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Right?
I hunch over against the cold, curling in on myself like a little porcupine.
My phone starts ringing, and I pull it out of the back pocket of my jeans. The jacket falls off my shoulders and I shiver, answering the phone with a “One sec” before taking the time to pull the giant thing on.
It looks ridiculous on me. The shoulders are so wide, they practically come down to my elbows, and my hands have been lost to the length of these sleeves.
I wrestle my digits free and snatch up my phone, pressing it against my ear. “Sorry about that. How’s it going, Ray-Ray?”
“Yeah. Okay.”
I sit up a little straighter.Okayin Ray speak is basicallyMy life is total shit.
“What’s up?”
“I was just calling to check on you.”
My lips twitch. Ray can never just spill. She always has to work her way into things. She’ll hide her angst, cover it with care for me before finally telling me what’s going on.
Curiosity and worry make me rush through my stuff.
“It’s good and bad. Living with Ethan and the guys is pretty cool. I know it’s temporary, so I’m trying to enjoy what I can. I beat Casey’s high score onDevil’s Doorwaythe other night, so yay.” My cheer is stupidly weak.
I keep my eyes on the rink, watching Ethan speed down the edge before whipping around the back of the goal. Whatever drill he’s doing is giving him a pretty decent workout. He’s flying right now, controlling the puck with these little taps and swooshes. It’s like he was born to do this.
“And the bad stuff?”
I huff. “The girls are still horrible. My mom and I are still… not speaking, and I have no idea how I’m going to pay for next semester, let alone the rest of my degree, which means I’m trying to come to terms with the fact that I’m on a ticking clock here.” My voice starts to wobble, tears burning my eyes.
“Aw, Mick, I’m so sorry. I always was a little afraid of your mom, but… I didn’t think she was capable of cutting you off.”
“Yeah, I guess… that’s just what people do. They leave me, Ray-Ray.”
“Not all of them. Not me. I willneverabandon you. You are stuck with me for life.”
My smile is weak. “You’re miles away.”
“Physically, but I’m always here. I’m here right now. With you.”
I swallow and nod, appreciating the soft lilt of her voice and forgetting for a moment that she’s got her own struggle that needs to be talked about. Sucking in a breath, I’m about to ask her when she cuts me off with a few more sweet words of comfort.
“And Ethan. I mean, I know I’ve only spoken to him twice on video, but he seems really cool. And from what you’ve told me… the connection you guys have… it sounds like he’s in this for the long haul, sweets. He loves you.”
“Yeah, that’s what he says.” I sigh. “It’s also what my dad used to say. And my mom… when I was little.”
She goes quiet, because how do you argue with that?
But she tries anyway. “Just because your parents suck doesn’t mean everybody does. Ethan is good, and the way he looked at you when I met him that day? How he touched your neck and showed genuine interest in me because I’m your best friend? I don’t know… I just got a good vibe about him.”
“Thanks, Ray,” I whisper, sniffing against my unshed tears and trying to believe every word out of her mouth. I want to. I so desperately want to. Closing my eyes, I take a short breath, then figure it’s her turn. “So… what’s with theokay?”
She doesn’t respond, and I have to probe again.
“Come on. You can’t leave me hanging. You’ve made me feel better, and now it’s my turn to help you. What’s made your day shitty?”
After a soft sniff, her quaking voice comes down the line. “Theo and I had our first fight.”
“Aw, sweetie. How bad was it?”
