Page 4 of Cloudless
SMOOTH TALKER
LILA
“Come on. Come on.” The red light taunts me as I check the clock on my dash for the hundredth time. The numbers tick by without a care in the world as I drum my fingers along my steering wheel.
I am so late.
The tension in my shoulders grows to an uncomfortable level as I beg the light to change colors. I let out a breath of relief and send it a silent thank you as it flashes to green.
My tires squeal as I speed through the abandoned intersection. I slow as the needle on my speedometer approaches sixty. “Better to get there late and alive, than not at all,” I mumble to myself. Solid advice I wish my parents would have taken.
A sigh of relief escapes my lips as the sprawling building emerges. The black Tahoe in the last row stands out in the empty parking lot. My stomach churns at the inconvenience my poor planning has forced upon this unfortunate soul.
My car sways as I push the gearshift to park and swing my door open. A few stray hairs that escaped my ponytail hours ago fly around my face as the summer breeze washes over my face.
Intense heat rises from the pavement as my sneakers dig into the rough surface of the parking lot. Dark water marks and chipped paint decorate the surface of the community athletics building. A multitude of roof pitches and siding types allude to the many phases of life this building has seen.
The sudden loss of pressure from around my waist and a clatter behind me makes me realize I forgot to take off my apron when I left The Penalty Box. My head swims as I quickly bend to retrieve the battered apron from the ground before continuing up the stairs to the door.
The sting from the sun-warmed door handle against my palm is fleeting as I emerge into the quiet corridor. My sneakers pounding against the laminate floor and the smell of stale air are my only companions as I follow the signs to the rink.
Faded ink and yellowing paper act as my guide through the maze of hallways and locker rooms that seem to stretch on forever.
My grip tightens around my apron and my feet halt as the sound of my brother’s laughter floats through the door at the end of the hall. A stuttered breath catches in my throat as a wave of sorrow threatens to drown me.
I can’t believe I almost forgot what his laugh sounds like.
My feet carry me through the doorway and into the icy chill of the rink. Bright overhead lights shine like a spotlight on the ice as my brother laughs.
For the first time in weeks, my mother's watch on my wrist, whose weight I cannot seem to outrun, is not at the forefront of my mind.
The sound of Jasper’s laughter melds with that of the man following him around the rink. His giggles chase away the chill in the air as I descend the stairs that will take me to the edge of the ice.
Jasper’s eyes lift to mine at the sound of my footsteps. “Lulu!” His smile, that I’ve missed so much, takes over his face. “Did you see how fast I was? It felt like I was flying!”
“Hey, Jellybean! You look great out there!” I clear my throat to hide the watery undertone of my voice. “Change into your sneakers so we can get going.”
Pain blooms in my chest as his shoulders fall. “Do we have to go?”
My smile is tight as I say, “I’ve got to get back to work. I only have a few minutes left of my lunch break.”
The smile never returns to his face as he hurries off toward the bench.
The sharp sound of skates against the ice pulls my attention to the man who deserves an apology. My words stall in my open mouth as my eyes catch on his. Their warm depths call to a part of me I don’t have the energy to acknowledge.
What beautiful eyes.
The cocky smirk that pulls at his lips looks so familiar, I have to try not to stare as he says, “Your eyes are beautiful, too, Sunshine.”
I did not; I repeat—I. Did. Not. Just say that out loud. His smirk grows as flames creep up my neck to consume my cheeks. If the floor could open up and swallow me now, that would be wonderful.
I tilt my head to survey the familiar outline of his jaw and the distinctive tilt of his lips as I try to forget about my slip of the tongue.
“Why do you look so familiar?” I shake my head as I push a stray strand of hair out of my eyes.
“I’m sorry. My awkwardness normally isn’t this bad, and I’m not normally late like this, either.
” I blow out a deep breath. “Can you just forget I said anything? I don’t think I can handle the embarrassment otherwise. ”
His eyes twinkle, something I didn’t know was possible outside of fairy tales and story books, as he shakes his head. “Not a chance. I’m having way too much fun, Sunshine.”
A divot forms between my brows as I cross my arms to fight off the chill in the air. “Why do you keep calling me that?”
He shrugs as he leans his elbows against the wall separating me from the ice. “You didn’t give me your name in class. Jasper called you Lulu, which I’m pretty sure is a nickname and not your real name. And since Lulu is already taken, I figured I would go with Sunshine instead.”
The roughest mornings can turn into the brightest days. All it takes is a little sunshine.
I narrow my eyes as my fingers dig into my thin t-shirt in search of warmth. “You’re the sunshine guy?”
A loose lock of hair falls onto his brow as he shakes his head. “Nah. You’re the sunshine girl, I’m just Kam.” Creases form at the edges of his eyes as he tries to contain his smile. “Do I get to know your name?”
“Oh, um, I’m Lila.”
His smirk blooms into a full grin. “Lila.”
A blush creeps over my cheeks as my gaze falls to my feet. “Um, I’m sorry again for the inconvenience. It won’t happen again.”
His smile falls as a line forms between his brows. “Getting to play with Jasper was hardly an inconvenience.”
Kam opens his mouth like he’s about to say something else as Jasper chooses this moment to run toward me, his backpack bouncing on his back with every step. “I’m ready, Lulu.” He turns toward Kam with a look of awe in his eyes. “Thanks for everything, Kam.”
Kam only ruffles his hair and smiles, completely unaffected by the god-status my little brother has placed on his shoulders. “Anytime, Tank. I’ll see you at the scrimmage tomorrow?”
Two sets of expectant eyes turn toward me. Jasper clasps his hands in front of him like he’s praying. “Can we go, Lulu? Kam invited everyone from camp. I even asked him to get you and Posey some tickets, too.”
His eyes light up as I nod. “I think we can work that out.” The growing smile on his face falls with my raised finger. “But you have to promise to get your science project done tonight. We were supposed to work on it tomorrow.”
Jasper’s fist launches into the air as excitement fills his voice. “Yes! I promise I’ll get it done when we get home.”
Kam’s smile returns in full force as his eyes move to mine. “The tickets will be a will call. Just give them Jasper’s name.” His voice falls to a whisper as Jasper lists off everything he needs to do before the scrimmage tomorrow. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Sunshine.”
I struggle to swallow as his chocolate eyes hold me captive. “Yeah, um, we’ll see you tomorrow.”
My ponytail sways around my shoulders as I turn toward the stairs.
Kam’s voice halts my foot mid-air before I take the first step.
“Wait!” His deft fingers pluck the pen from the apron I forgot is in my hands.
“Here’s my number.” Warm fingers pull my hand closer before the pen contacts my skin.
“Text me if you have any trouble with the tickets and if you’re going to be late picking Jasper up next weekend.
” His scribbling on my hand falters as he backtracks.
“Not that it was a problem or anything. Just so I’ll know what to expect and all that.
” His voice falls to a mumble. “Just shut up, Kam.”
I examine the scribbled digits on the back of my hand as he slips the pen back where he found it. A small smile lifts the edges of my lips. “Was that just a clever way to give me your number?”
He bites the edge of his lip as he fights his smirk. “If I was truly clever, I would have figured out a way to get your number instead.” He loses the battle as his smirk slips free. “This was all I could come up with on the spot.”
I shake my head as my own smile slips free. “You’re a smooth talker, Kam.”
The lightness in his eyes matches the brightness of his smile. “Call me whatever you want, cause I got you to smile again.”
Jasper’s fingers dig into the hem of my shirt as he shifts on his feet next to me. “Come on, Lulu. You’ll be late for work.”
I don’t need to glance at my watch to know he’s right.
My voice softens as I take a step backward toward the stairs. “Bye, Kam.”
“Bye, Sunshine.”