Page 77 of If the World Was Ending

Colby let the door close and messaged Hunter again.

I’m Venmoing you now. Please. Let me do this. We’re

A team. That’s what Colby started to write but stopped himself. It felt like it was too much.

I’m Venmoing you now. Please. Let me do this. It’s my place too so let’s just work together.

Hunter

Appreciate it.

Don’t mention it. I gotta run.

Hunter

I’m not really going to be in touch a lot. If this is serious.

I get that but whatever happens I’m here if you need me.

Hunter sent a thumbs-up back. Colby let out a long, shaky breath and put his phone on airplane mode so it would charge faster as he scurried around the hotel room trying to make himself moderately presentable. He threw on one of his vintage Ts over a charcoal Henley and tucked it all into a pair of faded vintage 501s. Then he pulled on his boots and grabbed the charcoal beanie he’d snuck into his luggage when he left LA. It was Hunter’s, and it had an embroidered hockey team logo in black thread that Colby couldn’t name. He’d brought it because he wanted a piece of Hunter with him on tour. He’d borrowed a few of Hunter’s things.

In the lobby, Hannah had gotten them both Starbucks, and he thanked her profusely. The caffeine should help with the lingering headache. She smiled up at him. “What first? Museum? Skating on the Rideau Canal?”

“I’m from California. I can’t skate on a good day, let alone hung over.” Colby confessed.

“I’m from Upstate New York and, not to brag, but I won a ton of figure skating competitions before the age of fourteen,” Hannah told him with a proud grin. “But then I discovered I could sing, and was sick of being cold all the time. But I can teach you to skate.”

“You really want to?” She nodded excitedly, her long dark hair bouncing around her shoulders. He groaned. “Okay, but first some kind of greasy breakfast. Because I had a rough night.”

She looped her arm through his. “Okay. Greasy spoon, then skate.”

He really didn’t want to skate at all, even a little, but Hannah was smiling so brightly. She didn’t smile brightly, or at least she hadn’t unless she was on stage, the whole time Colby had known her. So he agreed, and after a greasy breakfast consisting of fried eggs over easy, smothered hash browns, and two more coffees for him as well as poached eggs on gluten-free bread for her, they went to the canal and rented skates.

Colby watched in awe, while he teetered precariously on these knife-boots, as Hannah did insane spins and jumps and jumping spins. It was amazing. He was genuinely impressed.

“There’s still time to try out for the Olympics!” he called as people skated by, and he took a small, tentative glide toward her.

“Excuse me?” He turned and saw two girls probably in their late teens. “Are you… Colby Keaton?”

Wow. Seriously? He blinked. They were staring wide-eyed at him. “Yeah.”

Their faces exploded in matching excited smiles. “Oh my God, we love Tidal. It’s our favorite band, ever! We’re going to the show tonight!”

The shorter of the two turned to Hannah. “You are amazing too. We love you. Can we get a picture, please?”

“Of course!” Hannah answered for both of them. “How about I take one of each of you with Colby and then we can do a group selfie?”

“Oh my God, that would be incredible! Thank you!”

“My pleasure. I don’t mind sharing,” Hannah winked at them, and it took a second for Colby to catch that she meant sharing him. Her “boyfriend”.

The other squealed, and she skated right next to Colby and grabbed his waist. He fought to keep his balance for a second and dropped a gentle hand on her shoulder. He smiled. Hannah snapped away on the phone.

After the other girl got her photo, Colby took the phone and did a group selfie. Hannah tucked into his side with her head on his shoulder, the pom pom from her winter hat brushing his unshaven face. The two girls were pressed into his other side, grinning like they’d won the lottery. “Thank you so much. You guys are a cute couple, by the way.”

“Thanks,” Colby replied, and it felt so weird he almost laughed.

Hannah took his hand after that and basically pulled him down the ice. “Mission accomplished. And I think someone took a sneaky pic in the restaurant earlier too. There was a chick at the counter doing weird angles with her phone. Not subtle at all.”