Page 62 of Date With Skates

Connor rolls his eyes, then turns his head to whisper it to him. Roman’s eyes widen, and then he starts to laugh.

“You’re welcome,” Roman says, and then we all laugh.

“So, what’s the plan for you two?” I ask casually, even though I don’t want to think about it.

We need to know though, because we can’t keep them all day, even if we wish we could.

“We fly back home this evening,” Roman answers.

“We have a game tomorrow in Texas,” Connor adds.

“I hear everything’s bigger in Texas,” I say, nudging Nico. “Isn’t that what they say?”

“Yeah, but I think they mean like spiders and snakes,” Connor says.

“Oh, yuck,” I say. “I thought they meant c—”

“Étienne!” Nico scolds. “We’re in public.”

“And?”

“Did you forget who we are? You can’t just say things like that. What if someone hears you?” Nico says.

Right… I didn’t think about that.

“You’re right. Sorry.”

Connor takes my hand under the table and winks at me. “It’s okay,” he mouths.

“Besides, why do you care about big things in Texas? The big thing you want resides in Colorado,” Nico says, scooting closer to Roman. If he gets any closer, he’ll be in his lap.

“I was just making conversation,” I say. “If you’d rather me talk hockey, I can do that.”

“Please, spare me,” Nico says.

Roman and Connor frown.

“No offense,” Nico says sweetly. “I just don’t see the hype.”

“How in the world—” Connor starts.

I put my hand on Connor’s chest. “Just let it go. It’s their problem. You’re the lucky one. You get me, and I’m obsessed with hockey.”

“I’d rather just be obsessed with Roman,” Nico says.

“You’re such an ass-kisser,” I say.

“Actually, no,” he says.

“That would be me,” Roman adds.

It’s not something we’d expect Roman to say, because he’s not a big talker, so it’s silent for a moment, but then we all laugh again.

“Do you think we could get away with kidnapping them?” I ask.

“How would we even pull that off?” Nico asks. “They’re both twice our size.”

“Obviously they would be in on it. Mon Dieu, Nico, do you have a brain in that pretty head of yours?”