I twist my lips skeptically. Sick, huh? Wouldn’t Ridley have something to say about that?
Ridley’s cool with us moving on.
Hmm. A party might be fun. I roll onto my back again and rub my aching eyes. I have been working too hard.
Or does that crazy coach have you on such a short leash you’re not allowed to have any fun?
The thought of Coach Ford literally pulling me around on a short leash is such a sudden turn on that my lady boner comes back with a vengeance.
I gotta get this turkey off the phone.
Something like that. Listen, I’ll text you after Christmas and we’ll decide then, Ok?
You’re something else. See you then, Addie.
19
Addie
Since Christmas is my favorite holiday, I try to focus on enjoying myself during the one week we have free from practice.
I miss Hunter, and I’m still worried about her, but I can’t help but be happy for her as she sends me text updates from New York in the days leading up to Christmas. I’m skeptical about what’s going on, but she seems good. I instead go shopping with my mom, and spend the days baking, decorating the tree and wrapping gifts.
To my pleasant surprise, Hunter returns home sooner than expected, telling me via text that she changed her mind and wanted to be with her parents on Christmas Day. Beyond that, she doesn’t want to say much about New York, so I let it go.
“How was your Christmas?” she asks after arriving for an impromptu sleepover. I’m surprised she’s not spending the night at her boyfriend’s, and I wonder if something happened between them in New York. But I don’t push; it’s nice having her in my room again, rifling through my dresser drawer.
“Good,” I say, nodding. “Serene. Uneventful.”
She laughs as she pulls on a pair of my pajama pants and crawls under the covers with me. “Which means you are dying to get back in the pool.”
I laugh. “Kind of.”
“Bet you’re looking forward to seeing Weston Ford, too,” she adds.
I shrug. “I don’t know. I kind of feel better not seeing him.”
Hunter gapes at me.
“What?”
“Do you even realize how full of shit you sound right now?”
I disagree. “I’m not full of shit.”
“Addie. I know you. You have it so bad for the man I can barely get you to look me in the eye right now.”
I giggle. “You’re crazy.”
“If you can’t be open with me, then there’s no hope for you.”
“You’re one to talk. When are you going to tell your parents the name of your boyfriend?”
She replies with a big, dramatic yawn. “Oh…so sleepy.”
“Whatever. Good night, nerd,” I say, hitting her with my unicorn.
“G’night, butthead.”