I actually laugh out loud, which makes her laugh. Butterflies start roaming in my gut at the thought of her in my bed.
How does she make me feel like this? I hardly even know her. And besides, we’re just friends.
“Are you going out with the team for dinner?”
“We are doing something as a team tomorrow after our third game. Tonight I’m getting a shower and staying in.”
“Oh, I gotcha.”
I can’t help thinking I hear disappointment in her tone. Or maybe it’s me hoping she’ll want me to say something else.
I’m actually planning to meet you at your hotel room door.
Cheesy. I could never.
But I can’t seem to stop myself as my mouth takes over and says, “Unless you need company for some reason.”
“No!” She’s quick to shoot me down, but she sounds panicked. “I mean, it’s okay. I’m sure you’re probably sore. I was going to head to Zelo to grab a quick bite.”
Ouch.
She really isn’t into me at all. We really are just friends.
“But if your relaxing night is feeling a bit toocalm, I… wouldn’t mind talking in person.”
Wait. There’s hope?
Then she adds, “It might be nice to actually be face to face instead of staring at a phone screen.”
My heart rate immediately punches through my chest. Paige and Rissa come through the door into the parking garage, and I don’t want the panic of them finding out about Violet to erase the excitement of getting to spend time with her.
I have no good reason for hiding Violet from anyone. It’s not like we’re dating, or she’s asked me not to say anything about us talking. My go-to reaction has always been to keep everything about me private, and I guess I’m not ready to change that yet.
Maybe I need to learn to be more approachable.
Fuck me for actually having that thought. I guess it’s time to put things into action.
Step one: Be more approachable.
Step two: Talk to people about my personal life.
Maybe that’s not step two. More like step twenty-seven.
“I can meet you there at five,” I tell her, wanting to solidify our plans and trying not to sound like I’m in a rush to hang up.
The smile returns to her voice. “I guess I’ll see you in a few hours then.”
Group Chat
Post-Win Glow
Paige:TWO AND O, BABY! USA IS UNSTOPPABLE! Also, I am covered in sweat and someone else’s lip gloss. Whose lip gloss is this? It’s sparkly.
Rissa:MINE! It’s called Champagne Supernova, and it’s part of my post-game aura. I’m a glittering celestial body of victory.
Skye:Good game. Solid forecheck in the third. Rissa, your face-off percentage was sixty-eight. Don’t get used to it.
Riley:I saw the win in the ice patterns this morning. A melting patch by the Zamboni door that looked like an eagle. Or a determined duck. The point is, we were destined.
