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Lucas shrugs. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
I raise an eyebrow. What? Not a big deal? He bought kids champagne to celebrate. Rachel is also giving him a weird look while Lucas avoids looking at any of us.
“I just wish you would have said something,” Mrs. Brent says, sniffing, her eyes filling with tears. “Your father would be so happy if he knew.”
Lucas looks like he’s about to slam open the door and run out into traffic. It makes me wonder what is going on. He should be telling his mother that she should have believed in him more, and that he finally was becoming a published writer. Instead, he’s hiding it. It doesn’t make any sense.
The rest of the ride goes by awkwardly, in silence. Mrs. Brent keeps sniffing, her bottom lip trembling. She looks like she wants to say anything, but she’s keeping quiet. Rachel is giving Lucas a weird look, Lucas is staring at the floor, Hunter’s hands are still fisted, his gaze still fixated on the bottle, and I can’t stop thinking about Seth’s leg brushing against mine. What a lovely end to our trip.
I nearly fly out of the limo the moment it pulls up to the airport, ready to be anywhere but around Mrs. Brent and the awkwardness. The driver hands me my bag and I stalk inside, wanting to be in my seat and flying back to Aurora as soon as possible. Oh, and far away from Mrs. Brent.
“You’ll call me?” I hear Mrs. Brent say.
I don’t bother sticking around to hear Lucas’s answer and step into line, awaiting my economy class ticket. I really wish I would have bought first class, but at least the flight is only two or three hours so it won’t be that bad. So I tell myself.
“Ugh, I thought that ride would never end,” says Seth as he, Hunter, Lucas, and Rachel approach.
“Yeah, Alex practically ran,” Hunter laughs.
“Are you doing okay?” Rachel asks Hunter.
He stiffens, and I can see the strain in his eyes, the irritation lurking there. I know he hates us asking all the time, but he can’t be angry with us for caring about him. His expression softens and I watch Hunter nod as he says, “I’ll be fine.”
Check-in takes longer than intended and next thing we know, we’re running to security, shoving our things onto the conveyor belt. Lucas, of course, has a million things to take out of his carry-on—like his iPad, laptop, toiletries, and protein bars. It’s amazing we’re able to make our flight given how long it takes.
Then, I find myself sitting next to the window, with Seth next to me, his leg brushing mine all over again. Will I ever catch a break? Why does this keep happening to me? It’s like the universe is purposefully throwing us together. Seth is unusually quiet. Quiet for him, in general, is unusual. He must be feeling strange around me, too. Before, he would pick fights with me, and I would urge him to, enjoying the banter, the way he could get so angry.
Now, there’s nothing.
Only silence.
“How-how was your Christmas?” I ask him, only now realizing I never asked him how his break was. I know he goes home to be with his family, but I don’t know much about him; only that he likes running, has anxiety, and is in love with Rachel. Oh, and sometimes thinks about kissing me. There is that, as well.
Seth shrugs. “It was fine.”
Great. That tells me everything I need to know. “Did you get anything nice?”
“We don’t really do presents,” Seth says harshly.
Okay. Change of subject. “Do you want to continue training in the morning?”
Seth makes a face. “It might be a little icy.”
“We don’t have to run outside. We could even go a little later. Or try the gym?”
Seth purses his lips and I can’t help watching them, wondering what he’s thinking, wondering if he’s still thinking about the kiss as much as I have. Finally, he says, “Okay,” and the silence resumes.
It’s a good thing he agreed, but I can’t help feeling deflated. He won’t look at me. He answers me curtly. Wasn’t he the one who wanted to move on? Then, why is he acting like he doesn’t want to be anywhere near me.
“It would be great if we made it into the Olympics together, right?” I say with an awkward chuckle. “Maybe, finally, we wouldn’t be competing against each other all the time.”
Seth shrugs. “Yeah,” he murmurs.
Fine. I give up. I sigh and look out my window. First we were enemies, then we were friends, now what are we? People who share the same girlfriend? Put up with each other? I don’t think I can go on like this. I would talk to him about it, but I’m too tired and over it right now to want to try. Seth can truly go fuck himself for all I care.
Chapter 6
HUNTER
