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“About what?”
“About a potential job opportunity.”
“What kind of job opportunity?” I probe.
“I’ll let him explain the details. Does next Friday work?”
I mentally check my schedule while putting my phone in the cupholder and shifting in my seat to get comfortable. “Uh, yeah. Yeah, that should work.”
“Good.” He rattles off the details, and I hang up.
Why would Henry Buchanan want to meet with me?
Realizing I won’t have any answers tonight, I pull up my text thread with Kate, anxious to see where she is and how she’s doing. I hated leaving her at the rink on her own, but I texted Theo, asking if he’d drive her home, so I assume she’s taken care of. I still miss her, though.
Unable to help myself, I send her a text.
Me
Hey. Sorry I had to bail. You make it home all right?
Her response is almost instant.
Kate
Actually…I may or may not be holed up at the arena. Any chance you could swing by and give me a ride home?
I pull up her contact info and press the call icon without another thought. It rings once before her familiar voice rings through the speaker.
“Hey.”
“You’re still at the arena?” I demand.
“Well, yeah, but––”
“Why didn’t Theo give you a ride home?”
“Um, so…it’s kind of complicated?”
I shove my car into drive and pull out of the parking spot. “Explain it to me. Because if Theo ditched you ‘cause he was too pissed about the loss––”
“That wasn’t it,” she interrupts. “He was having a conversation with Colt, and I realized if I spoke up, it would look like I was eavesdropping, and it was kind of a serious, cryptic conversation, so I decided to hide in a broom closet instead, after I sent him a text and lied, saying I caught a ride with someone else so he wouldn’t have to worry about me, and now, it looks like all the lights are off in the arena, and I have no idea if this place is locked or anything, and…yeah. I’m kind of freaking out.”
I pull onto the main road leading back to the arena, more amused than I probably should be. I can’t help it. The girl’s adorable as shit, and she has no idea. Honestly, I should probably be annoyed, but I’m not. Not at all.
“I’ll be there in ten,” I tell her.
“Thanks.”
“Russ and Sanderson are probably still in their offices. I’m sure if you can find one of them, they’ll escort you to the front––”
“And get in trouble for hiding in the broom closet like a lunatic?” she hisses, trying to keep her voice quiet. “No, thank you.”
“I’d hardly call you a troublemaker.” I bite back my amusement and shake my head.
“What? The sweet nerd can’t cause trouble?” she argues. “Now, I kind of want to break something so I can prove you wrong.”
“Wouldn’t put it past you, Kate.” I press the gas pedal a little harder. “Stay put. I think I know which broom closet you’re talking about. I’ll be there in five and will sneak you out, okay?”
