Page 60 of Need You to Choose Me

Skylar picks up the book and sets it on the corner of the coffee table that Berlin has covered in takeout containers. She sits down next to Berlin and nudges her leg with her knee. “What ever happened to that cute boy you were talking to? The lacrosse player?”

I turn to Berlin. “Lacrosse? I thought Jeremy played baseball.”

“Jeremy?” It’s Skylar’s turn to look confused at our friend. “I thought you were seeing Collyn with two-l’s-and-a-y.”

NowI’mnot sure what’s going on. “Who is Collyn?”

“He’s a pitcher for the school’s team. And he was super clingy. Plus, who spells it C-O-L-L-Y-N? It annoyed me.”

Skylar and I share a look.

I offer a hesitant, “His parents? I mean, mine named me after food.”

Berlin waves it off. “Whatever. I’m not seeing either of them. But there’s a football player—”

I groan as Skylar perks up. “What is with you guys and football players?”

Berlin grins at me. “Is there a better sport we should be looking into?”

Skylar’s knowing eyes focus on me. “Is there?” she asks teasingly.

Sighing, I settle into the armchair across from them on the couch. “You both know I’m partial to hockey.”

“Partial,” Skylar snorts unattractively.

“Oooooh. Does that mean there’s a player here you have your eye on? I’ll totally be your wing woman.”

I’m quiet while I feel the mom in the room staring at me. She probably assumes I’ve told Berlin about Alex, but I haven’t. By the time we met, Alex was gone, and I was attempting to detox. I didn’t see the reason.

Berlin’s eyebrows arch up in wait. “Am I missing something? Is it that guy who shows up at Fishtail during your shifts? Badger?”

My head drops back as Skylar laughs. “I told you it was obvious he liked you!”

Berlin claps. “So I’m right?”

I shake my head, shutting that down before she gets any ideas. “No, it’s not Badger. There isn’t anybody here who I’ve got my eye on.”

She frowns. “Nobody?”

Skylar clears her throat.

I eye her, then internally groan again. “There was somebody. His name is Alex.”

“Alex!” Berlin all but shrieks excitedly. “Is it the same one who was calling you the other day when you were on the phone with Bodhi Hot-man.”

Her frustration that was targeted at Bodhi for not doing more to get the comments on his post shut down quickly went away when she saw his Instagram account. Specifically, the latest shirtless photo he, or his team. posted for some new underwear brand I’ve never heard of. I’ll admit, I drooled on myself a little.Just a little, though. Now, she refers to him as Hotman rather than Hoffman.

Classic Berlin.

Skylar’s eyes narrow at me. “Wait a second. He reached out to you? Since when? Why am I in the dark about this?”

Berlin waves her hand. “Uh, hello? I’ve clearly been in the dark for way longer. So spill the beans, Olive. What gives with this guy?”

God, if I only knew the answer to that. “I wish there was more to tell you, but there’s not. We spoke a few times since he graduated Lindon. I saw him once or twice in passing—”

“Where?” Berlin demands. “Details, woman! What does he do? Does he live local? And by ‘saw him’ does that mean you saw him naked or…?”

Skylar seems just as interested in that information. And maybe a little hurt I haven’t offered it sooner. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

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