I shake my head. “I might need to see this in action now.”
“Ah, so maybe we'll make a hockey fan of you yet,” he says, before a whistle calls him back to practice.
After another hour, the team wraps up and Chris rejoins me in the stands, his hair damp from his shower.
“Thanks for letting me watch,” I say as he collapses into the seat beside me. “I didn’t realize hockey could be so… hypnotic.”
“Glad you liked it,” he says, taking a long drink from his water bottle. “It's not for everyone, but we have fun.”
I nod to the ice where the Zamboni is currently dragging across it. “You ever bring Jenni here?”
Chris shakes his head without hesitation. “Nope. She’s not really into hockey.”
That surprises me more than it should. “Really? I just figured… I don’t know. You two seem close.”
“We’re friendly, and study together, but that’s about it.” He shrugs. “She’s got her own circle. I’ve got mine.”
I nod, trying to act like his answer doesn’t make me feel a little uneasy. Jenni always made it out like they were really close.
“She seems… invested,” I say carefully. How do I put my question out there without sounding strange?
Chris gives me a look. “In you, maybe.”
That catches me off guard. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“She talks about you a lot. Brags about being your friend. Says you’ve been through hell and still manage to be the nicest person in the room.”
My mouth goes a little dry. “She said that?”
Chris nods. “More than once. I think she just wants people to see you the way she sees you.”I look away, unsure what to do with that. It’s easier to focus on the players still skating across the rink.
Chris nudges my arm gently. “Hey. Don’t overthink it. I just meant—she likes being around you. That’s all.”
“Yeah,” I murmur.
“Chris, hurry up!” Chase yells, appearing at the top of the stairs. “Coach wants to talk to us before we leave.”
Chris nods at his brother, then turns back to me. “Sorry, I've got to go. Coach hates being kept waiting.”
“Of course,” I say, standing up and gathering my things. “Thanks for bringing me here. It was exactly what I needed today.”
“Anytime,” Chris says with a smile. “That's what friends are for.”
“I should get back,” I murmur, adjusting my bag. “I really do need to do that internship prep.”
“Let me walk you out to the entrance at least,” Chris offers, falling into step beside me as we head toward the exit.
“You okay getting back to your dorm?” Chris asks, glancing at his watch. “I'd walk you, but…”
“I'm fine,” I assure him. “Go before your coach gets mad.”
He shoots me a mock salute and jogs off, leaving me with my thoughts and a long walk back through a campus that feels a little less suffocating than it did this morning.
When I check my phone, a few unread messages have come through.
3 Missed Calls: Zach
Zach:Just heading for dinner. Sorry I missed you, Honeycomb. Maybe we can talk in the morning. Love you.