Page 68 of Stealing for Keeps
“At least let me pay for mine.”
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“Because.”
“Because…” I wait for him to fill in the rest of that sentence.
“Because then it wouldn’t be a celebration.”
“I knew it.” Laughter filters out of me. “This was supposed to be a group project hang, not a celebration.”
“Titles aren’t important.” He stands. “Be right back.”
He heads off to the front counter to pay, and I shake my head. It isn’t the worst thing being treated to a celebratory dinner, even if the only thing I did is heal. To which I didn’t really contribute that much. Bones break and heal. The other stuff is trickier.
“Claire?”
I lift my head, shaking the thoughts free and staring straight at two of my old skating friends, Lauren and Zoey. They obviously just came from the rink with their shorts over their leotards and hair pulled back. Seeing them steals the breath from my lungs.
“Oh my gosh.” I get to my feet and move toward them. I hug each of them, and then we continue to stare at one another, happy and surprised expressions on all our faces.
“How are you?” Lauren asks and glances to my foot. “I haven’t heard from you in so long. Gosh, girl, I miss you at the rink.”
She hugs me again, and I feel a pang of guilt and sadness. Both of them were great about texting and checking in when I first got injured. It was me who rarely returned their messages and flaked on meeting up the times they tried. We never hung out that much outside skating before. We never needed to, since we spent so much time there.
I could have made more of an effort. The truth is, I knew seeing them would be hard. They’re still doing the thing I so desperately want to and can’t.
I feel Austin step up behind me. I open my stance and introduce him. They both gape a little, looking between us and getting the completely wrong idea.
“You and Vaughn are really over then?” Zoey asks. “We heard, but I didn’t believe it.”
“Yeah.” I shift uncomfortably. “But he’s doing good.”
He’s doing good?I have no idea why I say it. I don’t even know if that’s true. We barely talk, so all my knowledge comes from Lacey, who isn’t exactly his biggest fan. Austin would know, but it’s weird talking about my ex with him.
“And you?” Lauren asks. “Are you really not coming back?”
I shake my head. “No. The doctor says it would be too risky.”
Lauren’s expression is pained. “That sucks. I’m so sorry. I know it must be killing you not to skate. You were there more than any of us.”
“I’m doing okay,” I say, because while I do wish I were there, their pity makes me want more for myself. There has to be another chapter for me after skating.
“You should come by sometime,” Lauren says. “Just to say hey. I know everyone would be excited to see you.”
“Maybe,” I say. Right now, the thought is too painful. I can’t even look inside my skate bag without feeling an intense pang of loss.
“We better go.” Zoey reaches forward to hug me again. “I’ll text you.”
“Okay.” They move away, and I glance back at Austin. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s fine. They seem nice.”
“Yeah.”
It looks like he might push to say more, but instead he asks, “Are you ready?”
