Chapter 41
FORTY-ONE
DAISY
Vanessa
SOS
I need a break from the testosterone currently flooding my room
Lauren
You need a break?? Try being me!
I’m just an innocent resident forced to be around your moping boyfriend
Vanessa
Playing fast and loose with the term innocent there…
Lauren
You know I would never touch those sweaty boys with a ten-foot pole
Me
I could use a rescue plan too!
Vanessa
Paint-N-Sip? We can come get you in twenty mins
Me
Perfect!
“I don’t remember their pre-game energy ever being this bad.”
“It’s the final game of the season; they always get a little extra rowdy then.
” Vanessa flicks her hair over one shoulder, holding up the porcelain square she’s painting to watch the colors catch in the light.
She’s painted a jersey in the center of the coaster, and now a vibrant bed of flowers are taking shape around it.
“Besides if all goes well Luke gets sworn in as Captain tonight.”
“As if there’s ever been another choice.”
“Dylan Brooks is still gunning for the spot from what Finn told me last night.”
Lauren scoffs. “He’ll never be able to sway the count in his favor. Ethan won’t allow it.”
“Ethan won’t have much to say about it considering he’s graduating in a few weeks.”
“I’m just glad to be out of there. Connor has been pacing around all morning, driving me insane.
” I sigh, tossing my paint brush onto the table beside me.
I’ve long since given up on the mug I was painting.
The motive on the side started off looking like a branch of strawberries but now it’s somehow morphed into a blob of colors.
“Finn says he still hasn’t made up with Luke?”
I shake my head. “They’re both too stubborn.”
Seeing the way they both go out of their way to avoid each other makes me want to shake them. At least on the ice they seem to have reached some kind of agreement to acknowledge each other, but once the final whistle sounds they are right back to ignoring each other.
“Do you think Connor would vote against him?”
“I don’t know.”
“Men,” Vanessa scoffs. “Why do they all act like children as soon as they get their feelings hurt?”
“That’s why I stick to fictional men. They never disappoint.” Lauren sighs dreamily.
“Speaking of,” Vanessa says, turning to me. “When can I read yours?”
“I need to finish it first,” I tell her, picking at the dried paint under my nail.
“It’s going better then?”
“Yeah, I think I finally got the romantic tension right. Tarah was right, it needed more pining.”
“I love pining,” Vanessa sighs. “Sometimes I miss the moments right before you get together with someone. The tension is so delicious.”
“Are you saying you would swap your stable relationship for dirty looks in a crowded bar?”
“Never. But sometimes I deny him all night just to watch him crumble.” She grins wickedly and I laugh.
“Giant hockey player crumbling for his woman? Now that’s something I could get behind.”
“Does that mean you’re thinking about dropping your rule of never dating athletes?”
“Never.”