“The Stanley Cup.” He shrugs. “She wanted to change it up this year and wasn’t feeling the jersey thing with Brin.”
“So, out of all the costumes she could’ve picked, she chose one that girlfriends wear when their boyfriends dress up as hockey players?”
“Get over yourself, Zeke. Fletch isn’t even dressed as a professional player. You guys don’t win Stanley Cups in college.” Tate rolls her eyes. “Plus, with this party being so last minute, I had to work with what I had.”
“And you just had this lying around?”
“I did, actually. From when we threw that party in high school when the Hawks won the Stanley Cup.”
“Right.”
I forgot about that party. Tate and Brinley thought dressing up as Stanley Cups would be cute, especially because they knew we’d wear jerseys. They even went to the parade that day in theircostumes, and I’d be lying if I said none of the players noticed. A lot of the players noticed. A lot of the crowd, too.
“So, now that we’ve moved on from this being a couples costume,” she chugs what’s left of her drink, “I need a refill.”
“Nice going, Zeke.” Fletcher pats me on the shoulder. “I don’t know how many times we have to tell you guys we’re just friends.”
“Who’ve—”
“Yes, who kissed. We’ve been over this a million times. It meant nothing. We’d never do anything to jeopardize our friendship.”
“All I’m hearing is you're interested but too scared to take the risk.”
“You’re ridiculous.” He flips me off as he walks away.
“Pretty sure you just gave me my answer.”
sixteen
Avalon
Istill haven’t talked to Zeke, and it’s been over a week since I decided to give in to the whole acquaintances with benefits thing. I guess part of me didn’t know how to go about the entire thing.
I could pull a Zeke and wait on campus until he walks by, but I’d never put myself through that kind of torture. I could go to his place and hope that he’s the one who answers the front door, but if he doesn’t, that could be shamefully embarrassing. And since I didn’t have his phone number, I decided to do nothing.
But the world threw the perfect opportunity my way in the library yesterday. A Halloween party. The perfect excuse to get me through the front door.
There’s a knock on my bedroom door, so I jump off my bathroom sink and open my door. It’s my mom.
I don’t know who I expected it to be. There’s only one person who has a key to our house aside from us, and that person is Jay.
But I haven’t seen her for nearly a month and never expected her to be the one to change that.
“What?” I keep my door as closed as possible.
“What are you up to tonight?”
“Halloween party.”
“It’s Halloween.” Her voice fades. “So, your birthday—”
“Was last week. Do you need something? I need to finish getting ready.”
“I wanted to give this to you.” She hands me an envelope. “It’s not everything, but I hope it’s a start.”
I open the envelope, stare at the contents, and look back up at her in surprise.
“It’s money.”