Page 10 of Cloudless
His friends are fun, though. Dax told me about his favorite fish and Mace asked what my favorite breakfast is. I mean, what’s up with that?
I’ve already pegged each of them, though. Want to hear what I think so far?
There’s Dax. He’s the troublemaking, dimpled panty-collector.
There’s Wyatt. He’s the brooding, dark-eyed panty-killer.
There’s Mace. He’s the confident, easy-going panty-slayer.
And then there’s Kam. Kam is the tempting, chocolate-eyed panty-melter.
You know the type, right?
I don’t know how to explain it, but they feel important somehow. Maybe they’re supposed to help Jas or something. I wish you could have seen him today, Mom. He looked great on the ice. Dad would have loved watching him skate.
I wish both of you were here, Mom.
Love always,
Lila
CHAPTER 6
WHITE RIBBON
LILA
My reflection stares back at me in the mirror on my closet door. The piles of clothes tossed haphazardly around the room fade from view as I push my statically charged hair from my eyes.
“You look really pretty, Lulu.” Posey’s feet dangle off the edge of my bed as her eyes take in my outfit once more. “Maybe add a bow or something. That always helps.”
My butt sinks into the mattress as I pull my sister into a hug. “Thanks, Ladybug.”
Her high pigtails tickle my nose as she shifts to throw her arms around my neck. We're enveloped in the fragrance of her strawberry shampoo as the cheerleader costume—that she insists on wearing to the scrimmage—bunches between us.
She releases me from the hug to grab a thin, white ribbon from my nightstand. With her tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth, she ties the ribbon around the elastic band that's holding half my hair away from my face. “There. Now you’re perfect.”
The thumping of little feet against the wooden floor of the hallway is my only warning before Jasper barrels into my room at full speed. “Come on! Come on! We’re going to be late!”
The number 23 sits proudly on the front and back of his jersey. This jersey is one of the last gifts from my parents.
The twins' outfits are at least suitable for the game. My scratchy, free SSU t-shirt, given to me during my initial tour of campus over the summer, will have to be enough for me. At least I can wear a long sleeve shirt under it to save myself from the chill of the rink.
“Alright, alright. Let’s get going.” They burst from my room and reach the front door of our house before I’ve even gotten up from my bed. I yell after them, “Don’t forget your jackets!”
I’m met with groans of protest before Jasper yells back to me, “But it's so hot outside!”
“But it won't be in the rink. Grab us each a toboggan out of the storage bins in the hall closet before you put your shoes on! Oh, and some gloves!”
Did I go a bit overkill with the amount of layers I put them in?Probably.But I figure it’ll be better for them to shed a few layers than to be cold for the entire game.
You can never be too careful with these things.
Wow. I sound like Mom.
I thought my parents were crazy for buying a house so close to campus, but now I’m thankful for the proximity as we inch along in traffic on our way to the rink.
The unnecessary worry in Jasper’s voice brings a smile to my face. “Do you think we’ll make it in time to watch them warm up?”
