Page 20 of Revolve
I was watching a show Summer recommended. It’s not a Turkish drama, thankfully, or she’d make me translate everything. Apparently, I’m a bad friend for not telling her that my mom’s Turkish, or that I speak it too. Now, whenever I walk by while it’s on, I’m roped into checking whether the subtitles are accurate. Aiden being on video call doesn’t help, because he expects me to translate every word for Summer. One episode is threehourslong.
I toss the keys right back at Kian.
“Fine, I’ll drive, but get ready, we’re picking up Cap,” he says.
Crap. I nearly forgot that Aiden is coming home to rest until his calf strain is all healed up to play in the regular season. “I thought Summer was going with you.”
It’s not that Aiden’s arrival isn’t exciting, but I know he’s going to watch me like a fucking hawk. I’m hoping he’s distracted enough to forget about my reckless partying streak last semester. And this summer. And last week.
“She is, but I don’t want to third wheel a couple who hasn’t seen each other in over a month.”
“If you’re lucky, they’ll probably just bicker the whole way home.”
Kian groans. “That’s worse; it’s like foreplay for them. You’re coming.” He walks out to the porch to drape our surprise for Aiden with a white sheet. We had forgotten all about it, but then it showed up on in a delivery truck last week.
Outside, the sound of the horn blaring fills the empty street. Summer’s sitting in the passenger seat, reaching over to press the horn like a lunatic.
“Jesus, I was being thoughtful and gettingyourboyfriend a snack.” Kian climbs into the driver’s side and tosses the box on Summer’s lap.
“I don’t think a box of …” She holds the bag between her fingers to inspect it. “Double Cream Twinkies is something he’s craving right now.”
Kian snatches it out of her hand and mumbles something about knowing his best friend. When he finally pulls out and we’re headed to the highway, I can’t help but glance over at the arena as we drive by. Dread settles somewhere low in my stomach, and it almost feels like I won’t ever play hockey in that rink again.
“You okay back there?” Summer lowers the volume of the radio.
I nod, but that doesn’t do anything to clear the crease between her brows. My gaze drifts out the window, but I don’t miss the look Kian’s giving me through the rearview mirror.
Suddenly, I’m desperate to get out of this headspace. I pull out my phone and text Sampson before I think better of it.
Dylan:Party tonight?
Sampson:Yale. But you know how those go. It’s never a good idea.
Sampson:Besides, isn’t Aiden back tonight?
Dylan:Doesn’t matter. When are we leaving?
Sampson:Pick you up in an hour.
Normally, I’d never step foot on Yale’s campus, but this week Dalton’s going through a dry spell with parties. It might be because every NCAA team at Dalton underwent surprise drug tests.
Ten minutes later, Kian pulls into the airport arrivals. I slide my phone in my pocket as Summer and Kian argue about where to park. I follow their line of sight to Aiden Crawford walking toward the car. Kian is first to react. He parks where we’re definitely not supposed to park and runs out of the car. He wraps his arms around Aiden and squeezes the shit out of him. I follow Summer, who doesn’t remember that anything else exists but her boyfriend. She’s slow to approach him, so I nudge Kian away and give Aiden a quick hug.
“Don’t know why he’s acting like that. We saw you a few months ago,” I say.
“Two months ago, asshole. That’s eight whole weeks,” Kian responds.
Summer’s still standing there, and it makes Aiden smile. “What are you waiting for, Preston?” he says, dropping his bag on the floor next to him.
That’s all it takes for her to jump straight into his arms. Kian watches them in awe, and I roll my eyes as I take Aiden’s bag to toss it in the trunk. Relationships have never been my thing, but seeing my best friend look at her like that, with soft affection in his eyes, stabs me in the chest like a dart on a bull’s-eye. But I don’t let it linger. Instead, I crush the feeling just as quickly.
This time I take the front seat, and when we’re driving off again, Kian tosses the box of Twinkies to Aiden, who groans in appreciation and tears into it immediately.
Kian’s smirking at Summer through the rearview.
The rest of the drive home, I’m awaiting the tongue-lashing that I’m sure is coming my way. But if I’m lucky, I’ll be halfway to Yale before Aiden gets the chance to corner me.
Sebastian and Cole come out of their rooms to greet Aiden when we get home.
