Page 83 of Breaking Away

It’s lop-sided, crumbly and has chunks of chocolate spread through it. It’s triple the normal size.

Kavi’s eyes dart to mine. “I did. For you.”

Fuck.“Why?”

“In case you won—or lost and wanted to eat your feelings away.”

I haven’t had anything sweet since my knee was originally busted. Since then, my diet has narrowed into the same meals. Looking down at the cookie, my mouth waters.

“Not as a thank-you for staying here,” she rushes to explain, fussing with her hands. “I know you don’t want any appreciation for that blah-blah-blah?—”

My mouth quirks. The mood I was in before, somehow, evaporates like it was never there. I sit down and bring the tray closer to me. “We can share.”

We do.

I eat a bite and groan. There’s no way I can stop myself. I eat my share in three bites. Wiping my mouth, I look up. Kavi’s mouth is open. The tops of her cheeks are flush.

“Guess you liked it…” she says with a slow smile.

Understatement, yes. But the cookie is done now. I should get up and leave.

Instead, I follow Kavi to the living room because she’s rambling about this show she’s been watching. It’s the most outrageous reality competition. She asks if I’ve heard of it. I shake my head no. She puts it on, maybe to fill the space between us, as if surprised we are still interacting. I should make it easier for us both and leave, but the first scene hooks me. I’ll leave after it finishes.

Kavi doesn’t watch in silence. This is clearly one of her favorite pastimes. A security blanket of activity. She wonders, vocally, about each scene.

Do you think she really likes him? Okay, his mother is a huge red flag! Do you think they’ll actually get married? Why do they keep dating each other? That family tree is going to be a wreath. At least the outfit is great, though. Is she the drama or am I the drama? I don’t know about long distance. Does it ever work?

I find myself answering. We talk back and forth like the easiest game of conversation ping-pong I’ve ever played. I don’t watch the clock. I’m completely relaxed even though I shouldn’t be.

The show ends.

We keep talking.

She says she would pay to see me on a reality tv show. Like a survivalist competition. I tell her I’ve never camped before. Kavi pretends to be horrified before admitting she’s also never camped. We’re the worst kind of people who grew up in a small town. Urbanites in hiding.

I connect my phone to my flat screen tv. We watch videos of people vlogging about living out of a van, confirming we would hate it.

Hours pass by.

My routine is in shambles.

I tell myself tomorrow will be different.

34

DMITRI

After practice the next day,I come home to see Kavi pacing. She stops when she notices me. I’m leaning against the archway that connects the kitchen to the living room.

“How was your day?” she asks, as if there aren’t circles under her eyes.

“Good. How was yours?”

“Good.”

I wait her out, staring. An eyebrow eventually goes up.

“Fine,” she groans. “I spent all of today panicking at the lack of direction in my life.”

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