I give her a side hug before exiting the elevator and heading to my room. The hotel door clicks behind me, and I lean against it, opening my phone again and heading straight for poundr.
3dg3-m3:I stayed up late to watch you free skate (I think everyone on campus did). Don’t know when you’ll see this since I’m sure you’re getting hounded by everyone but wow. You’re amazing.
By now he’s probably asleep, but I type out a message anyway.
TwinkleTop:I wish you could be with me in the kiss and cry.
TwinkleTop:I’m heading straight to your place once I’m home.
A shower, nap, and an absurd amount of rice and eel later—I get a message back from Christos.
3dg3-m3:I’ll have the place ready for you.
3dg3-m3:Kinda messed up they call it the kiss and cry
TwinkleTop:That does tend to be what happens there.
3dg3-m3:But you didn’t cry.
TwinkleTop:I was in shock. Still am.
3dg3-m3:Is it bad that I still don’t understand how the scoring works?
TwinkleTop:You’re fine. Really.
TwinkleTop:Sorry my brain is fried. Kinda like all the eel in Nagoya.
3dg3-m3:Speaking of. Any meal requests for when you’re back?
TwinkleTop:Your Ass.
3dg3-m3:Figured.
We’re sittingon the tarmac at PHL when I text Terrence that I won’t see him till tomorrow morning. Which isn’t a lie.
“Are you going to be alright to drive back to campus?” Maude asks.
I keep my phone in my lap, the screen facing down. “I kinda have to be since my car is here.”
“I could have Garth come pick it up. I can drive you back, peitie tamia.”
I take her hand and give it a squeeze. “Thank you, but I’m fine.”
Her brows furrow. “You’re in a much better mood than when we took off.”
“Happy to be home,” I sigh. “Happy to get finals over with so I can focus on what really matters.”
Smothering myself in Christos’ ass in a few hours.
Terrence calls me as we’re deboarding. “You seriously won’t be back tonight?”
I eye the back of Maude’s head. “Uh, no…”
Terrence grumbles, “Well this is awkward.” There’s muffled chatter over the line.
“Don’t tell me you and the hockey team were going to surprise me.”
“Not much of a surprise now.”
