Rewind

chapter 5

MacKenna

After a few light hours of classes, Summer drove me to her house for what she called a proper girls day, even though the sun was already starting to dip lower and it was closer to evening. Her house always felt warm and calm compared to the chaos of campus, and the second we walked in she was already heading for the kitchen like she had been planning this all day. She poured us both tea and handed me a mug covered in tiny pink bows that looked like something straight out of a gift shop. "This one's yours," she said proudly. I laughed and curled my hands around the warm mug as we sat on the couch.
Summer started talking almost immediately, telling me how shocked she was that the boys actually won the game but also how proud she was of them. I nodded along, smirking a little, pretending to listen while my mind wandered somewhere else entirely.
The arena lights, the roar of the crowd, Lucas skating toward the goal. The way he had looked up into the stands afterward. I stared at the tea swirling in my mug while the memory replayed in my head like a clip on repeat. "Hello?" Summer snapped her fingers right in front of my face. I blinked and looked up quickly. "What?" She squinted at me suspiciously. "Where did you just go?" I shrugged and tried to play it off. "Nowhere. I just zoned out for a second." She did not look convinced. "You were smiling at your tea." I quickly glanced toward the window behind her and pointed to my reflection. "I was looking at my hair in the window," I said, hoping that sounded believable enough.
Summer studied me for a second before letting it go and switching topics. "Anyway, gymnastics practice must have been brutal this week." The second she said the word gymnastics my shoulders tightened. "Can we not talk about that right now?" I said quietly. She nodded immediately. "Okay. Movie instead?" That sounded much better.
Ten minutes later we were fully committed to the girls day idea. Face masks on, blankets pulled over our legs, and about five different bowls of snacks spread across the coffee table like we were preparing for a movie marathon. Chips, popcorn, candy, and something that looked suspiciously like cheese balls. "Nothing can stop us now," Summer announced dramatically. "Except maybe our stomachs exploding." We both laughed as the movie started playing. We had chosen My Oxford Year, which Summer insisted was the perfect movie for a girls night.
Halfway through the movie, my phone buzzed beside me on the couch. I picked it up without thinking and saw a message from an unknown number. Hi princess. My stomach flipped immediately. I already knew exactly who it was. Lucas. I typed back quickly. How did you even get my number? The reply came almost instantly. I have my sources. A second message followed right after. Julia gave it to me. Of course she did, I thought, shaking my head slightly. I bit my lip before typing again. How was the party last night? A few seconds later his response popped up. It was okay. Would have been better if you were there.
I could not stop the small smirk that crept onto my face.
"Who are you texting?" Summer asked suddenly, leaning closer to peek at my screen. I quickly locked my phone. "No one," I said casually. That was not exactly true, but I was not about to explain Lucas Wolfe to her tonight. Instead I tossed my phone onto the couch and forced my attention back to the movie, pretending that my heart was not beating a little faster than before.

Two days later Julia and I were sitting in a crowded café near campus, the place buzzing with quiet conversations and the smell of coffee beans drifting through the air. We had ordered drinks and were halfway through talking about classes when the barista finally called my name from the counter. "That's us," I said, sliding out of my chair. I walked up to grab the drinks, carefully balancing both cups in my hands as I turned around to head back to the table.
The second I turned, I nearly walked straight into someone. The drinks tilted dangerously and I gasped. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry," I said quickly. When I looked up, my apology froze halfway out of my mouth. Lucas Wolfe was standing right in front of me. Of course he was. I tilted my head slightly and gave him a completely straight expression. "Stalker much, Wolfe?"
He smirked like he had been waiting for that comment. "No," he said calmly. "Just here to grab some coffee. But for you, I could be anything." I rolled my eyes even though I could not stop the corner of my mouth from lifting slightly. "Right," I said, walking past him toward our table. "Alright, see you later."
Julia looked up the second I sat down. "What was that about?" she asked, clearly trying to sound casual even though her curiosity was obvious. I placed her drink in front of her and sighed. "Your little number sharing stunt," I said, narrowing my eyes at her. "You gave Lucas my number." Julia's face immediately turned red. "So what? It's just your number." I leaned forward slightly. "It's not just my number. It's privacy, Julia." She raised her hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry. It won't happen again." "Good," I replied, taking a sip of my drink.
A few minutes passed while we talked about random things, but the story was practically burning inside me. I finally sighed and looked at her. "Fine. Something happened the other night." Julia leaned forward instantly, eyes wide. "What?" I told her about running into Lucas in the parking lot after the game.
The way he leaned against his car, the way he invited me to the party, and the stupid kiss he blew toward the stands earlier. By the time I finished, Julia had the biggest smile on her face. "So," she said slowly, practically bouncing in her seat. "Do you like him?" I rolled my eyes dramatically. "No. Why would I like him? He probably has loads of girlfriends." Julia shook her head. "Actually he's only had two."
I stared at her. "Why do you know that?" She shrugged like it was obvious.
I leaned back in my chair. "It doesn't matter anyway. It's forbidden. Dad said so." Julia's smirk returned instantly. "Then don't let anyone find out." My eyes widened. "Julia, you are crazy. And honestly a little scary." She grinned proudly. "Oh. Thank you." We both laughed as we gathered our things and stood up. Julia had class to get to, and as we said goodbye outside the café, I could not help thinking that things had just gotten a lot more complicated.

It's evening by the time I get to my dad's apartment, the sky outside already fading into that soft blue color that comes right before it turns dark. His place smells like garlic and something frying in a pan the second I walk in. "Perfect timing," he calls from the kitchen.
I drop my bag by the door and head in, tying my hair up quickly so it's out of my face. Dad is standing at the stove in one of his old university hoodies, focused on the pan like it's a game strategy instead of dinner. I start helping without really thinking about it, rinsing plates in the sink and stacking them into the dishwasher while he chops vegetables and moves things around on the stove.
The kitchen feels warm and comfortable, the kind of normal evening that makes it easy to forget about everything else for a minute. Dad starts talking while he cooks, like he always does. "Next game's going to be tough," he says, stirring something in the pan. "I'm nervous about it, but excited too. The team's finally starting to play like they mean it." I nod while wiping down the counter, pretending I'm fully listening. "They looked good the other night," he continues. "Especially Wolfe. Kid played a lot better than before." The second he says Lucas's name my hand slips and the cup I'm holding almost drops straight into the sink. I barely catch it before it hits the metal.
Dad turns around immediately, eyebrows pulled together. "You okay?" he asks, watching me closely. I force a quick nod and slide the cup into the drying rack like nothing happened. "Yeah. Just slippery," I say casually, hoping my voice sounds normal enough. He studies me for another second before turning back to the stove. A few minutes later we carry the plates to the table and sit down across from each other, the quiet clink of forks against plates filling the room.
Dad grabs the remote and switches on the television while we eat. Sports highlights are already playing and it takes less than a minute before the screen shows the final moment from the game. Lucas skating forward with the puck, the goalie shifting in the crease, the shot sliding right between his legs. The crowd on the screen explodes. Dad actually smiles, a big proud grin that I do not see very often when he is talking about the team. "That goal right there," he says, pointing at the screen. "That's confidence. That's what I want to see from him." My phone buzzes softly against the table beside my plate and I glance down quickly before Dad notices.
A message lights up the screen. Lucas. What are you doing tomorrow? My stomach does a small, ridiculous flip. I type back quickly under the table. Nothing planned. Why? A second later his reply pops up. Thought maybe we could fix that. I hesitate before answering again. I'm free. Only if you have food for me though. His response comes almost instantly. So you're a food girl? I stare at the screen for a second before typing back. Yes. And so what. A new message appears. Nothing. I just like a girl with an appetite. I can feel my cheeks warming a little and I quickly send back a few eye roll emojis, hoping he cannot somehow see me blushing through the phone.
A smirk emoji appears on the screen followed by another message. See you tomorrow princess. I set my phone face down on the table before Dad can get curious and take another bite of food like nothing happened. He glances at me briefly. "Who was that?" he asks casually. "Summer," I answer immediately. "She sent something stupid. It was funny." Dad nods slowly, but I can tell he does not fully believe me.
He wipes his hands with a napkin and leans back in his chair. "You remember what I said about the players," he says calmly. I swallow and force a small laugh. "Dad, don't worry. It's not one of your players. There's nothing good about them anyway. No offense. Besides their hockey skills."
The lie slides out way too easily. Inside my head I cringe a little because I know exactly how untrue it is. But if I told the truth we would both be in serious trouble, so technically this lie is for a good cause. Dad seems satisfied with my answer and turns his attention back to the television while we finish eating. After dinner we clean up together, rinsing plates and stacking them in the dishwasher while the highlights continue playing in the background.
Once everything is done, I tell him goodnight and head down the short hallway to the room I use whenever I stay here. The second I close the door behind me, I pull my phone out again and flop onto the bed.
My thumbs move quickly across the screen as I open my messages with Julia. You are not going to believe what just happened, I type, already knowing this conversation is going to be long.