Page 74 of Crease Collision

On the way downtown, I take out my phone and start composing a text to Kai. I try to think of something about being happy that doesn’t make me sound like what Americans call a sap.

Carson’s voice cuts across the aisle. “You look rode hard and put up wet, Olly.”

I look over at him. “What does that mean?”

He gives me a lazy grin. “It’s a Texas saying. Means you look exhausted.” He raises his eyebrows. “Or maybe satisfied?”

My face gets hot so quickly it almost hurts. “I-I… Yes? That is none of your business, I think.”

His laugh is too loud for so early in the day. Making it worse, he points at me. “Well, lookie there. Red as a beet and back to sounding stiff.” He raises an eyebrow. “Bet she liked it when you were a different kind of stiff.”

His words should not bother me, but hearing Kai used as locker room talk turns my stomach. Before I can speak, I remember what Pappa said before I left Stockholm: “Americans are different from us, but they are good people. Learn to go along, and they will treat you well.”

I force a smile and try to answer as Carson would. “Yeah, it was a long night.”

He nods approvingly. “Yep, I hear you. I didn’t want to crawl out of my girl’s bed this morning. Skipped breakfast for another round.”

“Yep,” I say, almost sounding like a Texan. “We did the same.”

That seems to satisfy him because he leaves me alone after that. For the rest of the drive, I look out the window at Charlotte going by.

Pretending is exhausting. Kai deserves better than this.

My phone buzzes as we’re pulling up to the arena.

KAI: You survive the airport death march?

OSKAR: Barely.

After a moment, another message appears.

KAI: Worth it?

Heat spreads through me all over again.

OSKAR: Very much so.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

KAI

“What’s got such a big grin on your face today?”

I swallow my last bite of steak and look up. Theo had asked the question, but every guy at the table has his eyes locked on me.

“What grin?” I shove some potato into my mouth.

“That one,” Jace says. “You’re even smiling while you chew. That’s hard to do.”

“No law against being in a good mood.”

Everyone starts eating again, but just when I think I’m safe, Noah pipes up. “Have you seen Olofsson lately, the Fury’s new goalie?”

I go into slo-mo eating mode. Salad never took so long to chew, and I don’t look at him until I swallow. “Yeah, once or twice. He lives near me, so we’ve said hi.”

They all glance at each other, then back at me.

“Said hi?” McKay asks. “That’s what you’re calling it?”