Grace nods. “I know so, and for the record, I’m completely on board with you and Kellan loving each other. I know I said it before, but I don’t think you believe me.”
“How could you after what he did to you?”
“Like I’ve said before, he is a good guy, he just wasn’t for me. He’s always felt like family to me, though, and I just assumed it was because we were best friends, but now I think it’s because maybe someday we will be married to siblings,” Grace says.
“Whoa, putting the cart before the horse, aren’t we? Last I checked, neither of those two have put rings on either of your fingers,” Peyton says as she scans our hands.
Grace rolls her eyes. “You knew what I meant.”
“Words have meaning,” Peyton quips, making us laugh.
“Are you feeling better now?” Peyton asks as we fall silent.
“Yeah, I think so. Thanks, you two.”
“Why are you thanking us? We didn’t do anything,” Peyton says.
“I’m thanking you because I’m thankful for our friendship. You two brought me into the fold, no questions asked, when you didn’t have to.”
“Why wouldn’t we have befriended you?” Grace asks.
“We know awesome when we see it, and you, my girl, are awesome. Embrace it,” Peyton tells me.
“Well then, can I ask you a question, Peyton?”
“What’s up?”
“When are you going to start dating someone?” I tease.
Peyton shivers in disgust. “Never.”
“Really? Never? That sounds extreme.” Grace laughs.
“The only thing a man can give me is orgasms, and I don’t even need one for that,” Peyton declares.
“I’ll give you an orgasm, baby.”
We turn and see three guys who look like they are maybe, at most, freshmen in high school sitting behind us and staring at Peyton with interest.
“Boys, while I applaud you for trying, you failed. You look like you wouldn’t even know where the clit is if it jumped up and bit you. Now fuck off and stop eavesdropping. Leave us adults alone.” Peyton rolls her eyes and turns around.
“So if you aren’t interested in dating, then I guess nothing is going on with you and Beckett?”
Peyton tenses for a split second before relaxing. “Beckett and I are friends. If you want to even call us that. More like acquaintances because our friends are dating. That’s where it ends. Nothing less, nothing more, and that’s all we’ll ever be.”
Right…if you ask me, the lady doth protest too much. I wonder what she’s keeping to herself and when she will finally clue all of us in.
* * *
This game is a complete and utter shit show. Not because we are playing badly but because it’s neck and neck. I don’t know what St. Mary’s has done since last year, but they sure as hell have improved. Last year it was like they had never been on skates, but this year they are playing like all the team players are part of the PHL.
Maybe Coach should challenge the school to see their birth certificates.
“This is insane,” Jones mutters as he skates back toward the bench.
I look up at the scoreboard and see that we are still ahead, but it’s close. Too fucking close.
The last thing I want to do is lose when Cora and the girls came all this way. Putting my head down, I skate harder than I have all night.
