Page 23 of Fresh Ice
Levy huffed out a laugh. “Yeah, I guess. I didn’t want you to be uncomfortable or anything, but I guess it’s a moot point now.”
“I wouldn’t have been uncomfortable. I’m not uncomfortable now, either. I guess I was just worried you’d see me as weak or something.”
“That’s never going to happen because you’renotweak. End of story.”
Instinctively, Alonso wanted to fight back against that statement, but he kept quiet. “Well. Sorry again.”
“It’s all right. I get it. You’ve been dealing with this alone for a long time.”
Alonso’s stomach tightened. Levy forgave way too easily. “Thanks, Levy.”
“Shut up. You’re gonna stop ignoring me now, right?”
“You’re impossible to ignore. You’reloud.”
Levy stuck his tongue out. “That’s because I have so many awesome things to say.”
“Mmhm.” Delight bloomed inside Alonso at the familiar banter. “Whatever you say.”
“Hey, you promised to be nice to me.”
“I never said that.”
“Well, youshouldbe nice to me.I’mnice,” Levy declared.
“You’re kind of mean.”
Levy gaped, and Alonso could only hold his stoic expression a few seconds before collapsing into laughter.
“Oh my God, your face was so distraught.”
“Shut up. I’ve never been mean a day in my life.”
“I actually believe that,” Alonso said truthfully, making Levy turn bashful.
“Okay, enough. Let’s watch something stupid, my brain is tired.”
Alonso followed him to the couch, feeling lighter than he had in days.
**********
Levy and Alonso shoved through their apartment door.
“I won,” crowed Levy.
“Yeah, right. I won—you just have a giant head.”
“First of all, rude. Second of all, if my fat head went in first, I won.”
“Everybody knows that your whole body has to be in for you to win,” Alonso countered.
“Everybody knows? Who the fuck is everybody? Do you think this is a popular game people play with each other?” Levy laughed.
“Uh, yeah. The family that shoves together stays together.”
Levy snorted, making his way to the kitchen. They’d just won their Sunday matinee game, breaking a five-game losing streak, and all the guys had agreed to go out later that night.
“I’m starving,” Alonso said, following Levy.
