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“Are we done here?” Kennedy says to them both. “Violet and I want to enjoy the rest of the festival.”
“Come to the kickback tonight and bring the bibliophile,” Shane says.
Why in the ever loving fuck is everyone talking about me like I’m not sitting right here?
Because you let them, Violet.
“Bibliophile?” Kennedy parrots back in a mocking tone. “Are we using our big words today, Shane?”
“Everything I use is big, Kee-Kee.” He grins and I swear I can feel Kennedy’s rage growing in the atmosphere. It’s palpable.
“Don’t call me that,” she warns him as he dismisses her with a casual laugh.
“If you can tear yourself away from whatever that is,” Neo suddenly says to me in the deepest voice I’ve ever heard, pointing to the book in Kennedy’s hands with the end of his hockey stick. “You should come too.”
I hear someone mutterwho the fuck is sheunder their breath and it’s possible Neo heard it too because his eyes flicker up and behind me with a hardness that’s frightening. Suddenly, everyone around us is quiet.
“Win the game and we’ll be there,” Kennedy challenges them both.
“You want us to win, huh? I thought you just said it’s just an exhibition game and to take it easy on them?” Shane counters playfully.
“I told you to win the game, not lacerate half the spectators.”
“So dramatic.” Shane rolls his eyes.
“Are they actually going to continue playing?” I blurt out loud, confused on why they would continue the game when part of the protective glass around the rink is compromised. “What if they run into the glass again?”
“They’ve never suspended a Santa Fest exhibition game in the history of it being played. It’ll be fine. The stadium staff will just move everyone in this section to different seats. I’ll make sure they give you good ones.” Shane smiles.
“Oh, okay,” I comment, not really knowing what else to say in response.
“Just win the damn thing,” Kennedy tells them again.
“Already done,” Neo says with conviction. “And then we’ll see you both tonight.”
“Good luck,” Kennedy responds, rolling her eyes.
“See you later, Violet,” Neo says, my name rolling effortlessly off his tongue as if we’ve known each other for a lifetime.
Then I finally exhale a breath I didn’t realize I was holding as the two of them skate away.
violet
“Doyou know the entire hockey team?” I ask Kennedy as soon as they’re out of earshot.
“Put this thing in your bag please,” she ignores the question, handing me my book.
“Excuse me,” one of the girls who was sitting behind us says, tapping my shoulder.
“What now?” Kennedy whips around her head.
“We just wanted to apologize for accidentally bumping into you guys. We were clumsy. So sorry.”
It’s the oddest thing. Suddenly, their voices are so small and contrite, as if they’re afraid of one or both of us.
“It’s fine,” I say to them before Kennedy cuts me off with a few choice words of her own.
“You should have said that ten minutes ago,” she tells them.
