Page 7 of Between the Blue
“In fact, stay far away from me. I have no interest in being your friend. And we don’t need to speak again. So don’t try it, Cherry.”
two
HIM, THIRTEEN YEARS AGO
I’m barely out of the locker room when I hear a familiar voice calling after me.
“James!”
I feel a hand grip my shoulder and turn around.
Rhett.
“Sutty,” I say. Clap his hand with my own. “How’s it going, man?”
“Better if you hadn’t wiped the floor with us back there,” he mutters.
“You win some, you lose some.”
“Yeah, right. Except for you. You win them all, dick.” He says it sarcastically. Rolls his eyes.
But he’s not wrong.
Rhett and I have played together as much as we’ve played against each other. When you get to be at our level, you tend to cross paths with the same people often.
I don’t mind when it comes to him though. We couldn’t be more different, but, for some reason, I like him.
He’s probably my best friend.
I shrug. Give him a smirk that makes him roll his eyes a second time.
“You’re a prick,” he says. And then, in the same breath, “I’m throwing a party at my place tonight. Wanna come?”
I open my mouth. Then close it.
I don’t need to ask.
I already know his parents must not be home tonight.
I also know that they didn’t come to his game.
They never do.
Rhett wasn’t the luckiest in the parent lottery.
Nothing like how I was.
Sad how uncommon it is to have two parents that love and support you in ways other than handing you their credit card.
I lift my chin. Spot my parents now as they exit the rink. Their heads are already on a swivel, looking for me.
I know the drill. Dad will pat me on the back. Mom will kiss my cheek.
Just like always.
I glance back to Rhett.
He’s waiting on my answer.
