Chapter 13

“Oh, ouch!” I winced when Neo wiped out hard roller skating. “Anything broken?”

“I don't think so,” he groaned.

“Okay, let's get you up again and skate it off.”

I helped Neo to his feet.

The smooth concrete floor of the roller rink stretched beneath us. Patio tables and chairs stood outside the barrier walls of the indoor rink, along with a concession stand. Nothing but water was allowed inside the rink. Small tables and benches lined the outer wall of the rink where skaters could sit during their leisurely skate.

“You're gonna have bruises tomorrow. I hope you're having enough fun to make them worth it in the meantime.”

Neo forced a grin. “Absolutely.”

I smiled. “Okay, good.”

I skated a fancy circle around Neo.

He laughed, and we skated some more. His body was settling back down after his tumble.

His face fell when he saw someone come in the entrance.

Anger coursed through my veins. I didn't like that someone took his joy away like that.

“What's wrong?” I asked.

I looked at the entrance but I only saw a group of girls. Was he being bullied by a female?

Neo's cheeks turned red.

We continued skating side-by-side around the rink.

“Neo? What's wrong?” I repeated.

“Nothing,” he said.

“Is someone picking on you?”

He frowned and shook his head. “No, nothing like that.”

“Then what?”

“Ilikeagirlwhojustcamein,” he rushed out.

Did he say what I think he said?

“Slower, in English,” I said.

He sighed. Keeping his voice low, he said, “I like a girl who just came in.”

“Oh.” I smiled and my anger faded. Teenage hormones.

I was the worst person to talk to him about a relationship — playboy bachelor and all — but maybe I could offer good enough advice to try. “You want to talk to her?”

His eyes widened, and he practically shouted, “No!”

I chuckled. He needed a strategy.

“Do you want to take a break and get something at the concession stand?”

Neo craned his neck to catch sight of his crush again. I didn't know which girl he was trying to find, but I remembered those days.

“Uh, sure.”

Neo and I skated to the entrance to the rink. We stepped out and skated over to the concession stand. I bought us nachos, Reese's cups, and fountain sodas. We sat down at a nearby table to eat.

“So you like a girl, huh?” I said before I took a drink from my straw. God, I sounded like a parent.

No, wingman, I decided. This was nothing more than wingman duty. I could be a wingman.

“Shh,” Neo urged.

I swallowed my soda. “Does she know? Have you talked to her?”

Subtly, he shook his head. He looked around warily. “No.”

“You're going to regret it if you don't say anything. What if she moves and you never talk to her? You’ll always wonder ‘what if.’ At least talk to her. Don't let her become a missed chance. If nothing else, try to be her friend.”

“But what if—”

“Hi, Neo,” a small feminine voice sounded beside the table.

I turned my head to see a teen girl standing beside the table with her dark hair twisted up onto her head, stick-on star gems pressed beside her eyes, wearing black jean shorts and a black jersey shirt with the number 14 on it. Was this Neo's girl?

“Hi, Mona,” Neo said.

“Are you having fun? I love to skate,” she said.

“Yeah. This is my first time here, but it's awesome.” He hesitated. “Do you come here a lot?”

She nodded. “A few times a week. It's great. I love it. Maybe I'll see you here again?”

“Absolutely.”

She smiled. “See you at school tomorrow.”

“Yeah. Yeah! See you at school tomorrow.”

Mona waved and skated away.

Neo's forehead fell forward onto the table.

I held back a laugh. “That went really well. She likes you. Fight for her.”

He raised his head and looked at me. “You think she likes me?”

I nodded. “I do. Go for what you want.”

Neo frowned. “What if she wants to go out? Aunt Amantha said money is tight right now because she was off work. I don't want to stress her out more.”

Wingman duty. “I’ve got you. You go after the girl. We’ll take care of the rest when it happens.”

He was too young for the condom talk, right? I eyed Neo. Yeah, I'd let Amantha handle that.

Neo smiled. “Thanks, Z.”

I fist-bumped him. “You're welcome. You've got this.”

Neo happily ate his nachos and drank his soda. I opened a pack of Reese's cups.

I could do this wingman thing. I was just happy I could help Neo out.