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He finishes chewing his food, swallowing. “Before we get side-tracked again, I wanted to ask you something.”
I look up from my bacon. “Anything.”
He clears his throat, pushing food around on his plate with his fork. “Since the whole Logan and Alex theatrics, Coach wants us to go on team building exercises. Our next one is unsupervised as it’s voluntary. But a few of us thought it would be good to go out there with some friends and make the most of a paid getaway.”
“Okay,” I reply, unsure of where this is going or what it has to do with me.
“I was wondering if you wanted to come with me. It’s in a few months so you’ve got plenty of time. I just wanted to give you a heads up. I know you like to plan stuff out.”
I’m not sure how good I’ll be around a group of people in an enclosed space. We’d be together, whether we sleep apart or not.
“How many people are going?” I ask, not wanting to let him down.
“With us, ten. The others think the whole team building is a joke, so they decided to do something else.”
Ten people. That’s not so bad, and it would be stepping out of my comfort zone. Which is what my therapist said I needed to do.
Then an idea occurs to me. “If I go, then you have to do me a favour.”
He grins, and his chest puffs out. “Anything.”
“Lake is coming down in a few weeks with her boyfriend to meet me. Will you come with me?”
He shakes his head at me, smiling. “I’d have done that anyway. How is she?”
I smile, thinking of our last conversation. “Happy. Her parents and brother have just moved down to be close to her.”
“I’ve not spoken to her mum in a while. I usually check in on Cowen to see how he’s doing. I’ve not had time,” he admits, moving the tomatoes around on his plate.
Cowen, Lake’s twin brother, was in a car crash the same night I was attacked. He wasn’t brain damaged, but his brain doesn’t function the way it should. It made him slower, and to others he seems like he’s in a kid-like state continuously, but he’s not. He can still learn, still remember; he just can’t do it the way we do.
He and Banner were friends before Cowen started withdrawing and taking drugs. He pushed everyone away, including his sister.
I take his hand, squeezing it. “He’s fine—getting married. Lake said Marybeth is beautiful.”
“No way. He and Marybeth are getting married?” He grins, his face filled with happiness.
“Yep.”
“Good for him. I’m happy for him.”
“Maybe next time they come down she’ll bring him. I know he needs supervision, but I’m sure he’ll be fine with Lake. Her boyfriend… I’m not sure. From what she’s said he’s a little crazy,” I tell him.
“She needs that. I bet the past couple of years haven’t been easy for her.”
I sigh, looking down at my half-eaten food. “No, it hasn’t. I’m just glad she’s back. I’ve missed her.”
“Not as much as she’s missed you, I bet.”
I look up, titling my head to the side. “What makes you say that?”
“Because I only came to school and I missed you. At least I got to speak to you. She didn’t.”
I blush, ducking my head. He always knows how to make me swoon.
“Maybe,” I whisper, then clear my throat and change the subject. “Now, tell me more about your trip. I want to hear everything.”
I rest my fork down, and lean back, listening to him talk. And try not to fantasise about his lips on mine.
