Page 112 of Ice Darling
He stops and looks at me. “Why?”
“Why do you care if I talk to you or not?”
“Because I…” He abruptly clamps up and stares ahead, looking uncomfortable.
“Because you what?”
“Because I thought we were friends,” Renthrow says finally.
“Friends…”
I sit with that word for a bit. Being friends is safe, tidy. I don’t have to torture myself by avoiding Renthrow, but there’s still enough distance that I can’t get too close.
And that’s what I want, isn’t it?
To be close without getting hurt?
“There’s no need to apologize. It wasn’t really about you,” I tell him, relaxing a bit. “I’ve been under a lot of stress with my mom moving to Lucky Falls.”
His eyes trail to me. “When is she moving?”
“Way too soon.”
A tentative smile blooms. “How about I make you dinner to take your mind off it?”
“Um…”
“Cordelia,” he says more confidently, “let me cook for you tonight.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Renthrow
After dinner, Cordelia’s plate looks so clean, someone would think she hasn’t been served yet.
Dark hair tucked behind her ears and cheeks rosy from the wine, she leans back with a sigh of delight. “That was incredible.”
“Glad you enjoyed it.” I pick up her plate, biting back a smile. I’m relieved the air’s been cleared between us and that she’s here. I don’t know why exactly, but I enjoy having Cordelia in my orbit again.
“You should quit hockey and just cook for a living,” she announces.
I smile at the compliment, glad that she’s satisfied with the food.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, Renthrow…”
I brace myself, waiting for her question.
“But what are you cooking tomorrow? Just out of curiosity.”
I burst out laughing. “Saturdays, we usually order pizza.”
“And Sundays?”
“I won’t have time to cook then. The team and I are playing a friendly match.”
“With which team?” She rests her chin in her hands and blinks sleepily.
“With each other.”
