She doesn’t agree, and that’s cool. I can ignore Ally and her dumb mistakes. I’m on a date with a super-hot and smart chick. Ally can do her own thing, and I’ll do mine. “So, you’re going to school for sports psychology, right?”
Angie grins, and soon she excitedly tells me about her major. She’s really beautiful, and I want to say I listen. I want to say I hear every word she says and I care, but I don’t. Because I’m too caught up in the fact that Ally is here with TacoFuck. I hate how that makes me feel. I don’t understand how she doesn’t see how amazing she is and how she deserves the world. It drives me crazy.
“You already graduated?”
I nod, surprised I’m on cue. Maybe I am listening. I’m disgusted in myself; I usually don’t act like this, but it’s one thing to hear Ally tell me she’s made a mistake, rather than watch her do it. This is the part that was easier when I was living in California. “Yeah, I’m actually looking for a job working with jumbotrons.”
“That’s cool,” she says, leaning on her hands. “Why didn’t you play hockey?”
I shrug, grinning. “I sucked at it.”
“No way! Your dad is a legend, and Aiden is amazing.”
It’s refreshing that she doesn’t get that dreamy look in her eye when she speaks of my brother. “Yeah, but I wasn’t good. It wasn’t my passion. I like fixing things, I guess.”
“That’s cool. I play a little hockey, but I like volleyball more.”
“You’re really good. You and Ally are a great team.”
She nods. “Yeah, she’s one hell of a setter.”
“She is. I don’t miss a game when I’m around,” I say, and casually, I look over to where Ally and Taco are. They’re talking, and Ally looks more into it. That pisses me off. She’s probably forcing it since I called her on not wanting to be there. Man, she’s so stubborn.
“You’ve been gone three and a half years, right?”
“Yeah, I finished college, and now I’m back. I actually have an interview with the Assassins organization this Friday.”
“That’s cool.”
“How’s Jayden? Is his hand doing better?”
She nods. Jayden Sinclair is her uncle and the Assassins’ captain. “Way better. Being home has been nice for him. My cousins love it, and they are getting so big.”
“Yeah, it’s crazy how all of us are growing up. We’re all becoming adults and shit.”
“Scary, right?”
I laugh. “So scary. How’s your sister, Charlotte, and the boys?”
I forgot her brothers’ names, and unfortunately, she doesn’t help me out. “Good, in school and shit. It’s great that my dad is home now. I wish it was like that when I was growing up.”
“Right? Emery and Stella got more of my dad than Aiden and I did.”
“Makes you jealous, huh?”
“Yeah, but it’s okay. I got my work ethic from him.”
“Yeah?”
“Definitely.” I lean on the table, trying so hard to ignore Ally. It’s not working, and I’m finding now I’m the one forcing shit. “I’m actually going to call the athletic director at Bellevue tomorrow. Y’all’s jumbotron sucks.”
She nods. “So, you’re aiming for two jobs?”
“Yeah,” I say simply. “Keep me busy.”
She doesn’t seem to like that, but she doesn’t say so. Instead, says, “Our jumbotron needs help. I think the guy who was working on it quit.”
“Yeah, it hurt me to see it so messed up.”