Ask him to help you get a job.
Does he still like maple walnut ice cream?
I bet he’s still a great kisser.
He left you and never looked back.
How many women has he slept with since you?
Is he going to be named to the National Team?
Maybe he’ll do an interview with me.
Can I lick him again?
The ideas whirring through my mind make me dizzy. I close my eyes and clench my teeth, willing them to stop.
“Are you okay over there?”
Slowly I lift my lids and give him a side-eye.
Callaghan holds up his hand in defense. “Just asking. I don’t want you booting all over my car if you’re carsick or something. You look a little pale. Like, paler than you usually are.”
It’s a good thing he’s pretty because he’s definitely not wooing women with his prose. “I’m not going to throw up,” I say through gritted teeth. Though, on second thought, it might not be out of the realm of possibilities.
I’m thinking too much. Too hard. This is a simple car ride, and then I never have to see Callaghan Entay again. I don’t need him to achieve my dream. I’ve got a plan that might even be working, and I’m going to stick with it. I can sit here for the next forty-five minutes or so and then move on. We don’t even have to talk.
It would be better that way.
“Okay, so what’s with the ClikClak? I’ve seen the videos.”
“Oh? Which one did you see?” I cross my fingers that it’s not the one where I’m totally making fun of him.
“I’ve watched them all.”
Just when I didn’t think the pit in my stomach could grow any bigger, it becomes a quicksand sinkhole. Actually, that would be great if it really was, because then I could let it swallow me whole.
He knows about the video. Of course, he does. I knew that. But I still don’t want to think about him watching me in that video. Mocking him. Maybe he won’t bring it up.
“All?” I squeak out. I don’t know why I need his confirmation. I know he sawit.
His gaze darts toward me for the briefest of seconds, an eyebrow cocking. “Yes, all.”
His words hang in the car. I try to swallow, but it’s not going so well. Finally, I manage to croak out, “Well, you need to get some hobbies then.”
“Like making ClikClaks?”
I shrug, not that he can really see it. “It’s a living.” I quickly rephrase. “I mean, it’s not. Not yet. But hopefully someday.”
The disdain is evident in his voice. “You mean, all you want to do with your life is make stupid videos about dogs and make fun of athletes?”
From the bitterness in his voice, I wonder how many times he’s watched my video about him. I struck a nerve.
“That’s not—”
Callaghan cuts me off. “You know, some of us are out here, giving our hearts and souls for the game. We sacrifice everything. Our lives, our relationships, our bodies. And then someone asks a stupid question when you’re feeling your lowest of low, andthat’swhat lives forever on the internet because of people like you.”
His knuckles are white on the steering wheel. Yeah, well, he’s not the only one in this car who’s riled up.
