Page 7 of Coping Skills

Chapter Five

Straightening her shoulders and willing her face to look more like someone who had a good life instead of the shitshow hers had become, Elena pushed open the doors of the communications building into the late August sunshine. Only the second day of classes, and already she was disappointing people left and right. Mostly the debate coach, who she’d just met with to inform her she wouldn’t be participating this year.

She gave the excuse that she was still helping with her father’s business, which was true. They still didn’t know if he’d be able to take over again, so she was trying to keep it in a holding pattern until a decision could be made. But that meant she spent her free time building websites for people and putting consulting clients on a waiting list until her father came back. That’s what she told them, anyway. After talking to her mom over the weekend, she wasn’t feeling very hopeful that would ever happen.

But between working for her father and keeping up with classes, she wouldn’t have time for debate. Plus, she needed to take the LSAT in October, since she hadn’t been able to take it in June like she’d planned. Her father’s accident had been two weeks before the test. Things were so crazy that she’d rescheduled for the October session. So she had that to study for as well.

They were all valid excuses, but the real reason was that she didn’t have the heart for it anymore. It seemed so trivial when there were so many other things going on. While it might provide a distraction, she didn’t have the focus needed to do well on the debate team. It was better for everyone if she backed out.

Adam, her debate partner from last year, had been disappointed when she’d told him she wouldn’t be participating this year. She’d texted him right before meeting with the coach. She hadn’t wanted him to start spreading the word before she’d had a chance to talk to the coach, but she’d wanted to tell him herself, even though she’d wussed out by texting instead of calling.

Her phone vibrated in her hand, and she looked at it, slowing to a stop in the middle of the sidewalk.

It was Adam.This sucks. I can’t believe you won’t be on the debate team. How are you going to make this up to me?

She laughed while she thought over what she could offer him.I could make you a pie.

You said you’d do that anyway.

Yeah, she had told him that already. In fact, she’d already made him the Dutch apple pie he’d requested.True. Your pie’s ready, actually. I made it last night.

Awesome! But that’s not enough to make up for not being my debate partner this year.

Seriously, dude?

A familiar voice sounded from behind her. “Blocking the walkway?” She turned around to see Daniel, shaking his head and tsking at her in mock reprimand, a smile pulling at his lips.

“Hey, Daniel.” Her phone vibrated in her hand, pulling her attention back to Adam.

Seriously.

She shook her head at him.Fine. I met a cute freshman girl over the weekend. A friend of a friend’s little sister. She doesn’t know many people here. I’ll introduce you.

His response was immediate.Sweet!Her phone buzzed again, but she put it away, smiling at Daniel. “Sorry about that. A friend is annoyed with me for not doing debate this year.”

Daniel’s eyes widened slightly. “You’re not? How come?”

She shook her head, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Not enough time with everything.”

He grunted in response, a noncommittal sound. “What are you up to now? Do you have class soon?”

Glancing at the time on her phone, she shook her head. “Not for another hour. You?”

“Same. I just got done with my morning workout, so I was going to get some coffee and a snack. Wanna join me?”

“Sure.”

She fell in step beside him, not for the first time noticing how much taller than her he was, the top of her head even with his armpit. It only added to his appeal. Most of the guys she’d dated had only been a few inches taller than her five foot five. Once she’d dated a guy who was six feet tall. Daniel was taller than him, though, by several inches. And broader. And more cut. With large hands and long, elegant fingers that he knew how to put to good use.

They walked in silence, which made Elena shift her backpack on her shoulders, feeling more awkward the longer neither of them spoke. She didn’t know him well enough for silence between them to be normal and comfortable, especially since she hadn’t talked to him at all in over a week. He’d texted her the day after the wedding, inviting her to dinner. She’d declined, once again citing her need to unpack and organize her things. He’d wished her luck, and she hadn’t heard from him since.

Would he bring up the fact that she’d blown him off twice in a row? He didn’t. He didn’t say anything, and she didn’t know what that meant.

“Um, how’s football going?”

He glanced down at her, eyebrows raised. “I thought you didn’t pay attention to football.”

“I don’t. My brother played baseball. And we both played real football, what you call soccer, as kids. American football didn’t rate in our house.” She grinned at him while she made her digs, and he chuckled.

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