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He laughs. “No one’s called me Eli before.”
“Oh,” I reply, feeling shy all of a sudden.
“Come on, let’s keep playing.” He skates back to the center, breaking the moment.
We continue for a while longer, bantering back and forth as we move from one end of the rink to the other. The score shifts in his favor quickly, but I manage to slip a couple more past him. I’m confident he’s letting me take the shots, but I give it my all and appreciate that he doesn’t let me win or make it obvious that he’s taking it easy on me.
Eventually we call it quits, skating over to the home bench and stepping off the ice. The once pristine surface is battered and carved from the metal blades.
“Will anyone care that we messed up the ice?” I ask.
“No, the rink’s closed.”
“It’s closed?”
“I usually stay late after practice or show up early. The rink manager here, George, has known me since I was a kid. He eventually gave me the code, so I’d stop bugging him about keeping the rink open longer.”
“You have your own private ice rink,” I say, glancing around the massive expanse of ice again.
“It’s a good place to think,” he replies. I could see that. The white surface reminds me of a blank piece of paper. “So, any regrets?”
“Regrets about what?”
“Trusting me.”
He’s teasing me. But also…not. “No.”
My parents officially split up yesterday, but somehow, I don’t think that was the life-changing event that took place on July 20th.
I think meeting Elliot Reid was.
Elliot
There are two cars already parked outside the white Colonial when I pull up. Unfortunately, I recognize both of them.
I’ve only been to Annabel Grant’s house once before now. She hosted a party last summer when her mom was out of town.
I sigh and turn the car off when I see the five girls gathered on the porch. There’s no sign of Auden, but I’m not going to hide in the car like I’m ashamed to be here, even if it means I have to deal with more shit from Josh and the other guys. I mentioned that I went skating with Auden to them when I went over to Josh’s last night and didn’t hear about anything else up until I left.
“Hey, guys.” I walk up to the porch and lean against the railing that lines the stairs.
Ava Harris replies first. “Hi, Elliot.”
Annabel exchanges a look with Cassie Gordon, who’s typically considered the most popular girl in our year. My social equivalent, I guess. “What are you doing here?”
The front door opens. “Crap, sorry. Have you been here long?”
I grin at Auden. “Just got here.”
She’s a mess. Tangled hair, flushed cheeks, and a too-large t-shirt that’s falling off one shoulder. “Okay. Good.” She walks to my side and sort of hovers there, like she’s not sure what to do next.
Something about the deer-in-the-headlights expression makes me tease her. “You get dressed in the dark?”
She punches my shoulder. “I didn’t see your text until ten minutes ago. I’m jet-lagged.”
“Uh-huh. Sure.” There’s a whopping one-hour time difference between Canmore and California.
Auden rolls her eyes at me, then looks at Annabel. “I’ll see you later?”
