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“I know that, and you know that…” She lifted her eyes to mine again, and I found myself swimming in two pools of ice-blue water. “I’m sorry if my dad is being an ass about you being on the team.”
“He’s under a lot of pressure,” I shook my head a little, trying to clear my thoughts, “and Monroe is his star player. I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it.”
“Maybe I can talk to him—”
“No.” Lily flinched, and I felt like an asshole for snapping at her. “I mean, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Right.” She began tugging the ends of her braid. I watched her for a second. It was like she didn’t even realize she was doing it.
When she finally noticed me looking, Lily dropped her hair and tucked her hands underneath her thighs.
Weird.
“We should probably go find the others,” she said, standing.
“Yeah.” I hesitated. I didn’t want to go inside. I wanted to stay out here with the strange girl who made everything go quiet. But that would only lead down a path I couldn’t go. So I stood up too and gave her a weak smile.
“Lead the way.”
Chapter Thirteen
Lily
“Going on it?”Gav stepped up beside me.
“Oh no. I’m just watching.” We’d been in the arcade for the last hour or so. There had been guys versus girls air hockey—Poppy and Peyton totally kicked Gav and Bryan’s asses—then the guys had gone off to play some NFL virtual game while me and the girls played on the claw machines.
Now everyone was taking turns on the Virtual Coaster. Peyton and Bryan were strapped into the seats being flung around inside the simulator while her shrieks filled the air as the rest of us watched on.
“It’s the closest you’ll get to the real thing. You should try it,” he said.
“I’m okay, thanks.”
“Suit yourself.” He shrugged.
“Guess you’re stuck with me,” Ashleigh said, at complete ease with the idea of riding with him.
Sofia and Poppy had ridden first, picking the most intense ride. Which of course spurred Bryan to do the same.
“He’s right, you know?” Kaiden whispered over my shoulder. “You should try it.”
“Where did you go?” He’d been missing for the last ten minutes.
Not that I was counting.
“My mom called.” His expression darkened.
“Is everything okay?”
“It will be. Don’t worry about me.”
But I did.
I couldn’t help it.
We stood side-by-side, watching our friends ride the simulator. Although I couldn’t see the images being played to them through the virtual headset, I felt every jolt, every rise and fall. When Peyton shrieked, I startled. And when it was Ashleigh’s turn, I inhaled every breath of anticipation right along with her.
“You should ride it,” Kaiden said, pulling me from my fascination.
