“But I can’t take her to class with me. And she hates daycare. I’ve tried.”
An idea pops up in my head. Not sure if it’s a good or bad one, but it most definitely isanidea. “We don’t always have classes at the same time. I can take care of her while I’m off. Bet Grey would gladly be a helping hand as well.” Because Grey is the best. “Colin has different hours too. He can do something good for once as well.”
“What about hockey? We’re all there at the same time.”
I smirk while looking at Sofia. Miles follows my eyes, but he instantly shakes his head. “I amnotletting my four-year-old with a complete stranger.”
“No, but I have a sister. Brooklyn met Lily before. Briefly, but they met. Plus, you know Lily.Iknow Lily very well. Colin is in love with Lily. And Grey never said anything bad about her, so that’s also a good sign. And there is a high chance LilyandSofia would gladly spend their time watching your daughter while we’re at practice.”
9
Sofia
“I haven’t been by your side / in a minute but I, think about it sometimes”—What A Time by Julia Michaels, Niall Horan
Why can’t he take a goddamn hint?
I’ve been standing here for good fifteen minutes, looking at Aaron while he’s talking to his friends. I mean, I guess I can’t take it badly. If I wanted to talk to him, I might as well walk up to them and ask for his time. But I am not doing that. I keep standing here like a coward, waiting for Aaron to walk over here.
I’m not even sure why the thought of talking to Aaron gets me this nervous? He’s just… Aaron. Phoenix.
He’s the guy that owned my heart a long time ago. Emphasis lies onlongtimeago.
Thankfully I don’t have to wait much longer for him to get the hint. On second thought, I want to run away because the smirk on his face as he approaches me screams danger.
“Hey there, Icicle,” he says, clapping his hands together. “What’cha doing here?”
You got this, Sofia. He’sjustAaron. “Do you know where Lily’s at? I’ve tried finding her all week but she’s unfindable.”
His arms cross over his chest, his tongue pressing into his lower cheek as he continues to smirk. “Why?”
What does he mean “why?” Lily is my best friend. I’ve never called her anything but that even when we haven’t been speaking for ages. “Because I need to see her. I need to talk to her.”
“Not sure where she is, but you can come home with me and ask her boyfriend. He definitely knows where she’s at.”
I should say no and continue to look for her all around campus daily. Something about Aaron’s tone tells me he is lying. It’s the same one he always used when we were younger, and he was being dishonest. Though, these days it’s a bit deeper as his voice deepened over the years.
But what comes out of my mouth is, “Doesn’t he play hockey, too?”
Aaron nods. “He skipped practice.” As far as I heard, Colin Carter is the captain of the hockey team. A pretty unreliable one if he skips practice just like that. “I actually have a really important favor to ask you, Sofia.”
My alarm bells start ringing. The last time Aaron and I spoke was the day I got here, and before that when we were eight. Whatever favor he wants to ask for, it’s nothing he should be asking me so early on. I mean, you don’t just go around asking favors of people.
“What favor?”
“I’ll tell you when we get home. I have to ask Colin the same one, no need to say it twice.”
“I’m not sure if he’s home yet,” Aaron tells me as he unlocks the front door to his house.
It’s weird being back here. Granted, I’ve only been here once, but that doesn’t make it any less weird. At least this time I’m not here to use his shower and change my clothes.
“How am I supposed to ask your best friend a question when he isn’t even here?”
Aaron holds the door open for me and I follow him inside. “You’re not just here for him, Icicle. We have some catching up to do, don’t you think?”
Considering that I didn’t even think he’d ever want to talk to me again, I didn’t believe so, no. Now that he indirectly says hewantsto talk to me, I certainly do.
Just as I open my mouth, the same handsome looking guy I’ve seen exit Mrs. Reyes house comes sprinting down the stairs. “You’re hom—Who the hell is this?” He points at me but doesn’t bother to look at me.
