"That must've been one of your less annoying days," she said.
"Ah, you're my favorite too, Lo," Lennox said.
He smiled smugly, tugging her into a one-armed hug, while Lola turned to me and mouthed, "Thanks a lot."
I shrugged, so entertained with watching them that I almost forgot I was at a party.
"In return for your honesty," Lennox said, straightening, "I feel like I should tell you something, Freya."
"Okay. How do you know me exactly?" I asked.
"Well, you see, Tolliver?—"
"Excuse us," Tolliver said, taking Lennox by the arm.
Lennox's lips snapped shut, but his grin was broad.
"This should only take a second. Don't forget about me, Kent."
"Please, Stone, I could never," I said.
After they left, I turned back to find Lola smiling at me with her eyebrows raised.
"What?"
"Calling each other by your last names," she said. "So cute."
"Don't even start,Lo."
I laughed as she flushed.
"And I think half the people here call Tolliver that because of hockey," I said.
"Valid," she said. "It's the same with Lennox and me."
"How is soccer going?"
"Keeping up my training over the summer, making sure I'm ready to kill it next season. How's violin?"
"Haven't been able to play because of my wrist," I said, "but it's getting better."
"Sucks that you couldn't go on tour." I looked to her in surprise, and she shrugged. "Hazel filled me and the girls in. We had to coax it out of her, but she didn't think you'd mind her telling us."
Strangely, I didn't.
"It's totally fine," I said. "Have you written at all?"
"Only a few pages—but at least, I think they're good pages. Don't tell Hazel."
"I won't."
Lola lifted her chin at me. "What about you?"
I shook my head. "Honestly, I think I'm realizing I only joined the writing group because I love reading."
She laughed. "That is so real."
"I'm excited to read your book," I said.
