“Why?”
“He’s been asking about you. If you’re single, seeing anyone, you know, since you got back from Cali.”
“Oh. I hope you told him no.” The words left me automatically.
Winter tilted her head to the side, measuring her next words carefully.
“I didn’t yet. I didn’t want to speak for you. For all I know, you’d maybe like to try going out on a date.”
I shook my head before she’d even finished speaking.
“Hear me out. Daytime date, somewhere public, or a double date with me and Ash. It doesn’t have to be scary. You can be in control of every single aspect.”
“It’s not about being scary,” I told her slowly. “It’s more that it’s a waste of time, like what is even the point?”
We walked side by side in silence before Winter spoke again.
“The point is that it might be nice to date again. Have fun. Not being lonely, messing around… putting the past behind you.”
I stopped, barely able to keep the neutral expression on my face. Winter turned to me, a conflicted look painting her features. I could tell she was nervous. I never wanted her to be nervous.
“I worry about you,” she told me in a quiet voice. “I just want to see you happy again. It’s all I want.”
“A man can’t make me happy,” I pointed out.
She swallowed hard. “Well, what can?”
“A time machine?” I offered, my smile bitter.
Winter returned my smile with a small, sad one of her own.
I couldn’t stand her expression. It broke my heart.
“Okay, whatever. Let’s do it. A daytime date, with you and Asher. I’ll do it, for you.”
Winter perked up. “Really?”
I nodded. “Really. If it’s awful, though, you owe me sushi for dinner.”
“As much as you can eat,” Winter promised and clapped her hands with excitement. For my cold-as-ice best friend, that was practically a backflip.
“Okay, let’s get to practice before it’s over.”
Winter grabbed my arm and threaded it through hers.
“Yes! And we can talk about what we’ll wear.”
“We?”
“Aren’t we going to wear a couple’s outfit? Nick should know you’ve already got a girlfriend.”
We sat close to the ice. The kind of position that only the girlfriend of a Hellion could claim. Winter stalked to her VIP position with the air of a queen. Some other girls in the stands watched, puck bunnies and some ice dancers.
I sat beside Winter, glad I’d gotten a hot coffee; the cool of the rink sank through my leather jacket.
I had two items from my own wardrobe on today, reclaimed from Brody. I had no idea where he was keeping the rest of my clothes, but if I went running with him every morning, then in a week I’d have a good amount back.
Thinking of the devil seemed to summon him, because just then I caught sight of a lone figure skating around, warming up.
