Page 78 of Brick Wall
“No,” I say with a laugh. “I may be addicted to sugar, but I’m really good about going to the dentist.”
“Good. Because…” he looks down at my cup. “It would be cheaper to just buy a bag of sugar and eat it with a spoon.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, thanks,” I say, before turning back to my work. I can’t help but share a look with JT, though.
We sit in silence for a while—well, JT and I are silent. Mickey’s not. When he finally takes a breath, JT intercedes.
“Dude, don’t you have class soon?”
“Nah, it was cancelled. Hey, are you gonna finish that?”
It takes me a minute to realize he’s talking to me and gesturing to my half-eaten muffin.
JT shakes his head. “Inside thoughts, man. You can’t just ask people for their food.”
“Right, right. Sorry,” Mickey says. I smile in return and share another knowing look with JT before forcing my eyes back to my textbook.
I’ve read two sentences when I hear a low whistle. “Hol-y. Shit. You two are fucking, aren’t you?”
It’s a good thing I’ve abandoned my drink or I’d be choking right now.
“Inside. Thoughts.” JT says before amending, “Also, what? No.”
Mickey’s eyes volley back and forth between us. “She’s Cinderella, isn’t she? You’re Cinderella,” he repeats, directing his statement at me.
I’m just staring back at him. My mouth refuses to form words.
“She’s Cinderella. Holy fuckballs. How’d you find her? I know you didn’t make her try on the shoe cause it’s still in your closet.”
JT does a doubletake. “What the— How do you…Do you just root around in my closet?”
Mickey shrugs. “I needed a shirt. And that green henley really brings out my eyes.”
“What are you talking about? I’m pretty sure I don’t own a green henley.”
“Not anymore. It looks better on me. But it was in the wash so I went to borrow your blue one, but I couldn’t find it. I did find Cinderella’s busted shoe, though.”
“You have my shoe?” I ask, belatedly realizing my mistake.
JT blushes. “Just the one. You left it behind. I mean, yeah, it’s broken, but it would still cover the bottom of your foot, and I was worried you’d be walking back to campus barefoot so I may have grabbed your shoe and?—”
“And he searched all over campus like he was auditioning for a role on CSI: Bainbridge,” Mickey adds. “Nice to meet you, Cinderella. I’m the best friend, Brannon Mikalski. I’m on the hockey team with JT. I’m a defenseman. Most people call me Mickey. Some people call me Big— you know what? That’s an inside thought. I’m gonna keep that to myself.”
“You get a gold star, buddy,” JT jokes.
Mickey smiles broadly, then looks at me once again. I see the moment the lightbulb goes off and he recognizes me from when he stayed at Uncle Hudson’s last week.
“ You’re—” he sputters, then turns to JT. “She’s—Holy. Fuckballs,” he says with a whistle.
JT and I say nothing, because that about sums it all up.
CHAPTER 29
JT
For the secondtime this month, I’m sneaking around Coach’s house.
This time, though, I’m on the outside, staring up at the rear of the house and wondering if I trust the drainpipe to hold my weight.
