She snorted. “No offense, but you haven’t scared me once.”
My head shot up. “No?”
“I’m more scared of the guinea pig gangs around town.”
“That makes sense. They’re terrifying.” I thought of the time I came across five of them in the alley behind The Tipsy. They stopped and looked at me like I’d interrupted an important business meeting. “They just stare at you with those little beady eyes,” I said.
“And make those chittering sounds.”
We both shuddered.
“I remember you in high school,” she said quietly, not meeting my gaze.
All at once, I felt sick again. “Oh?”
“Yeah. It was a big deal when you made the team.”
I swallowed with effort. “Yeah.”
“Not a lot of sophomores made varsity.” She nodded.
“Those guys I hung out with at the time weren’t the best. Sorry if there was ever any bullying,” I said, meeting her eyes.
I hated high school. I hated the reminder that I hadn’t felt comfortable in this body in decades. I needed to turn this conversation around. Nausea crept back up my throat.
“No.” She blinked and then toyed with her hands in her lap. “You’d have to be noticed to get teased.” Again, I wondered where were the people who cared for her and looked out for her? “I shouldn’t have called you a big dumb brute,” she added.
“You didn’t.”
“Not out loud.” Her brown eyes flicked to the side.
“I didn’t have the best crowd in high school, so I wouldn’t have blamed you for thinking the worst of me. At least until I quit the team.”
“Why did you quit? It was quite the drama around town.”
We weren’t talking about this. No matter how long we were here.
“Ah, you know,” I answered noncommittedly, scrambling for a distraction when a shiver wracked her body. “Are you okay?” I asked, changing the subject.
Her teeth chattered. “The heater sucks.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty old.” I tugged off my gloves and hat and leaned across the aisle to hand them too her. “Here, take these.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” She already had her hands in them when she asked. She sighed, eyelids almost closing. “So warm.”
“Go ahead.” I felt a rush of relief to watch her pleasure.
“I really wouldn’t want to impose,” she said, tucking the beanie on next. Her shoulders did a dramatic shimmy as she tugged it down over her ears. “God, that’s amazing.”
I chuckled. “I don’t mind.” I rubbed my quickly cooling hands together before tucking them under my arms.
She frowned at me, looked at the gloves, and then back at me in confusion. A question formed on her lips, but she closed her mouth again. She looked up from her lap and finally said, “We’ll take turns.”
I cleared my throat with a nod. “We could, uh, also sit closer if you want.”
Chapter 10
Bee
