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“How is the weather in San Francisco?”
“Foggy,” Xavier says at the same time Ben says, “Rainy.”
I concentrate on the menu as though I don’t know by heart everything they serve here. Awkward doesn’t even come close to describing this situation.
“I thought Coach wanted you in San Francisco today?” Ben asks Xavier, and I tilt my head.
“I told him I need a few mental health days.” Xavier doesn’t look up from the menu. “He doesn’t have to worry about me.”
What the hell are they talking about?
“Is something wrong?” I ask.
“No. My knee took a beating last Sunday, so Coach wants me with the trainers, but it’s fine.”
The pit in my stomach says Xavier isn’t feeling one hundred percent physically. I’m shocked he’s going against his coach’s wishes. That’s not like him at all.
“So where are you staying?” Xavier asks Ben.
Ben looks my way. I suppose I should offer to repay the favor of him letting me stay at his place when I went to visit him.
“Oh. I have more than enough room,” I say.
Xavier clears his throat, and before Molly even gets a chance to put down his water, he takes it from her and gulps a large swig.
“Great,” Ben says. “I’m only here until Sunday. We have practice on Monday, so I have to be back for that. I did some research on the plane and there’s a restaurant in a neighboring town called Terra and Mare. It’s supposed to be the fanciest one around here, so I made us reservations for tonight.”
My eyes catch Xavier’s across the table. One side of his lips tips up as though he’s happy we were already there yesterday. As if this is a game we’re playing. Arrogance shines bright on him, and I can’t quite determine what that means.
Molly returns to the table, and we order our lunch. Xavier has his usual quesadilla, me a BLT, and Ben orders a quesadilla and a burger with fried pickles.
“And another flight,” Ben says, raising his hand to her before she leaves. “It was a bumpy flight and I’m not the best flyer.”
I almost spit out my iced tea. “Really?”
“Why do you find that so funny?” Ben looks offended, so I extend my hand across the table to touch his forearm.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. You’re just… you’re a big guy and I can’t picture you scared of anything.”
“Oh, Ben’s scared of plenty.” Xavier smiles over the rim of his water. “Is that more like date five material, or are you going to tell her now? Maybe just get it out of the way.”
“It’s, like, after marriage material, but…”
I lean back in my chair, waiting for Ben to enlighten me.
“Spiders for one.” Ben’s body racks in shivers.
Xavier and I laugh, our eyes catching across the table for a moment. That nonverbal language between us alive and well once again.
“Heights. Which accounts for the whole airplane thing. And I absolutely hate any being that flies.”
“That’s not that bad.” I smile across the table at Ben.
“Wait until you see a pigeon fly at him.” Xavier laughs. “Flails like a little girl.”
Ben shakes his head and finishes off another one of the beers on his flight.
I point at Xavier. “Let’s remember who ran out of that haunted house screaming when we were nine.”
