Chapter 24

That Thursday night, Neo and I sat at a table at the roller rink, watching people skate as we enjoyed our refreshments. I munched on a Reese's cup as he ate a chili dog.

Amantha was at therapy so I figured Neo, and I could go out while she was busy.

“Have you seen Mona at school?” I asked.

Neo nodded. “Yeah. She said her mom left her dad and now it's only the two of them.” He drank some soda from his straw.

“Is she skating tonight?”

He looked around. “I don't know. She didn't say.”

A broken arm hadn't held Neo back. He still did most activities like normal, including roller skating.

“Are you still into her?”

His eyes widened. “Z!”

I raised my hands apologetically. “Sorry.”

Almost out of nowhere, Mona showed up behind him. Again, she wore her hair up with star gems by her eyes.

“Hi, Neo!” she said.

He swallowed and acted awkward. “Hi, Mona.”

I smiled when I remembered how awkward I was at that age. I nodded hello at Mona.

“Wanna skate with me?” she asked him.

“Uh...”

Fuck yeah, dude. Pointedly, I nodded at Neo.

“Yeah! That'd be great!” he said.

Excellent, kid.

Neo stood from his seat and joined hands with Mona.

“Have fun!” I said to them.

Neo looked at me in fear. “Go for it,” I mouthed and winked when Mona looked away.

Neo swallowed hard but nodded, then he and Mona skated off into the rink.

I took a sip of my soda from the straw and pulled my phone out of my pocket. A text waited from Amantha.

Sxy Crdntr: How's it going?

Me: grt! Thr sk8ing 2gthr now

Llp0Me: sxy pix?

Sxy Crdntr: LOL

Sxy Crdntr: I'm at therapy

Me: ? Thr’s a bthrm

Sxy Crdntr: No

Me: :(

I didn't really expect anything, but I couldn't give her an easy time.

Sxy Crdntr: You'll just have to wait till later ;)

Me: Wt, r u sying....?

Sxy Crdntr: You have to be back on the couch before Neo gets up and we have to be quiet

Yes! That was more than I expected. My innocent text had turned out fantastic!

At work, Joey had awkwardly ignored what he'd walked in on the other night. He hadn't even said anything to me about fucking the new employee. I think he was shocked that I was going back to the same person more than once.

The scary part was, I didn't even think about it. Something in Amantha called to me. I didn't want anyone else.

Me: ys m'm

Sxy Crdntr: Call me ma’am again I'll kill you

I laughed loudly, a grin breaking over my face.

Me: ys m’m ... I mn ...

Sxy Crdntr: frowny face emoji

Me: kissy face emoji

Sxy Crdntr: Promises, promises

Me: Bet, kpng ths prmses

Guaranteed.

Neo and Mona caught my eye as they skated past in the rink. They were cute together.

I didn't get the feeling that he was looking for the bachelor lifestyle like I lived. I hoped whatever he wanted worked out for him.

Holding my phone over the table, I took a discrete picture of the two skating together and texted it to Amantha.

Me: R lil boy s grwng up

Sxy Crdntr: :(