Page 21
I blink. “About what?”
He waves a hand. “Relax, Romeo. It was one practice, maybe two. Cassie will be back next week, and I’ll be gone. You don’t have anything to freak out about.”
Freak out?
“If you’ll excuse me,” he drawls, stepping around me. “Later, Michael.”
My mind swirls with confusion as he disappears into the locker room.
Why the hell did he call me Romeo? All I did was make sure I had Isla’s back, like I always do. He’s weird.
With a shake of my head, I finally skate back to join the guys.
A question pounds in my head, dimming my mood further: why did she blush for him?
And more importantly, why do I care?
part two
CHAPTER SIX
i just don’t want to lose my best friend
ISLA
Fifteen years old
The air is warm and pleasant on my skin, the heat of the day almost gone. It’s after nine, and the sky above grows darker by the minute. Laughter and conversations drift up from the backyard as I sit on the Thompsons’ roof with my knees pulled to my chest. Michael’s been gone way too long. I’m tempted to climb back inside, and yet, I don’t move.
I love it here. This place holds so many memories, this spot especially. It’s where we always sneak off to talk. I will miss it so much if…
“Remind me to never forget to bring snacks.” Michael’s voice stops my musing. “Diana caught me in the kitchen and refused to let me go until I helped her find Meg.”
He tosses a pack of chips on the blanket and lowers himself beside me. His white T-shirt looks like it’s about to burst at the seams as he gets situated, shifting his broad shoulders. He’s wearing dark blue jeans tonight, and his deep brown hair is messy thanks to his habit of running his hand through it.
He’s so familiar and so different at the same time. Some days, I barely recognize the boy I’ve known all my life. And it’s not his looks and height that have changed, but his behavior and his habits too.
I chuckle. “Diana is just like Aunt Nevaeh. Always gets what she wants.”
“Yeah, Uncle Roman told my dad Di had a full meltdown after she saw you skate. Now she’s obsessed and wants to be just like you,” he comments, resting his hands behind him. “And she got what she wanted… Like mother, like daughter.”
Sighing, I look out at the horizon again. “Something like that.”
“Is everything okay?” He tips my way, head ducked. “You’ve been pretty quiet today.”
I sigh. “Elena is moving to Boston.”
He blows out a breath beside me. “What?”
I pick at my nail and then ball my fist to stop myself. “She told me yesterday. I’m still processing. So yeah, my mood is all over the place.”
He moves, his scent enveloping me as he wraps his arm around my shoulder. I shift, cuddling into him. He’s warm and smells so good, his usual soap scent mixing with mint and citrus. I close my eyes, relishing the sensation. This kind of physical affection is rare, and it only happens when it’s just us. His reputation is too important now. He can’t be seen as soft…and somehow, I make him soft. That’s what he says, anyway.
“That sucks. You’ve been training with her for years.” The timbre of his voice is so deep these days. It reverberates through my body, soothing me even more. “Finding a new coach now won’t be easy, will it? Can she recommend someone?”
“Yeah, she did.” I lick my lips. “But I like Elena’s style, and she knows me better than anyone. I spend as much time with her as I do at school now that I’m doing half-day private training and half-day in-class schooling. Starting from scratch terrifies me. I want to compete at the Olympics one day, and with Elena, I really think it’s possible.” I take a deep breath and steel myself, because he’s not going to like what I’m about to say. Then, I close my eyes and go for it. “At least she’s moving to Boston… My grandparents are there.”
He stiffens. “I’m not following.”
