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“It started as an insult.”

“Started?”

I point at her. “Don’t.”

Her grin gets wider. “How long did you have a crush on him?”

I nearly choke on melting ice.

“I didn’t say I had a crush on him.”

“You didn’t have to.”

I grab my phone.

Me: Alive. Tell Mom I’m working.

Ken: Tell her yourself.

Me: Bossy.

Ken: She likes me better.

I hate how quickly I smile.

Avery sees it.

“Oh, you are so screwed.”

“I am not.”

“Sure.”

I call Mom before Avery can get worse.

Mom answers on the second ring, Dad shouting hello somewhere behind her. For ten minutes, I hear about Evergreen, Dad asks about work, Mom asks about apartments, and I assure both of them I’m eating actual food.

I don’t tell them Bishop asked me to stay. I’m not sure why. Maybe because three weeks doesn’t mean anything. Maybe because my books on his shelf say otherwise.

BISHOP

Friday night in St. Louis, Beckett catches me outside the visitors’ locker room before I can get to the bus.

“Good game.”

He bumps his fist against mine.

“Would’ve been better if you lost.”

“Can’t have everything we want.”

The hallway smells like sharpened skates, sweat, and the industrial cleaner.

Declan leans against the wall. “How’s Laney?”

“Busy.”

His eyes narrow. “Busy?”