"That's okay. Different leagues. Besides, we could kick your ass any day of the week."
"Those are fighting words," he says.
"Bring it on." She holds up her hands as fists in a playful let's go stance. "I'm not a guitarist. I don't have to worry about my hands." She winks at me. "Though, I guess Violet worries about your hands too so—"
"Oh God." My cheeks turn red. I hide behind my hands for a moment then I collect my senses. "Athena, this is Ethan. Ethan, this is Athena. She lives right there." I point to her door. "She goes to NYU too, but undergrad."
They shake hands and exchange hellos.
She turns to me. Her voice shifts to that tone that means she's up to something. "You know, Violet, it's rude to ignore your best friend." Athena looks to Ethan with approval. "I understand your reasons, but I can't excuse them. I just want you to know that you earned the embarrassment you're about to receive."
Oh God.
Ethan's eyes light up. "Did she?"
"Oh, she did." Athena leans against the wall. Her eyes meet Ethan's. "The first time we talked about you, it was because I caught sight of Violet's 'Dangerous Noise' Google alert. I was gushing about how hot your lead singer is—"
Ethan laughs. "We get that a lot."
"The way he sing
s all breathy and groaning. It's—" She fans herself. "I know he's your brother, but you must realize it."
Again, Ethan laughs.
"Violet let me go on and on. She sat there nodding, until she blurted out that the two of you used to date."
Ethan laughs. "Did she?"
"Turns out, she also has a Google alert just for you."
Ethan looks at me. He raises a brow to say is this true?
I keep my lips zipped. It's bad enough my cheeks are burning.
"I had to talk her down a few times after she saw you photographed with a lingerie model." Athena laughs. "She was so jealous I thought she'd turn green."
"You were jealous?" Ethan's voice is earnest.
I clear my throat. "Well, it's only natural—"
"Don't play dumb. You probably hoped she'd get jealous. Didn't you?" Athena folds her arms.
"Did you?" I ask.
"Honestly, Vi, I assumed you were over me."
"Really?" I ask.
He nods.
"I wasn't," I say.
"You should have seen the way she tried to tell herself she liked that Denny guy." Athena shakes her head. "He was more boring than plain toast."
"Oh yeah?" Ethan asks.
"Yeah, total white bread, no butter, nothing," Athena says.