Page 159 of Cross Check

I’m team cinnamon roll. If I’m going to eat something sweet, I want it to be worth it. Cinnamon rolls are definitely worth it.

Me

Speaking of sweet, have you made any cakes recently?

AG

*Attachment: 1 image*

Enjoy my middle finger, Everett.

I chuckle and save the photo. I dig in my pocket and pull out my notebook, adding to a random page.

Prefers cinnamon rolls over doughnuts

“What are you doing?” Hannah asks, and I jump a foot in the air.

“Holy shit.” I slam the notebook closed and shove it under a pillow. “I forgot you were here.”

“It’s been two minutes.” She leans forward and looks at my phone. “Who is AG?”

“A rookie,” I lie, clicking my phone closed and hiding it next to my notebook. “Coach asked me to get to know him. Bonding. Camaraderie.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not lying.”

“You’re so lying! Your cheeks are red and you’re tapping your foot like you always do when you’re nervous!” Hannah gasps. “Oh my god. You’re having an affair with someone.”

“Jesus Christ. I’m not having an affair. It was a casual conversation with a friend. A teammate,” I sputter. “That’s it.”

“Then why were you so quick to put your phone away?” she asks.

“Habit, I guess. The guys look over my shoulder in the locker room, and there’s no privacy.”

“You can tell me, Grant.”

I open and close my mouth, not knowing what to say. I could tell Hannah, but back at girls’ night, my friends said Amelia wasn’t interested in me. Why get my sister’s hopes up about something that will never happen?

“I swear it was just the rookie,” I say.

“I still think you’re lying, but fine. Keep your secrets. One day when you want to know what I’m hiding I’m not going to tell you.” She sticks out her tongue and finishes her drink. “I should get going. Liv and I are meeting for practice early tomorrow morning, and I want to watch some old junior skating clips so I can get a better feel of what her routine should look like.”

“Hey.” I ruffle Hannah’s hair. “If you ever need me, I’m here. To listen, to vent, to skate with. I know you’ve been having a tough time, but you’re strong, Han. And you don’t need to make it to the Olympics to make me proud.”

“Thanks, Grant.” Her face softens. “Everyone knows me as Hannah Everett, the world champion figure skater. I’ve been struggling to understand if just being Hannah Everett is enough, and having time away from the ice is making me realize it is enough. I’m enough, and any medal I might when is a nice bonus.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, sis. I see you as Hannah Everett, the baby sister who forced me to wear her figure skating dresses.” I yelp when she hits me in the face with a pillow. “Don’t break my nose!”

“I didn’t force you to do anything! I came home from practice and found you in one of my dresses. You wanted your own outfit.” Hannah giggles when I wrangle the pillow from her grasp and hit her head. She slips free and pops to her feet, backing away. “You’re not fast enough, hockey bro.”

“Love you, not your lies,” I call out, smirking when she flips me off over her shoulder. “But for real. I’m proud of you.”

“I’m proud of me too.” She smiles and slips on her jacket, offering me a wave. “Dinner later this week?”

“Text me whenever. I’m free after Wednesday.”

“Tell AG I say hi,” she sings, slamming the door to my apartment before I have the chance to answer.