“I know, I’ve met him before.”
“I just wanted to say it. I never had the chance to do that before.” Lily giggles at something Colin whispers into her ear, then quickly shakes her head.
The things love can do to a person… It all seems so perfect, like love is the easiest thing in the world when in reality the honeymoon phase will be over sooner than later and what comes next is fights over fights. Giggling at something whispered in one’s ear will appear as often as one can see a cockroach in the sky.
I once read that as soon as the honeymoon phase is over, you start seeing the flaws in your partner. And apparently, looking past them and still find the person you love is pretty damn difficult. Hence couple parting ways rather early on in their relationship.
Still, seeing Lily this in love makes me happy. She definitely deserves it.
Suddenly I feel the bow on the back of my head loosen up. When I reach my hands back to tighten it, my fingers collide with someone else’s.
Turning around, my eyes land on Aaron’s. He’s grinning down at me, licking his lips before opening his mouth. “Can’t believe you still wear these things.” Only when he twists the satin ribbon in his hands do I notice that he pulled the whole thing out of my hair.
I snatch it away from him, narrowing my eyes when I say, “Go fuck yourself, Phoenix.”
“No need to get all feisty with me, Icicle. I always liked the bow in your hair. It’s like your trademark.”
“Youalwaysmade fun of me for wearing it.” He also kept pulling the ribbon out of my hair. Every. Single. Time.
“I wasn’t making fun of it. I merely thought it’d look better in my hair than yours.” He winks, then gives me a lopsided smile.
“Stop bothering Sofia, Aaron. Don’t you have hockey practice to get ready for?” Lily asks, coming up beside me.
“Coach isn’t there yet, so I’ve got some more time to annoy her.”
“I’ll take care of him.” Colin bats his lashes at Lily, then looks at me for just a second and back at his girlfriend, like he couldn’t keep his eyes off of her even if it would save his life. “Miles and Grey should be here any minute. Think you can wait for them without me,mi sol?”
Lily rolls her eyes then nods. “I’m not four, dumbass.”
“Just asking.” He then leans in to give his girlfriend a kiss before swinging an arm around Aaron’s shoulders and forcing him to walk inside of the arena. Aaron tries to look back, but Colin turn Aaron’s head to face forward.
As soon as the entrance doors close, Lily turns to me.
She lays her hands on either side of her jaw, looking at me through her lashes while refraining to smile. “I’m sorry, I just can’t believe you’re actually here.”
“I almost wouldn’t.”
“Aaron said they just gave your room away.” I nod. “So now you live withHugo?”
For a second there I’m wondering how she knows that my aunt still lives with him, but then I remember that her mother and Nicole are neighbors. “Unfortunately.”
“You could have my room. Colin and Aaron insist on me staying at their house, so I no longer need my room at the dorms.” It certainly would make my life a whole lot easier. Living with my uncle… it’s like living in a bar filled with pedophiles. “You’d have a roommate. She’s a bit much sometimes, but I think you could handle her pretty well. Just think about it.”
I want to tell her that no matter how difficult her roommate is, she’ll be a lot better than Hugo. But before I get the chance to open my mouth and speak, a car stops right next to us.
“These are Miles and Grey—”
“I know. I’ve met them before.”
Lily groans. “I hate that everyone got to see you before me. That’s simply not fair.” We both laugh because it’s true. I should have met Lily before everyone else. She should have been the one to introduce me to everyone and help me get comfortable at St. Trewery.
We watch as Miles helps a little blonde girl out of the car, closes the door and holds her hand while they walk up to us. She giggles at something her father says, then scrunches up her nose as she looks up at him with admiration in her eyes.
As soon as they come to a stop in front of Lily and me, little Brooklyn hides right behind Miles’s leg. Miles doesn’t exchange many words with us either. All he voices is a quick, “Thank you for doing this for me.” Then he gives us a short but information-filled rundown on things Brooklyn hates—movies that don’t include princesses—and stuff she loves—anything with princesses—before he moves on to allergies. She doesn’t have many, but she does have one. She’s severely allergic to strawberries, but she keeps insisting on not being allergic so she could have anything strawberry flavored.
He also asks us not to wear anything strawberry scented because she’s reacting to artificial scent too. Fortunately, neither Lily nor I wear anything strawberry scented today. He probably should have given us a heads up aboutthatthough.
???
