I set my fork down slowly.
Cole was still watching me across the marble island, his blue eyes completely steady. The kitchen felt smaller than it had just five minutes ago.
"I forgot to take the inventory the day before," I said, keeping my voice steady. "I didn't want Coach asking why it wasn't done. So I got there early to finish it before my first class. Ryder was already on the ice." I picked up my water glass and took a calm sip. "We talked for like five minutes. That was it."
It was a thin lie, but it came out smoother than I expected. Maybe because it was wrapped around enough truth to have the right shape.
Cole didn't react immediately. He just picked his fork back up and took another unhurried bite of his pasta. His expression was hard to read, almost like he was deciding how
