
See you around, I said.
Stupid.
I wouldn’t even know where to look.
4
LEONORA
I think about Zane Blake way more than I should.
It’s annoying, honestly. I have a system. I watch the Giants from the stands, I experience hockey vicariously through them, then I leave. That’s how it’s supposed to work.
But now when I watch him skate, I don’t just see the reckless, performative way he plays.
I see the guy on the porch.
How he laughed when I made that stupid comment, even though I could see how quiet and tired he was. And then saidsee you aroundlike he meant it.
It’s a crush.
A stupid, inconvenient, absolutely-not-happening crush.
I don’t admit it out loud. I barely admit it to myself. But it’s there, every time I watch number nineteen cut across the ice.
Then Markus’ visit finally comes and suddenly I have something better to think about.
He’s taller than I remember. Moving through the world with that easy confidence professional athletes carry, the one thatmakes people turn their heads without knowing why. When he sees me, he hugs me so hard my feet leave the ground.
I give him the tour.
