Page 97 of Crease Collision

I sink into a chair. The last time I felt like this about anyone, my ex destroyed me. Oskar is nothing like my ex. I haven’t told him about me, but he must have noticed I’m not like most people. When I do tell him, what’s he supposed to say?

And if he says the wrong thing, I’ll be gutted. This time, I won’t survive.

Jesus.

Hobby room. Now.

I work on my latest LEGO set because it’s one of the best things to slow my racing mind. After an hour, I grab my phone and open the chat with my friends: Nico, Noah, Jace, Theo, and fucking McKay.

KAI: So you know, I’m seeing Oskar Olofsson.

I stare at it until my vision blurs.

Delete.

Twenty minutes later, I’m back into my LEGO when the phone buzzes.

OZZY: I’ve been thinking about you. Are you getting some rest on your day off? I’m about to take my pregame nap, but can I call you tonight when we get back to the hotel?

The pressure in my chest eases.

KAI: You’d better.

KAI: Kick Columbus’s ass for me. I’ll be watching.

OZZY: We plan to. They made us Fury-ous when they stole that game last fall.

I laugh way too hard for someone who’s alone.

KAI: I’m seriously impressed. You’re playing with the English language, and it makes sense.

OZZY: Thank you, tutor. Talk soon.

KAI: Sleep well.

Now I’m sending hearts. Christ.

A few texts from him, and I feel like myself again.

God help me.

The next few hours seem like days. Building the LEGO takes more effort than usual, and I curse when I click a piece into the wrong place. Once I fix that, I take a nap of my own.

Later, after I eat Chinese takeout and watch Ozzy shut out Columbus, I try to read while I wait for him to call. When his name finally pops up on the screen, I answer so quickly I nearly drop the phone.

He looks exhausted but happy, sitting in a hotel room like the ones I’ve slept in a thousand times.

“Hey.” His voice is a low rumble. “We did it.”

“You were incredible,” I tell him. “A shutout against those bastards? I’ve never done that. Kick ass, Ozzy!”

A smile spreads across his face. “Thanks, baby. That means a lot.”

“You should be able to sleep well tonight.”

“After talking to you, there’s no doubt,” he says.

My chest starts tingling, so I put a hand there, hoping the warmth will calm it down. Time for a change of subject.