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“So…I can’t give you everything.” There’s a double meaning to the words, and I know she caught it when she replies.
“Did you ever consider dating…for real?” She pauses. “To keep the fans at bay, at least.”
I hear the vulnerability hiding behind the attempt at humor. “You’re theonlyperson I’d consider it with.”
“Reid!”
Oliver chooses this terrible time to appear. I glance over one shoulder to watch him walk toward us. “Yeah?”
“I need your help inside. Someone smashed a vase and Hawley is MIA.” He pauses. “Hey, Auden.”
“Hi, Oliver.”
I glance at her and sigh. “I’ll be right back, okay?”
“I’ll be here,” she replies, giving me a small wave and a smirk that I’d find silly on anyone else but find sexy on her.
I smirk. “Okay.” When I reach Oliver, I mutter, “You’ve got shitty timing.”
“Oh? Were you in the middle of something?”
I glare at him. “I know you’re not a big flirt, Ollie, but you should know what it looks like.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he mutters.
I instantly feel guilty. Some things are unspoken in our friend group. We don’t talk about Josh’s drinking. We don’t talk about my dad. We don’t talk about the fact that Oliver doesn’t hang around girls, ever. I guess Luke is the only one of us without anything unsaid.
Oliver is shy and serious. I’m not sure if that’s the reason he shies away from female attention…or if he’s into guys. He’s never said a word, and none of us has brought it up. But I know Luke and Josh have noticed as well, and I know Oliver has noticed we’ve noticed. I’ve always shut down any homophobic comments from guys on the team. Canmore isn’t a crazy conservative town, but people would definitely talk. The only guy I know who’s out is Dennis Wheeler, and he’s practically Oliver’s opposite in every way. Loud, boisterous, energetic, and not the least bit athletic. He’s the guy everyone knows and likes. I guess that could be a hard act to emulate.
The living room is a mess. There are glass shards all over the floor. I start collecting the larger ones while Oliver goes in search of a dustpan and broom. It takes us at least fifteen minutes to clean it all up. Everyone is walking around in bare feet, adding to the danger. No one wants to call paramedics to a house overflowing with drunk teenagers.
My phone rings just as I’m about to head back inside. I veer to the left, into the screened porch instead. I lean back against the wall and answer the phone. “Hey, Mom.”
“Are you almost here?”
“Almost where?”
She sighs. “You forgot.”
“Forgot what?”
“We’re taking the train to visit Jeff’s parents for the day.”
“Since when?”
“We’ve been planning it for months, Elliot.”
“I’ve been busy, Mom. The championship was yesterday and—”
“This meant a lot to Jeff.” The guilt trip doesn’t have any trouble coming through the phone.
“I’m not his son. They’re not my grandparents.”
“That’s your choice, Elliot. Love makes a family, not blood.”
I take a deep breath, then slowly release it. I’m so sick of hearing her say that. Why can’t it be enough thatshehas a complete family now? “I’m sorry, Mom. I won’t make it. I’ll apologize to Jeff when I get home.”
“Where are you?”
