Page 132 of Unloved

“Keep the head up, kid.”

His voice is so gentle it reminds me of Archer, and I close my eyes, if only to bask in the warmth of it for one more moment.

Rhys and Bennett stay with me on the ice as everyone else exits, both quietly offering support. But it’s Rhys who finally says, “Your dad’s an asshole, Freddy.”

I snort and nod at him. “Yeah. I can’t say the same, Rhysie.”

Bennett raises his hand and pulls off his mask, shaking out his curls with a smile. “Don’t look at me. Adam Reiner would never.”

There’s a slight chuckle among the three of us before I slap them both on the back to start toward the tunnel.

“C’mon, slackers. I’ve got places to be and people to see,” I say, my signature Freddy smirk back in place.

The truth is nothing my father said today can fully stop the soaring feeling within. Coach Harris’s defense of me only ignited me further.

I’ve got a date with Rosalie Shariff. I’m beaming inside, even if it’s slightly dimmed with a pinch of anxiety. I’m determined to be good enough.

CHAPTER 47Freddy

My hands are sweaty—way too sweaty to lay on her thigh, though I want to,verybadly. To touch the exposed length of her leg in her denim skort, trace it all the way to the top of her tall, heeled boots.

I also tried to clean up nicely, changing about five times before settling on black jeans, a white T-shirt, and a dark cream wool shirt jacket. The combo makes my skin seem more golden than it is now that I’ve been without the heat of the sun for a few months, my summer tan fading off.

I’d nearly swallowed my tongue when Ro came out of Millay, the setting sun dancing off her glowing face and beaming smile.

We both stood there for a few minutes, staring brightly at one another, matching blushes and fidgeting hands.

Finally I swooped in for a quick, tight hug before ushering her into the passenger seat of my car.

Music plays softly from the speaker, her choice, of course. Nat and Alex Wolff sing “Glue” while she directs me every so often as we head closer to Boston.

“You know, I think this is the first time someone has planned a date for me,” I say, turning off the highway onto our exit. Actually, it’s one of the only dates I’ve ever been on, but I don’t divulge that.

“Is it selfish that I’m glad I’m your first?”

A laugh bursts out before I can help it and Ro blanches.

“No—I, I mean…”

“I know what you meant,” I say, leaning over at the red light to kiss her on the cheek, leaving my palm just below her knee as I straighten.

There. Easy as can be.

“Here?” I ask, looking a little bewildered toward the nondescript building with black painted windows and antique lamps outside where a lone bouncer sits. “You bringing me all the way out here to kill me in the freezing cold?”

She nods, and I slow to park in the extended lot near the back for an easier exit if the half-empty lot fills up a bit more.

“It’s not even snowing yet—”

My eyes scan her. “I thought you were a California girl.”

“Maybe I’m not a baby when it comes to the cold,” she says before opening her door and hopping out into the frigid night.

Chuckling under my breath, I follow her lead and wrap my arm around her against the whipping wind. “Jesus, it’s cold. Sorry to ruin your fun, princess, but I think I’ll be frozen before you have a chance to murder meSawstyle in this creepy building.”

She punches my shoulder lightly with a glint in her eyes that makes me want to do a backflip or become a full-time court jester and keep her giggling all night.

“You’ve been out of Texas for four years. You think you’d have toughened up by now.” She smiles, all proud of herself, and I swallow any retort in favor of just looking at her.

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