Page 32 of Tempest

“Are you laughing at me?”

“Nope, I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“I’m on to you, Vaughn.”

“I hope so, Quinn,” I say, slow and quiet. Jack opens the door when I knock, and after a quick introduction, he points to the stairs. Odette’s still looking confused, but as soon as we walk out on the roof, her face morphs to surprise.

He found me a company that set up a big white canvas tent furnished with an actual bed and some cozy sack chairs and string lights everywhere. They catered food and left a cooler. We’re set up with anything we could need.

“Gavin.”

“I know you aren’t the camping type, but this is only barely camping.”

“It’s perfect. Really.”

“I thought it would be cool to watch the sun set on the city that you’re going to be calling home soon. The one you’re going to take by storm,” I tell her, taking a seat in one of the chairs and pulling her down on my lap.

“You think I will?” She stares out across the river. It’s quieter here, but I think we both imagine the noise there. The people, the cabs, the life, it’s much more than what we’ve grown up with.

“I know you will. They’re all going to fall at your feet, Odette,” I say. “As they fucking should.”

“You’re very confident in me,” she says, turning in my lap to see me better. “I like it.”

“I like you,” I say, though other words form in my head. Words I’m not sure she’s ready to hear, or I’m ready to say. It sits on the tip of my tongue, though. Not heavy, but making its presence known.

“I like you, too, Gavin.” She snuggles down into my chest. “You’re special. Do you know that? Has anyone ever told you?”

“Coaches have.”

“I don’t mean just hockey,” she says, placing a hand over my heart. “It’s more than that. You’re more than just that.”

My breath hitches, because no, nobody has ever said anything like this to me. That word wants to slip out even more, but I swallow it down with the emotion she evokes and instead tighten my arms around her.

“You’re more than just your dreams, too, Ode. You’re thoughtful and kind, but tough and honest, too. My mom would call you an old soul.”

“I like your mom,” she says.

“She likes you, too,” I say, showing some of my own honesty but keeping out the fact that both my mother and Caroline’s were upset by our breakup. They’ve been friends since they were teenagers. I think they always had this grand plan for our families. Maybe I went along with it, in part, to try and keep my mom happy. I know now that nothing I can do will help, and it isn’t my responsibility.

“She’s going to be very sad when you leave for school.”

“She will,” I agree. “But at least I’ll be close. I had opportunities all over the country and considered one farther west. That would have been trickier; she doesn’t like long flights.”

“And I’ll be there,” she says, looking at the horizon as daylight starts to fade and the lights of the city start to shine.

“Living your best life and maybe visiting me on the occasional weekend.”

“You sure you’ll have time for that in between all the puck bunnies?”

“Are you jealous of these nonexistent women, Quinn?” I ask her, thumbing her chin to make her look at me.

“I don’t do jealous, Gavin. I’m not that—”

“Type of girl,” I finish for her. “I know.”

“I guess I’m just saying that I know it might not be as easy for you as it will be for me when we’re apart.”

“Why do you think that?”

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