Heartburn (Love By Design 3)

“We miss hanging out.” Mateo stated like I had suddenly gone missing or dropped off the face of the planet. I had been here the entire time as an outsider only good for when one of them needed something. I used these past few weeks stepping back to evaluate some hard truths in my life, something no amount of philosophy seminars could give truth bombs for.

“I haven’t gone anywhere. My address is the same. I’m just busy.” Shrugging I deflected giving them an explanation they didn’t deserve.

A third pair of skates sidled up next to me with a cold breeze and a slush of ice that splattered my black leggings.

“Hey, introduce us to your friends?” Relief filled me when I recognized that one of Whit’s friends had come to rescue me.

Kristen had a take no shit or prisoners attitude which put the dumb and dumber twins in check. It might also have been her tall figure, long hair, and sultry looks because both seemed to be caught ogling her outfit. It was obvious they had the hots for her, but Kristen Calloway was about to shut them down.

Nodding I said, “Sure. Kristen meet Mateo and Connor. They play on the football team at school with Ryder.” Kristen looked them up and down leaning back against the rink wall. From a distance beyond, I watched Damien frown and skate over to us with increasing speed. We probably had seconds before he came crashing over caveman style on Kristen. It was weird that out of the group, Damien was the least athletic overall lumbering on his hockey skates.

“Never seen you on campus.” Connor stated. I counted the seconds down, the closer Damien got the more unsteady his legs looked.

“Probably because I graduated college already.” She indicated with a fake smile. “We better get going Lia. The boys were on hot chocolate duty, and I only put out for whipped cream on top.” She skated away, her cropped pea coat jacket lifting over her leggings as she swished away making a clean jump that indicated she’d done this before.

I watched the guys watch her sashay away on sure footed blades across the ice to catch up to Damien. Poor guy looked ready to take on the twins despite his legs doing some kind of frog split while he tried desperately to stay upright. I didn’t blame Kristen for wanting to control the situation. She skated backwards giving me a wink tugging Damien along to safety. I knew it was better to disengage these two and get outta dodge as quickly as possible.

“She’s cool.” Connor’s eyes trailed after her hiding nothing. I was surprised he hadn’t rented a third skate for the boner protruding from his jeans shamelessly. What had I ever seen in any of these guys was beyond me.

I snapped my fingers.

“Hello, you met her for like five seconds.” I drawled annoyed I was even forced to engage in this conversation.

“And she stole my heart.” He quipped dramatically placing his hand over his chest. I scanned for Whit unable to find him in the crowd beyond the rink.

“Did you hear me, I’m smitten.” The dummy sighed falling back against the rink sideboard.

I reached out to slap his chest.

“This is exactly like the time you ate an entire case of Cheetos, claiming you were smitten with them too.” He scowled when I reminded him. Both Connor and Mateo had bought out the supermarket’s supply, smoked pot and gorged themselves on every bag they could find in a fifty mile radius. I wasn’t sure if that was intense for processed cheese products or stupidity on their part. They were lucky the football coach wasn’t drug testing them regularly.

“Always the party pooper, Amelia.”

“Well I better go if I’m such a killjoy. Wouldn’t want to ruin my reputation you know.” I made air quotes and brushed past them no longer interested if Ryder had come today or merely dropped their leashes for someone else to pick up.

I skated hard getting to the opposite end of the ring and stomped my feet on the carpet looking for my blade covers.

“Hey girl.” Strong arms wrapped around my upper biceps holding me still. Whit’s eyes met mine scanning my face before narrowing. “What’s wrong?”

My cheeks responded for me blushing pink that was unrelated to the cold when he asked. I steamed with anger at myself for letting them get to me out on the ice and for not speaking up for myself sooner. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

I flicked a glance back to where they had been. Whit looked past me to see Mateo and Connor fooling around on the ice skating in sloppy circles around a group of girls I didn’t know.

“Sure about that?” He pulled me in kissing my forehead while his gaze remained focused on them. A sweet protective gesture as he left his arm resting around my shoulders. His natural scent, reminded me of outdoor air, firewood, and spices that stayed in your nose too long with a tingle. It was months yet before Christmas, but that was Whit.

My eyes darted upward to Whit’s face. I drowned in his strong chin and angled cheekbones that boasted a clean shaven face in a comforting warm bath kind of way with lit candles and music that didn’t sound like disco-pop from my frat house roaming days. Those brief two weeks of campus orientation were best forgotten. Whit was like coming home.

He doesn’t seem satisfied with my silence and squeezed me into his side until I shared something he could live with. “I’ll let you know if some ass-kickery is needed, but not today.”

He glanced back one last time before grunting, “Fair enough.” He guided me along the walkway, my feet wobbling on the skates now that I was no longer on the ice until we joined our group meeting up on the bleachers.

Kristen and Damien were behind us still on the ice. Her arms were outstretched like Damien

was a little kid and she guided him along keeping him upright. I gave her props because it took skill making sure Damien didn’t kill anyone on the way down in a crash of blades and glory.

“Do you think they have an orange traffic kiddie cone we can give him to push around?” Taylor Jane joked. This was the first time I’d gotten to meet Hunter’s sweetheart and she was everything nice you could imagine. Whit told me they recently rekindled their relationship and were flipping a house project.

“He’d have to catch one of the kids to get one. Nah. We’re better off watching the destruction from here.” Whit snickered and took out his phone to take a few unsolicited pictures.