Page 48 of Walk the Line

He huffs. “Why am I even here then?”

“Maybe you just wanted to visit your big brother.”

The laugh he responds with is instant and dramatic like him. “Yeah, that’s funny. Stop playing with me.”

“You already know I don’t party like that.”

If anything, I was even worse last year which I noticed in the constant disapproval on the guys on the team’s faces whenever I would reject their invitation for whatever party they were throwing.

I can admit now, I wasn’t a team player off the ice last year, which is why I’m trying to switch things up this year. But I don’t plan on winning any awards for being the most sociable person and that’s fine, no one would want me faking that shit because it would make everyone uncomfortable.

“Yeah, but this is Uni,” Demetrius says plainly.

“Stop trying to live vicariously through me.”

“I’m never going Uni, I don’t have a choice.”

My eyes glaze over my bag in the corner. “You wanna come play Hockey with me, then?”

With a huff, he says, “You already know I hate everything to do with Hockey apart from you.” He’s remained consistent with this hatred for years, but I can’t even fault him for it. Everyone has their way of dealing with shit. Ours just happen to be the complete opposite. Demetrius shakes his head and I’m not surprised when he adds, “Watch when I tell Mum and Dad about this.”

It doesn’t matter how many times I tell him to stop mentioning our dad to me, he’ll do it anyway.

“My brother, the adult.”

He knows to change the subject now.

He laughs, and as usual, he’s not taking offence to anything I say because the tone is enough for him to not even hold it in serious regard. “Fine, I won’t. Can we go get food, though?”

“Right now?”

“Yeah. There are restaurants here, right?”

“No, this is a big city for no reason. There are no restaurants or anywhere to get food.”

“I keep telling you to stop trying to be funny, bro. Even me as your brother can’t fake laugh at it.”

“Get out of my house.”

I dodge in time to miss the pillow he throws at me.

We end up at a Mexican place, it’s not too busy yet but it’s still afternoon so it could be getting there.

I give the Waiter an extra thanks the moment our food arrives because it gives my brother a chance to be quiet for a moment, which means I get the chance to be quiet for a moment.

This guy always tries to get me talking.

I’m finishing up the first bite of my burrito when I spot her.

She’s wearing tracksuit bottoms, yet I’m still able to recognise those legs the minute I see their shape.

It’s so fucking weird.

Kaylah’s at the host area, confusion settling in as I think about where the familiarity I have towards the girl next to her comes from. It’s only a few minutes until I remember I was having a conversation with her and her friend at our party the other night.

I’m not focusing on her, though, not when the brief moment of Kaylah’s gaze locking into mine sends my large appetite right out of the door she just came through.

What the fuck is that about?