Page 27

Lola

The current status of the list isn’t great, but I still get my coffee everyday, so I can’t complain.

THINGS BYRON CAN DO TO EARN LOLA’S FRIENDSHIP BACK

Me:

Is the rink open today? I think it’s time I learn to skate.

The dream was to learn on a frozen pond. Something about it seems so nostalgic, snow falling, hand knitted mittens and hot cocoa. Unfortunately, it’s early October and nowhere near cold enough for any of the ponds in Westvale to freeze over.

Ding

One simple sound from my phone shouldn’t send my heart racing, but it does. That almost kiss has been playing on loop in my mind all week. It felt right, until I remembered I have a boyfriend and guilt took over.

Byron:

Practices are done for the day so it should be free. I’ll be there in ten minutes and we can go skating!!!!!!!!

Me:

That’s a lot of exclamation points.

Byron:

Everyone should be that excited to be around you.

I leave the message open on my desk so I can stare at it for a few seconds in between each step of my makeup routine.

It’s like I’ve been conditioned to think nobody would be excited to be around me.

I know that’s not necessarily true. I have friends that I know like spending time with me.

It’s just hard not to feel like people just tolerate being around me.

It’s how I thought my family has felt for as long as I can remember.

I’m moody, opinionated and would rather be with my horse than people.

I quickly swipe on my mascara before throwing on a beanie and sneakers. Unfortunately it’s too early for a shot, so a piece of gum will have to help calm my nerves.

I tuck the rest of the package into the back pocket of my jeans and head to the front porch determined to have a fun day.

Unlike my friends, who love the change from summer to fall; because it means the start of their respective sports seasons, I hate it because it gets so freaking cold.

Luckily I’m not waiting for long when Byron shows up in Marcus’ car.

Oliver is using my car this morning and since Indy–and her car– is at the guys’ house setting up for the party this is the only option we had left.

You hear it before you see it. Fumes fly out of the exhaust. It’s a true man’s truck and not made for someone who is fun-sized.

It embarrassingly takes all my strength to pull myself up and settle into the passenger seat.

My chest is heaving when I peer at the driver’s side.

I finally catch my breath, for it to be instantly taken away again by Byron’s devastatingly handsome smile.

His long blonde hair is peaking out from under his Westvale Hockey beanie. His blue eyes glow with mischief. His lips curled into a smirk. The one that helps him charm his way out of anything, that baby face doesn’t fool me—well, not anymore.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I don’t mean it in a self-conscious way, but in a he’s definitely up to something way.

“It’s officially October.”

“It is.” I nod along, not sure where this conversation is going.

Byron hold’s his hands out in front of him palms up. He shakes them a couple times. His eyes grow wide, like I’m the weird one for not deciphering his coded language.

“The month of our births’. He says in a British accent.

“You watched the new season of Bridgerton without me!”

“Wait, the new season is out? That’s not,” he shakes his head. “That’s not what I’m talking about. You promised me a joint birthday party last year, and I’m simply reminding you of that fact.”

Those plans were disregarded the second I saw him in New York City. Don’t come after me, I now know I should have asked him who he was with. We can’t change the past. It was supposed to be a big celebration now that our friends knew about us. A party for the ages.

“Don’t give me some sob story about how that was then and this is now. We are friends with birthdays a day apart. One of them being on Halloween. It’s the perfect way to celebrate.”

Mine is the day before Halloween, and of course, Byron’s had to be the day after mine. I used to find that endearing; now, it is just annoying.

“I mean, we will probably be hanging out anyway,”

I inhale deeply, running my clammy palms down the front of my jeans.

“So I guess we can have the party.” I roll my eyes playfully before adding, “I want nothing to do with the planning, but I’m expecting big things.”

Give an athlete a challenge, and you’ll probably get a pretty good party out of it.

“Oh, don’t worry, Lowy, it’s going to be epic.”

“I’m going to fucking kill my brother.”

Two hours and a sore frozen butt later, I’m driving Byron—with a sleeping Mia in his lap–to the on-campus shelter to meet Jalen and Ivy.

I reach over to the center panel to take full advantage of the heated seat. I need it to ease the pain and help the bruising I know is spreading on my ass cheek at this very moment.

“You okay?” He asks, placing his hand on mine. His eyes burrow into my soul. He almost got away with it, almost. The left side of his lip is slightly tilted up.

“Wipe the smirk off your face. You are going to get paid to skate for a living and I don’t think I’ve been on a pair of skates since I was in elementary school.”

He takes the hand that he was absent-mindedly running down Mia’s back and pats my thigh twice.

It’s an innocent gesture. I really mean that. But why is it making my chest tighten and my cheeks heat?

“It’s okay, Pips. Let me know if I can help you with the bruises later.”

I swat his hand away with a stern look. All seriousness is lost when Byron wiggles his eyebrows. I burst into laughter.

It feels like we have finally found our footing. We can be what we were before feelings complicated it. I get my friend back, my drinking buddy, a person I have always trusted with my secrets.

“So I talked to my mom for the first time in three weeks. She and my dad are going to Yellowstone for the long weekend.”

“Did you talk about anything else?” His voice is soft. Any playfulness that was in the car just evaporated.

“Well, I told them that I started the culinary school application,” I pause, “They actually seemed to be happy for me. Then asked me how I’m going to be able to afford Cookie when I’m done.”

Byron’s eyes grow until it looks like they take up nearly half his face. “Damn, that’s harsh.”

“I mean, that was my first reaction to–it always is with my parents–but then I thought about it, and they’re right,” I say with a shrug.

It normally takes Ivy and Indy hounding me to share the newest Adam’s family drama. I just want to share it with Byron. I don’t wait until the emotions are overflowing. He has this look, and it’s like a potion that has me sharing all my feelings.

To think I started this thing with him to have a little fun.

“You’ll figure it out. I have faith in you.”

A few minutes later, we pull into the shelter and I jump out before Byron can put the car in park. Ivy was one of the first people I met when I got to campus freshman year and this is the longest we’ve gone without seeing each other.

“Ivy!!” I scream her name and she only has a split second to realize what’s happening before I jump into her arms.

I latch on, and I don’t let her go. It sucks not being in the same city anymore.

“Hey, Pips, did you miss me?” her voice is dripping with sarcasm.

“More than you’ll ever know.”

She places me back on the ground, and I get a good look at her. The city seems to be treating her well. For someone in her first year of vet school, she looks well-rested, and her skin is glowing. I’m jealous.

Byron and Jalen make their way toward us from the driver-side of the cars.

“Did you tell her?” Jalen asks his girlfriend. A smile slowly crawling onto his face.

“Not yet,” she grumbles. It’s a faux annoyance as she swats him with her left hand.

The sun hits something. Light ricochets off the largest diamond I’ve ever seen.

My mouth drops. I stutter, unable to form a single word, let alone a question.

“We’re engaged!” Jalen and Ivy say in unison.

My black heart brightens–just a smidge–as I rope my friends into a hug.

“Are you serious? When did it happen? How did he propose?” I rattle off the questions without catching a breath.

“It was perfect. I was sitting on the couch after my first test last week. Jalen promised we could spend the weekend watching all our favorite musicals. He comes over with a big bowl of popcorn, hiding a tiny box. The rest is history.”

“Wait, you waited a whole week to tell me.” The shield I keep around my heart slides back into place.

“We decided to wait, knowing we were going to see y’all this weekend,” Jalen says as he looks between Byron and me.

“We are having an engagement party the week before Halloween and we know it’s the week after midterms, so there is no game and Coach will give you all the weekend off, and I expect you to be there. ”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world! I can’t beli—” I’m interrupted by loud yips and Mia dragging Byron toward the back of the shelter where the dogs were just rounded up for a walk.

“Why don’t you guys take the dogs for a walk,” Ivy suggests, handing Riley’s leash to her fiance. “I want to go see the inside of the shelter.”

I stop Ivy when we get to the door and grab her hand, “Damn girl, the NHL must be treating Jay well.”

She chuckles as she admires the rock and, I mean, ROCK that adorns her finger.

“Yeah, he is doing well too. I’m so happy he was able to make the jump from college to the pros so easily.”

Maybe it’s because I’ve never been in love or maybe it’s just common sense, but I don’t think I’d be a good friend if I didn’t ask her, “Are you sure now is the right time with you still in school? We’re just so young.”

“But why wait? I know he is the one, and if I’ve learnt anything, it’s that life is too short not to do what you know is right.”

She’s right. Ivy has seen more tragedy than anyone should in a lifetime, let alone at twenty-two.

“Let’s go see what all that money you raised last year did.”

I’ve been to the shelter a few times already this year, so the revamped space isn’t new to me. I make a point to watch Ivy as she takes in the freshly painted walls and new living area for the dogs. She sniffles, so I wrap her in a hug.

“It’s amazing. I can’t believe that Jalen and I will always be able to say that we helped the place where we met become this.” She spreads her arms over the room in front of us.

“How’s your sister and Jalen’s uncle doing?” I still can’t believe how blended this family has become.

“Ruby is expecting twins this summer.” My jaw drops. I wasn’t expecting that.

I’m so excited for this family. After losing her husband, I know she put everything into raising her two kids, Caleb and Stella. Ivy was so excited when her sister found love again.

“Shut up! I am so excited for you guys.”

“Life can change a lot in a year, speaking of which,” she pauses, making me nervous, “So, how’s that boyfriend of yours? Jalen can’t believe you are dating him.”

“Yeah, I can’t say Byron loved it when he was the friend that I brought to the party at their house. But I try to keep them as far away from each other as possible” I shrug suppressing the urge to tell Ivy I really hate feeling like I am living two separate lives.

“That seems sustainable,” She jokes, before grabbing a box of dog treats. “I am happy you and Byron can be friends.”

Friends, because I almost kiss all my friends.

“Getting paired up on this project together gave us no choice. But I can’t say I’m mad about it. I missed him.”

She doesn’t try to hide her smile. I actually think she is forcing it to be larger just to piss me off.

“Don’t smile like that. I don’t need your gloating.”

“Oh and one more thing, will you be my maid of honor?”

“Of course!” I scream and the dogs in the shelter go crazy, feeding off my energy.

Ivy takes her phone from her back pocket before slyly tucking it back in. “That’s amazing, because Byron just said yes to being Jalen’s best man.”

I should have known this was going to play out. I grab a few treats out of the box and walk to the back of the shelter.

“Of course he did.”