Page 70 of Safety Net
"It's a go!" Lincoln called to the others with his hands in the air.
They cheered. Naomi hugged me from behind before going to celebrate with everyone else on stage.
"I'm so proud of you." Lincoln remained at my side, voice low and nearly drained out from the excitement of everyone else. They'd dove into plans of celebration at the end of practicing and the end of summer.
"I wouldn't have made it this far without you." I slipped my hand into his, squeezing to communicate my overflowing gratefulness. "And I'm not just talking about the musical."
"You would have," Lincoln promised. "You shine too bright not to."
The house burst with music, laughter, and the scent of sugar. The windows were open, letting in a comforting cross breeze that was starting to smell more of fall than summer.
Naomi and Finn worked side by side, pulling clean dishes from the washer and placing them in the overhead cabinets. Halle had volunteered to mix drinks, and Jack had protested, citing a lack of skill. Sam suggested they both be put on the task. And Aderyn — who'd dropped by earlier than we expected—suggested she film it for documentation's sake.
"Trust me, girl," Aderyn told Halle. "When you win, you're going to want proof."
Halle nodded. "Good looking out."
I sat at the kitchen's island, sandwiched between Ellis and Kaya. My cousin was trying to sell her on possible cross-promotion plans for next year. Last semester, Mendell's women's and men's hockey teams collaborated to develop a brand and promote their games. Ellis wanted to work with Kaya on expanding their reach into the world of figure skating.
"I promise you, I have more to offer than these puck-slinging guys," Ellis joked, jerking his chin toward said puck-slingers. "Our audiences have a lot of crossover."
"Maybe." She looked at me and asked, "What do you think?"
I blinked, quiet for a moment, not sure she had addressed me. "What doIthink?"
Kaya nodded, placing her hand on her chin as she looked at me. She genuinely wanted my opinion.
"I think…" I paused, giving the question the time it deserved. I didn't feel the need to rush because everyone here was used to waiting for me to gather my thoughts.
I surprised myself by not attempting to figure out what Kaya wanted me to say. I wasn't in the business of mind-reading anymore.
"From what I know about hockey and figure skating—especially when it comes to the women's team, there's definite crossover appeal. You guys could do those videos of hockey players trying a figure skating routine and vice versa. It'd be entertaining," I said. "And Ellis is good at entertaining a crowd."
Kaya nodded, face solemn, but there was a small spark of curiosity in her eyes. "Alright."
The one word was downright enthusiasm when it came to her. Ellis laughed and asked to switch seats with me so he could further explain what he thought next semester could look like for them.
"Thirsty?" Lincoln appeared behind me and set down a grocery bag on the counter. He'd disappeared as soon as we'd gotten to the house, claiming he'd be back in the blink of an eye.
"That was more than a blink." I teased.
Lincoln placed a hand on the small of my back and kissed my temple so gently I barely felt it. When I smiled and leaned in, he gave me a longer kiss.
"Is that okay?" he asked in a whisper, referencing the public display of affection. He pulled back just in case.
I nodded, heart fluttering. "It's perfect."
"I got you some non-alcoholic beverages," he said. "Didn't know what you might be in the mood for, so I grabbed a little bit of everything."
I smiled. "I see."
The grocery bag held ginger ale, lemonades, and those fancy, fizzy, health-boosting drinks that weren't exactly sodas.
"Wanted you to have options." Lincoln unloaded the bag. "Whatever you don't drink we'll put in my mini fridge upstairs and whenever—if ever you come over--you'll have something."
"Whenever," I confirmed. "Thank you."
He kissed my forehead this time. "Now, what do you want me to use for your mocktail? Lil lemonade, some ginger ale, grape juice?"
