Page 48 of Neo

“What is all of that?” I ask.

“Dinner.”

“You want to have dinner here?”

He stops what he’s doing and looks at me with compassion.

“I realize this is probably a very shitty day for you and I have off of practice for obvious reasons, so I thought since I was making dinner anyway, why not make dinner for two?”

My eyes immediately water.

“Don’t you dare cry, Violet,” he warns. “This is what friends do for each other.”

“Thank you.”

“Now go wash your hands so you can help me.”

Wash my hands?

It just dawns on me, I probably look a complete mess.

I do a fast walk to my bedroom and take a look at myself in the mirror that hangs above my dresser. Sleep bonnet on my head. Eyes puffy. Disheveled pajamas. The only thing going for me is that I don’t stink having taken a long shower late last night to help me calm down after the call with my father.

I change quickly into the only actual matching leisure sweats I own, a fluffy cream-colored sweat top with matching sleep shorts. Then I take my hair down, shake out the curls, then swoop all my dense strands up in a messy ponytail that sits on top of my head. Finally, I check my breath by blowing against my hand, decide that I’m good and finish up by spreading a bit of the strawberry scented lip mask Kennedy gifted me on my lips.

“Violet!” He calls impatiently for me.

“Coming.”

I return to the kitchen feeling much better than I did when I left.

“What can I do?”

He studies me briefly and I notice he clenches then releases his left hand. I wonder if he hurt it during hockey practice. It seems to bother him a lot.

“You’re going to cook in all white?” he asks me.

“It’s the only thing I had clean,” I fib.

“What was wrong with the pajamas you had on?”

“I had them on all day,” I say, trying to blow the question off. “Give me my assignment, please.”

“You can start chopping the onions and celery.”

“What are we making?”

“Roasted chicken, stuffing, spinach salad, and macaroni and cheese.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me?” I say excitedly.

“Are you impressed?”

“Kind of.”

“Don’t be. Most athletes know how to cook because we eat a lot and don’t live at home with our momma’s anymore.”

“Will your mom miss you today?”