Chapter 35

RULE #34: WHEN YOU'RE A MEMBER OF AN EXCLUSIVE SEX CLUB, THERE'S REALLY NO REASON TO STAY HOME ALONE ON A FRIDAY NIGHT.

Presh

Turns out leading a group of eight-year-olds around the ice isn't enough to cheer me up. I can fake a smile, and I can look the part, but on the inside, I just want to go home and crawl into my bed.

After the song is over, I skate back to the front desk, where I hand out skates and sell glow sticks. When it's quiet, I remember the two times Musa came to the rink — the first time to shock the hell out of me, and the second time to shock me even more. I can still see him standing here, talking to Amahle and my mother, and it only makes me miss him more.

When the front door opens, I catch a glimpse of a man walking in, silhouetted by the light behind him, so I can't make out who it is. The body and the way he walks are so familiar that my heart nearly stops in my chest.

He wouldn't come here, would he?

But then the man walks in a little further, and I make out the shorter frame and the easy shoulders.

What the hell is Bandi doing here?

He spots me behind the counter and gives me an awkward wave.

Oh God… this is going to be awful. I haven't exactly faced my ex-boyfriend since he found out I was sleeping with his dad.

As he approaches the counter, I sort of expect him to be furious and start ranting at me and calling me names, but he doesn't.

"Hey," he says.

"Hey."

"Sorry to bother you at work. Do you have time for a break?"