Kimmie skated straight to him with an expression he couldn’t read, so he quickly pulled off his own hat, reasoning that perhaps she didn’t recognize him. He gave her a friendly wave. Kimmie smiled and waved back, stopping in front of him with a dramatic flourish, the shavings of her braking blades hitting the low guardrail.

“Hey, Dustin. Are you here to skate?” she asked.

“I suck at skating. Shitty ankles,” he replied. “I’m here for you.” His words jumbled out faster than he wanted, and he winced. “Not here for you in a creepy stalker way, or anything.”

“I didn’t think so. You seem too serious to be a stalker and too nice to be a creeper.”

“I would think stalker sorts are actually very serious,” he replied, still unable to control his words around her. “But I’m not one … yet.”

She laughed at this, cocking her head in surprise at his dryly delivered wit. “So now that you have my attention, whatever will you do with it?” she asked, flushing with embarrassment because what she’d meant as a joke came out sounding far flirtier than she’d intended.

“Sorry, I don’t mean to be cryptic. Steven sent me. Steven, your sister’s—”

She frowned, interrupting him. “I know what Steven you’re talking about.”

“Yes, of course you do.” This was going quickly from bad to worse.

“And what news do you bring from the scoundrel that is Steven from the House of K.?” she asked, straight-faced.

“Uhhh…” Dustin hesitated.

Kimmie laughed at his confusion. “Don’t tell me you’re the one guy who hasn’t watched Game of Thrones?”

Dustin smiled with relief. “Oh no, I’m a fanboy. I’ve read all the books.”

“Me, too,” she admitted, even though her mother once advised her that boys don’t always like girls who read books. “Seriously, what does the dickhead have to say?”

Of course, Kimmie had already heard the news from her sister, which meant Steven had sent him on a ridiculous mission with the sole purpose of getting him some face time with Kimmie.

“You know?” he asked, wanting to verify what he suspected to be true.

“I do. Lolly texted me all about ‘Brad.’ She’s okay, isn’t she? I told her I’d come and get her, but she said no.”

“I didn’t see her myself. But I’m sure she’s fine, or rather as good as can be expected. Honestly, I didn’t want to get involved, but Steven asked me to come, as a favor. The rink’s on my way home.” Even though he knew he’d said enough, Dustin kept going anyway. “I’m Steven’s homework tutor. We were friends when we were little because of our moms,” he added, helping her connect the dots on why a guy like him would be friends with Steven.