Page 27 of Crease Collision

“That definitely sounds unusual,” he says. “You won’t find that here.”

I hold up my second hot dog. “This one has spicy mustard and ketchup, always my backup choice.”

Instead of answering, he looks into the camera. “I’m having lunch with a friend, but if I weren’t, I’d come and find you.”

“Want to meet later?” I ask. “We could get dinner or simply hang out. Do you play video games?”

“Yes, but I can’t do it today. I’m eating with my friend Nico, and after that we’re meeting another friend to work out. Later, we’re all going to a concert.”

My stomach tightens.

“We’ve had it planned for a couple of months,” he says, “or I’d tell them to go without me. We don’t see each other much during the summer.”

I try to nod away my disappointment. “I understand. Friends are important.”

He hesitates, then scratches his cheek. “Oskar, I’m… I have fun with you. Want to get together tomorrow? We could go for a cruise around Manhattan or play tennis. Or I could show you a different part of the city, and we could stop for⁠—”

“Okay,” I say because I do not want him going for a mental spin. “I will be free all day tomorrow.”

He smiles, but then seems to catch himself and pretends he did not.

“Me too,” he says. “Can I text you around ten in the morning?”

“Of course. You will not forget?”

He shakes his head. “How could I forget when I’m already looking forward to it?”

We disconnect, and I stare at the screen where his face was a few seconds earlier. Now I am starving, so I put down my phone and devour the other hot dog in record time. Kai still wants to see me, which matters more than it should.

CHAPTER TEN

KAI

Nico has finished his fish tacos by the time I get back to our table.

“Everything okay?” he asks.

Besides being the Condors’ team captain, Nico is my best friend. We’re always here for each other, and I need that now.

“Yes,” I say. “That was⁠—”

“Oskar. I could tell from the look on your face when you saw his message.”

“What look? And what’s that supposed to mean?”

His only reply is a raised eyebrow.

“I don’t know what to do about him, Nico. He’s so nice it’s infuriating.”

“How can someone nice be infuriating?”

“Because… Well…” I take a bite of my fajita salad and consider what to say. Before Oskar texted, I’d already told Nico about him. Since Nico knows more about me and my history than anyone else, he must understand.

I put my fork down. “If I were a normal person⁠—”

“Kai.” Nico’s using his firm voice. “You are a normal person.”

“I’m talking about with guys.”