Page 65 of Crease Collision

Their interest fades, and we move on to the shower. I make it quick and head for home.

When I get there, I’m starving, so I plow through a feast: crispbread, cheese, cold cuts, pickled herring, and salted cucumbers. As much as I like American food, the taste of home comforts me. Soon, I will share a Swedish meal with Kai and see what he thinks.

As soon as I put the food away and load the dishwasher, I pick up my phone.

OSKAR: I hope your practice went well. Troutman made us do PK drills almost the entire time. What shall we do this afternoon?

When he doesn’t reply right away, I toss my phone onto the bed and lie down for a nap. Pucks hitting posts, the scrape of skates… Damn penalty kill drills, I think as I drift away. They kill me every time.

CHAPTER TWENTY

KAI

KAI: I have an idea for hanging out, but you might not like it.

KAI: It’s okay if you don’t.

Will he think that means I don’t want to hang out?

KAI: I’m flexible.

God.

KAI: I mean flexible about what we do. As long as we see each other. Because I definitely want to do that.

KAI: And I agree, PK drills suck.

Goddammit. I can hear Mom saying, “Stop while you’re ahead.”

Too late for that. At least he’ll know I still want to go out.

Since I haven’t done any watering today, I open my plant care calendar. Pothos, philodendron, and cast iron plant. It takes a couple of minutes to get my kit out of the closet and run water in the can.

“Your turn today,” I tell the philodendron, waiting for the moisture meter to stabilize.

God, does everyone talk to their plants?

After I give the plants a drink, I open my tablet and settle down to read. It isn’t long until a message pops up on the screen.

OSKAR: Hey. Sorry I didn’t answer sooner. Fell asleep after practice. How are you?

I run my thumb along the lower edge of the tablet and think about what to say. I don’t want to sound like an idiot again.

Jesus, this is…

KAI: NP. I’ve been watering plants. Are we still getting together?

OSKAR: Fur shure.

OSKAR: See? More American every day.

My grin is entirely too wide.

KAI: I see that. Impressive.

OSKAR: What’s your idea about today?

Still grinning. Definitely losing it.