Page 25 of Lucky Laces
But that’s a familiar feeling—shoving down the envy.I’ve had years of practice doing it, which is why I’m able to say, “I bet she would love that.”
“Yeah,” Dee murmurs.“She would.Of course, she would absolutely hate that I pair it with sneakers.Grams had high expectations for accessories.”
I chuckle.Then promptly wince.
“Sorry,” she says.
“Not your fault.”
“It kind of is.”
“You make the earth shake?”
“No.”She scowls.“But I didn’t exactly react quickly.I just stood there and waited for the ceiling to cave in on me.”
If it had truly caved in, we would have been fucked.
We’re lucky it’s just the door blocked and that the desk was here for cover.We’re fine.Stuck for however long it will take to dig us out, but safe and sound.
Though, I really would like some pain killers and for my leg to be stitched up.
But seriously,thank fuckI showered after practice.
“Was this your first quake?”I ask instead of thinking about the fact that we’re trapped, my leg hurts, and who knows how long it will take to get out of here.
She nods.“I…well, I guess I don’t really have much of a choice, but I’d really rather not go through that again.You?”
“Ditto on the not going through that again,” I say.“But not my first—though the only other quake I’ve felt barely registered.This was, hopefully, a once in a lifetime experience.”
“Yeah.”Then, “You got hurt because you helped me.”
“No, I got hurt because some idiot clearly installed subpar ceiling tiles and lights.”
Her teeth work at her bottom lip.“Well, I’m still sorry.And?—”
Something jabs my back, and I shift uncomfortably.
“Your leg?”she asks.
“It’s—”
“Don’t say fine,” she grumbles.
“Okay,” I murmur.“It’s notnotfine.It hurts, but I’ve had worse.”
Her nose wrinkles.“I know you have.”
My head tilts as I study her.“You do?”
“Three stitches in your cheek that you just got removed.”
Oh, yeah.
“And eighteen stitches last season.”
I wince.I took a puck off the jaw and that shithurt.But I just shrug as well as I’m able to considering I’m horizontal and my leg’s a mess.“Well, that happens.”
“And a broken humerus the year before.”
