Page 56 of Puck Me Back to Life

I immediately become suspicious.

Dante points at me.

Then points across the room toward Ash.

Then points back at me.

“You guys are coming out.”

I blink. “Coming out where?”

“A bar.”

“Why?”

The answer seems obvious to him. “Because I've known Grant for years and apparently you two are best friends now.”

A laugh comes from somewhere across the locker room. I don't need to look to know who it belongs to.

“I don't really⁠—”

“You should.”

The interruption comes from Ash.

I glance over.

He's stuffing equipment into his bag without looking at either of us.

“Dante gets offended if nobody shows up.”

“That's true,” Dante says immediately. “I do.”

The thing is, this should be easy to refuse.

A year ago, it would have been.

Two years ago, I would've found an excuse before Dante finished the sentence.

The problem is that both of them are looking at me now.

Not pressuring.

Not pushing.

Just expecting.

It's a strange feeling.

For the last two years, nobody has expected me anywhere.

Most people stopped asking.

Most people assumed I'd say no.

Most people weren't wrong.

Dante, however, seems completely unconcerned by that history.