Devin Miller arrives soon after, and I need to do a double take. 

I never really paid much attention to the Miller family, but on first glance, watching him arrive with a smile on his face, he looks just like Dean. After more than just a second looking, though, I can see that the differences are definitely there.

A few minutes later, the guy who was supposed to be working arrives, and Hannah and Paige clock out. We decide there's too many of us, even for the big booths, and decide to move to the lake.

As we spill outside to divide our numbers through the available cars, I catch Gus slipping away from the group.

"Hey, where are you going?" Chloe asks, before I can.

The look Gus gives us tells me he was hoping not to be noticed. "Home, I think."

"But you didn't drive here," I say.

Gus shrugs. "I'll walk."

I frown. "You okay?"

"I'm fine." He shrugs unconvincingly. "Think that cake didn't sit very well. I'm just gonna go lie down a bit."

"In that case, let me drive you," I offer.

"It's fine. Walking might help with digestion."

"You sure?" Nat asks, joining me and Chloe.

"Yeah." He nods. "See you on New Year's."

"Gus, that's a week away," Chloe says. "We'll see each other around before that."

"Sure," he says before he takes off.

Chloe looks between Nat and me. "Did that feel weird to you?"

Nat shrugs. "Maybe he really is just feeling a little sick."

"Maybe," Chloe says.

"I'll text him later to check on him," Nat says.

Rachel and Olie are the lasts ones to come out of The Lodge, hanging off each other with intimate grins on their faces.

"You two wanna drive with us?" I ask them. "Without Gus, I have two spots."

Olie puts a hand on her chest. "And miss the PDA show in Trey's car with Kay? We couldn't."

Rachel swats Olie's arm. "You told her you were fine with them dating. Quit being a jerk."

"I never said I was fine with getting softcore porn shoved in my face when I'm just trying to hang out with my friends," Olie says.

"To be fair, they are a little extra on the PDA," Chloe says, as she opens the passanger door to my car.

Olie, Rachel and Nat follow her lead and slide into the backseats. Hannah, Paige, Connor and James go into Devin Miller's car, leaving Kate and Trey to drive alone.

"Every time they insist on competing for who can shove more tongue in the other's mouth right in front of us, I almost regret telling Kay I was fine with her asking Trey out," Olie huffs. Then she narrows her eyes. "No one tell Eli or my brother that I said that."

Even in this context, my chest insists on fluttering at the mention of Eli's name.

"Why?" Rachel asks.

"They'll make a scene," Olie says.

"It's cute that they're so protective of you," Rachel says. "And to think you wanted to lose your V-card to your brother's best friend."

Olie groans, letting her head hit the closed car window. "It's been five years. When will people forget that?"

"Never," Rachel snickers. "It's hilarious. Honestly, the way you, me and Paige were crazy about Eli, Dean and Owen is so funny to me now."

"I'm sorry, what," I say.

Olie rolls her eyes. "We were young, we got over it."

Rachel cocks her head. "Paige was hung up on your brother for a good while, though."

The second eye roll makes me worry for Olie's eye balls. "Owen never even looked at her."

"I think he could tell she had a crush and didn't want to encourage it," Rachel says. "Which cannot be said about Eli."

Olie scoffs. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"You know." Rachel gives her a pointed look. "He led you on a bit."

"He did not."

"Even Owen thought so."

"Owen's an idiot."

I clear my throat. "How did Eli lead you on?"

"He didn't," Olie says.

"He did," Rachel says. "Letting you sit on his lap, hanging out with you one-on-one when he was over at your place, all smiles and stuff."

"He was being nice," Olie protests. "He lived with us for a year, he's like a brother. I was stupid for getting a crush on him."

"It's kind of understandable," Rachel says. "Everyone has at least half a crush on that boy. Never really got how you got over him overnight, to be honest."

Olie looks at her. For someone who's usually all fun and games, she seems to want her next words to be taken seriously. "We talked. He made it very clear I'm not his type."

"Did he?" I ask, before I can stop myself.

Olie's gaze locks with mine on the rearview mirror. "He did."

My stomach does a mean trick on me.

"So you talked," Rachel says. "That's it?"

"What were you expecting?" Olie asks.

Rachel's eyebrows arch suggestively. "Not a talk."

Olie rolls her eyes. "You see, Rachel got over Dean by getting under him." Her eyes widen as soon as she says it. "Oh my God, Nat, I'm so sorry. That was stupid."

Nat shakes her head light-heartedly. "It's fine."

Rachel seems confused. "Am I missing something?"

"Nat and Dean are a thing now," I say.

Rachel looks at Nat. "You're dating?"

"Not really."

"You are," Chloe says.

"We're just talking. Taking it slow," Nat says. "It's hard to meet up during hockey season."

Rachel nods. "Well. Dean's super sweet. I hope it works out for you two."

Nat smiles. "Thanks."

"I promise I'll keep Olie from making more tasteless jokes," Rachel whispers.

"Hey," Olie complains.

Rachel ignores her. "She just has no filter, you know."

I nod knowingly. "Can never leave the house with her. She'll just embarrass you."

"Exactly," Rachel says, meeting my gaze in the rearview mirror through a smile.

I park my car next to the others', where Connor, James, Trey and Kate are taking their skates from the trunk of Trey's car. Paige tells us Hannah took off with Devin to some corner and Olie wolf-whistles.

I take a seat between Chloe and Nat on a bench by the lake. Rachel and Paige sit on Chloe's and Nat's other side, while Olie paces in front of us. Over on the lake, Connor and James join the other skaters with the speed of someone who's used to being on the ice. Trey goes for a slower entrance, skating backwards as he holds both of Kate's hands in his.

"Where's Mack?" Rachel asks.

"Vegas," I say.

Rachel looks taken aback.

Chloe smiles faintly next to me. "Went on a road trip with her San Francisco friends for the holidays."

"I thought she was in San Diego," Rachel says.

"She moved," Nat says.

I see Connor step out of the lake, walking toward us. And I say 'us', but he's really just looking at Paige.

"You guys really don't want to come?" He asks.

Again, he says 'you guys' but his eyes are on Paige.

"I don't have skates," she says.

"I have an old pair on Liam's trunk," Chloe says. "They should fit, if you want them."

Paige twists her nose. "I might break them or something."

Chloe shrugs. "I don't use them anymore. You can even keep them if you want."

"You sure?" Paige cracks a small smile.

"Yeah." Chloe stands. "I'll put mine on too and join you guys."

I dig into my pockets for my car keys and hand them to Chloe.

"Anyone else?" Connor tries.

"I left my skates at home," Nat says.

"Good." Olie smiles. "I don't want to be alone and I can't skate for shit."

"That's true," I say.

Rachel laughs. Olie narrows her eyes at both of us.

While Chloe and Paige go get their skates, Connor goes back to the lake. Still standing, Olie wraps her arms around herself and lets out a huge burst of air, which fogs up in front of her face.

"If I sit here I'll freeze," she says.

"Want to walk around a little?" Nat offers.

"Yes please," Olie says, like she was waiting for someone to propose just that.

Nat stands. "You guys coming?"

"I think I'll stay here a bit," Rachel says. "Missed the view."

"Me too."

Olie shrugs. "Suit yourselves."

When they're gone, we sit in silence for a while. We watch Chloe help Paige onto the ice, just before Connor takes over. They both smile as he helps her balance on Chloe's old skates, and Chloe takes off to skate by James's side. They move with a speed the other couples can't manage. Still, James's high school hockey experience doesn't compete with Chloe in her top form.

Watching Chloe have to slow down for James to keep up, I feel the kind of tingling in my whole body that I always feel whenever I remember our chances at the Olympics have never been this good. The surreal sensation I get whenever I think of just how close we are to turning our dream into a reality.

"So."

I look at Rachel. "So?"

She smiles. She looks just as pretty as when she left. Prettier even.

She also smells exactly the same. Like almonds and cinnamon.

A little voice in my head insists on pointing out to me just how different it is from Eli's scent. Clean, and citrusy, and something that's all him and impossible to discribe underneath it all.

Eli smells like temptation. Rachel smells like something familiar. There's a comfort in that.

I smile back at her. "Olie says you talk."

"We're friends," she replies.

"About us," I say.

Rachel shrugs through her smile. "Only when Olie pushes the topic."

"Sounds like Olie." I nod. "What do you tell her?"

"About you?"

"About me."

"That you're great."

"Mhm."

She laughs. "Seriously. We had fun before I moved away. Parted amicably. No hard feelings. Right?"

"Right."

"Do you talk about me?"

"With Olie?"

"Sure. With anyone, really."

"Not really."

"No?"

I shrug. "If people ask."

"What do you say?"

"About you?"

She smiles. "About me."

I smile too. "That you're awesome."

She laughs.

"Ever talk about me to a new boyfriend?" I ask.

"Just one," she says.

I raise my eyebrows. "That still a thing?"

"Not anymore. Broke it off six months ago. You?"

I shake my head. "No."

"No one?"

"Someone."

"But you don't talk about me?"

"Only if they ask."

"Do they?"

"Not really."

"Really?"

"Not the talkative type."

She laughs again. "How did they get involved with you then?"

I roll my eyes, even through my grin.

"That still a thing?" She asks.

"What?"

"With the mysterious someone," she clarifies

"No." The smile dissolves from my face. I had no idea how much it would hurt to say it out loud. I clear my throat, "No, I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"We... had different views... about us."

"I'm sorry," she says honestly.

I nod. "Me too."

Rachel smiles again, nudging me with her shoulder. I try to get a small smile back on my face.

"Any plans for the future? After college?" I ask.

"At the moment? Home," she says.

"Here, home?"

"Yes."

"Why not stay in Chicago?"

"I miss my mom. I miss my girls. I miss the quiet." She leans her head back, letting the dim winter sun shine on her hazel eyes.

"So you'll be back?"

"Mhm."

"Like, in town."

"This town." She nods.

"Good."

She smiles. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Maybe we can hang out when I'm back," she says.

"Maybe."

"If we both feel like it."

"Sure."

She smiles. "We'll talk then?"

I smile. "We will."

"Good."

***

Before you hate Rachel, please please please, remember I did make Olie win you over too in the first book. This is not the kind of book where we encourage Female Character Hate Groups :)

That said, what did you think of this week's chapter?

Next chapter goes back to the past, and we're diving into Eli's mental health (during one of the therapy sessions I promised you'd get to see again). When I do the final re-read and edit I'll add any trigger warnings I think may be relevant at the top, but I wanted to let you know so you don't get caught by surprise by the trigger warnings when you see them.

As always, thanks for reading!