Page 36 of Overtime
When I glance up, everyone is still wrestling over what video to watch. Except for Ryan. She’s watching me, her brows raised and eyes turned into slits.
Fortunately, she gets distracted by her new roommate, who reappears with journal and strawberry pen in hand. “Okay, let’s start with the basics, please.”
“Why do you need to write all this down?” As Archie asks, he scoots to the end of the couch and motions at the free space. When Strawberry joins him, Ryan turns back to me, as if checking for my reaction. All I give her is a good view of me chugging down a sports drink.
“I’m going to write a hockey romance.”
I choke.
“A what?” someone asks, but I can’t tell who, because I’m coughing.
“A hockey romance,” my tutor explains in an airy tone. “It’s a romance book with a hockey theme. The hero will be a hockey player, but I don’t know enough about the sport yet to get started.”
I pluck a memory from the back of my mind. The first time I met her at the library, she was staring at me and writing things down. The something-else was what, studying me for her book?
And fine, that’s not a big deal. Certainly not the wildest thing I’ve experienced. It shouldn’t annoy me and yet…
I’m a solid four on the bad mood scale.
“Don’t worry. If you base your hero on me, you’ll have a bestseller in your hands,” Archie says with a laugh. It tips me to a five.
“Look, I’ve been voted the sweetest guy on the team,” Jamal counters. “You should base him on me.”
“How about me?” Mark points at himself. “I have a baby face but abs of steel.”
I’m at a six now. I need a freaking nap, or the scale is going to keep going up.
“Anyway, I’m going home,” I announce, then head over to the pile of coats by the door to find mine.
“Already?” Strawberry murmurs something, and the next thing I know, she’s wading through the sea of legs to join me.
I don’t put on my coat. There’s no point. But this catches her attention and a crease appears between her eyebrows.
“Yeah, have fun learning hockey. I’m going to take a nap.” Over her head, I say, “Keep it down, you goons.”
Ryan volleys back, “Wear earplugs.”
Now Strawberry is full on frowning. I open the front door and motion her over. She only makes it to the threshold becauseshe’s wearing socks. At the contact with the freezing air, she shudders.
She pops her head out. “What?—”
Her question fizzles as I insert the key into my apartment door. Which is right next to hers.
“My bedroom butts up to your living room, so make sure they keep it down,” I say, pushing the door open.
“Wait, what?” She opens and closes her mouth. Then her voice comes out in a squeak. “We’re neighbors?”
“Yup. See you around, Strawberry.” And with that, I walk into my apartment.
CHAPTER 12
MADDIE
Not to be dramatic, but having a period is like being subjected to medieval-style torture every month.
Of course it had to arrive literally when I’m having the best time of my life. This week’s study sessions with Aran were precisely what they should’ve been all along. I explained something; he put it to practice. We worked together side by side in an easy-going silence. No teasing from him. No putting my foot in my mouth on my own.
Ryan is the coolest person on earth. She doesn’t mind that my strawberry obsession—as Aran calls it—is starting to take over the apartment. And she cooks mouthwatering food in industrial quantities that she doesn’t mind sharing with me. In fact, a couple of days ago, she made this incredible veggie couscous and offered some to me. I heaped a big spoonful of it, and she literally screamed at me to take more, which is a concept I’m not used to. People telling me to eat more.
