Page 101 of Rinkmates

I look to Aiden.

“Let’s,” he says.

Ethan stands up. There’s a newfound enthusiasm sparkling in his eyes and I’m not sure if I should be happy or afraid. Maybe both. “Great. You’ll visit your grandma and I’ll make sure every tabloid covers your movie roles being dropped. And I’ll book a talk show. This needs to be huge.”

Thirty-two

RILEY

Idon’t cuddle.

I don’t cling.

I don’t wait until I make plans before I ask a girl what she is doing.

But I do it all with Liora.

And it’s all me.

She doesn’t even want me clinging to her like a damn nettle, but I just can’t help it. And she knows it. She even convinced me to join her on the ice, during my one week off when I’m supposed to rest and relax. Am I out of my mind?

I mean, do I want to wear flashy ice-skating outfits?

No.

Do I want to swap hockey skates for ice-skating shoes?

No.

Am I doing it because she asked?

Hell yes.

I can’t say no to that face.

Maybe she’s cast some kind of witchcraft on me because this isn’t how I usually roll. Is it possible that I’m sick? Because no matter what happens, the way she makes me feel won’t go awayanytime soon. Or ever. I don’t think anyone can make me feel this alive.

The rest of the week goes smoothly, and it feels like I’m in a little bubble with Liora. We spend our evenings watching Disney movies, and she can’t help but laugh at me when I get emotional over them. While I hate that they make me cry—sometimes, and only briefly, like, one tear at a time—there’s just something special about seeing cartoon characters do everything for the ones they love. She mentioned not having a favorite cereal, so I bought a variety of options and had her taste each one until she declared her love for Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes. It may not have been my first choice, but now we can enjoy cereal together.

Despite all the cute and sweet moments, there’s something else going on with Liora and she won’t tell me what it is. I’ve tried asking about her tattoos and the Olympics, but she always steers the conversation in a different direction. And I’m terrified that if I push too hard, she’ll pull away from me for good. It’s another new feeling for me—usually I’m the one doing the pushing, not pulling.

I’ve been busy with games against the Hurricanes, and tomorrow will be our last home game against them before we potentially move on to the finals against the Florida Bay Blazes. If we win, we have two weeks off.

Another dream come true is getting to fuck Liora the minute I come home. And fuck do we have mind-blowing sex. I can never get enough of her. After I’m finished pleasing her today, I make my way up her bare legs and settle on top of her abdomen. It’s the first time I’ve noticed a faint white scar there. It’s a horizontal line across the lower abdomen, just above the pubic hairline. I wouldn’t have seen it since the scar has already faded to a pale white, but I notice it while I stroke over her stomach; it’s lightly raised compared to the surrounding skin.

“Where did you get that scar from?” I ask, caressing it.

She stiffens and I wonder if I’ve asked the wrong thing.

“It’s been a long time. Long story. Oh, and Riley, your sister is calling.”

My phone buzzes on the nightstand. What a convenient time for Rosalie to call.

Liora is a pro at avoiding questions.

It’s something she’s been doing for a while now. She doesn’t hesitate to share stories about her mom and how the trailer community has become like family to her, or how she cooks for her eighty-year-old neighbor. But when it comes to certain topics, she shuts down. I brought it up with my therapist, and he advised me not to push her on those sensitive issues. His advice still rings in my ears, sound and clear:

Sometimes, people find it challenging to open up about painful experiences, even with those they care about. It’s essential to respect their boundaries and allow them the space they need to process things in their own time.

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