Page 20 of Broken Hearts
We’re quiet, sitting together and staring out at the empty rink. This is the quiet I was looking for when I got up this morning and decided to head to the rink early, but I’m the first to break the silence.
“In third grade, I fell asleep on the bus home from school. The driver got all the way back to school before he realized I was still in my seat. My parents had to come get me. Super embarrassing.”
“Only mildly embarrassing by comparison to the circumstances in which I fell asleep.”
“Well, I wouldn’t know since I haven’t heard the whole story.”
He drops his head and runs a hand along his jaw. “I was at a party. We started drinking as soon as the bus got back from the quarterfinals. I think I slept two hours that night, and then we got up for drivers and donuts, and by noon I was done. I caught a ride back to my apartment with some buddies. She followed. I actually thought she was into my friend, but then she started kissing me, and she came into my room. I was so tired.”
I’m holding back a smile as he pushes his hair out of his face.
“She was on her knees in front of me, and I was sprawled back on my bed…” He lifts his legs dangling over the edge and waves his hand between them.
“Oh my god! You fell asleep during a blow job?!”
He glances around like someone might be hanging around eavesdropping.
“Sorry.” I lower my voice. “But seriously?”
“If I’d known it was going to happen, I would have better prepared. Maybe taken a cold shower first or, fuck, I don’t know.”
“What do you mean if you’d known it was going to happen? Doesn’t that sort of thing happen a lot—girls following you around and dropping to their knees?” My face is lava hot. “And I mean, okay, prepared or not, I don’t think falling asleep is the appropriate reaction to sex.”
“No. I mean, yeah, I guess. It’s sort of a new thing, and I haven’t quite gotten used to it.”
“Well, it’s the opposite for me. I used to have boys following me around, and now they don’t. It’s better in your shoes, trust me.”
“Guys don’t hit on you?” His expression says he doesn’t believe me.
“Girls hitting on you is a new thing?” I give him the same look back.
We’re smiling at one another, and there’s this electricity in the air between us. Rhett’s different than I imagined. Easier to talk to. Nice. Funny.
Suddenly we’re not alone. A couple of hockey guys come out at the same time Josie arrives.
“Guess it’s time,” I say and jump down onto the ice.
“Hey.” He follows. “What are you doing tonight? Would you want to hang out maybe? A bunch of my teammates are going to this party at the basketball house. You know it?”
“I do.”
“So, you want to go?”
“With you?” I ask, a little confused.
He looks around. “Yeah?”
“Sorry, it’s just… I don’t think I’m your type.”
“Okay.” His brows scrunch together. “Why aren’t you my type? Or better yet, what do you think my type is exactly?”
“Look, I am cool with an occasional casual hookup, but based on the number of girls you’ve been entangled with this week alone… I’m sorry.” It turns out there is really no good way to tell a guy you aren’t into being his next slam piece.
“Right.” Rhett skates backward. “Got it. Well, I guess I’ll see you around.”
* * *
I’min the library studying when Elias calls. I prop my phone up against my backpack on the table and accept the video call.
