Page 56 of Double Trouble

I grab at my heart and trip toward the door. “Ouch.”

She laughs and circles her desk to her chair. “Now go visit Mad before she loses her mind. She needs cuddles.”

I tilt my head back and forth and slip through the door. In normal circumstances, I’d jump on the opportunity to cuddle my girlfriend. But since it’s my fault she’s lost the chance at a sponsorship and she’s laid up in bed, I don’t know how I can sit there with her without apologizing over and over. And she made it pretty clear last time I visited that I’m not allowed to do that anymore.

I weave through the crowded indoor amusement park and push the entrance doors with my butt, taking one last look before leaving for good. They didn’t exactly say I couldn’t set foot inside again, but I got the gist. I’ll have to find another place to board for a while.

It’s rush hour, and so I’m stuck at the corner crosswalk when I hear my name.

“Tanner!”

I look over my shoulder to a flustered Aislynn booking it across the Troublemakers lot. Her bundle of pink hair sprays from her Troublemakers cap, her yellow shirt lit up like neon in the setting sun.

The walk sign lights up, but I stay put and wait for her.

“You on break?”

“Kinda…” she wheezes, stopping short a few feet away. She catches her breath, hunching over. “Wanted… to say… bye.”

I chuckle and close the gap between us, swinging an arm around her shoulder. “It’s not like we won’t see each other.”

“I know.” Her ragged breath tickles the back of my neck, and she gives me an extra squeeze before pulling away. “But we won’t be working together. It’s different.”

I nod. I know that, but it hasn’t sunk in just yet. All I’m thinking about is Maddie. Her sponsorship. How she’s gonna make it without work for the next couple of weeks. What she’s going to do with her boarding.

Aislynn lets out a giant exhale and shakes her head. “Have you got a job lined up yet?”

“Nah. Haven’t really thought about it.”

“You probably should.”

“Yeah.”

She clucks and gives me a look like a mother chastising her kid.

“What?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” She crosses her arms. “You should finally start your channel.”

I let out a hollow laugh. “Sure got the time for it, don’t I?”

“Exactly,” she says, punching me in the upper arm. I was kidding, but she levels me with a dead serious gaze. “I want you to go home and upload something.”

My eyes widen. “I don’t have anyth—”

“Yes, you do. You carry that camera freaking everywhere. Put something together and upload it. Do something with that talent you’ve got. Heaven knows one of us should.”

Confusion pulls at my brow, but she pushes me toward the crosswalk before I can prod.

“Go. Send me the link when it’s done.” She jumps back in for a quick hug, then runs off toward Troublemakers. “Miss you!”

I give her a wave, holding back a laugh at her demands. What would I even post? The only thing I have is the video I did for Mad, and that was for an audition—not exactly something I could use for content.

Unless…

My mind starts to spin, and I spend the entire walk home in a swirl of cuts and breaks and music choices and footage I know I have sitting there on my computer. By the time I get to my front door, I know just what to do. And if I’m right, maybe Mad won’t have to say goodbye to her dream after all.

Get off that leg or I’ll sick Peaches on you.

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