Free Elite Ambition by Jessica Burkhart Page B

flashed back to when I’d been testing for the YENT and hadfound out that Callie and Jacob were together. It had almost ruined my chances at making the team. I didn’t want this show to be a mess for Callie. Not after I knew how it felt.
    I stirred my wonton soup, usually one of my faves when the caf served Chinese food. But today I was unable to focus enough to eat without spilling soup down my shirt.
    â€œEverything okay?” Paige asked. She finished her third pork dumpling and wiped her mouth.
    â€œTotally fine,” I said. I directed my gaze from my soup to Paige’s face. “I had a big lunch.”
    Paige nodded. “Gotcha. I did, too, but I love Chinese food so much and …”
    She kept talking but her words stopped registering in my brain when I saw two people walk through the doorway.
    Eric. Rachel.
    Something overwhelming came over me—I couldn’t sit another second without talking to Eric. I had no idea what to even say, but I couldn’t stop myself.
    â€œI’ll be right back,” I said to Paige.
    â€œOkaaay,” she said. “Are you all right?”
    â€œGreat,” I said. “I’ll just … be right back.”
    And without explanation, I got up and headed for Ericand Rachel. They approached the lunch line, whispering to each other as they got closer. Eric, with his light brown skin and dark hair, looked more ready for a casting call than class. Rachel had a classic girl-next-door look—pretty and petite with light brown hair and natural reddish highlights.
    â€œHi,” I said to both of them.
    â€œHey,” Eric and Rachel said, both smiling at me. I didn’t pick up on a hit of weirdness or jealousy from Rachel that I was talking to my ex.
    â€œI’m going to grab my tray,” Rachel said, laughing. “There’s no way I’m missing any of the sweet-and-sour chicken.” Maybe she knew I wanted a minute alone with Eric. Rachel and I weren’t even close to friends, but she was being gracious. I don’t know if I could handle myself as well as she was in this situation.
    Eric smiled at Rachel. “Be right there.”
    We looked at each other, my nerves started to calm the longer I looked at him.
    â€œHow’re you doing?” Eric asked. His dark brown eyes, gentle like always, were sincere as he looked at me.
    â€œGood,” I said. “Fall break was fun. How about you?”
    â€œBusy,” he said, brushing back his dark brown hair. “I’m riding Luna as much as I can. Sometimes it feels like I’m living in the stable.”
    I laughed. “Tell me about it. I think Charm was secretly glad to see me go over break.”
    â€œNo, never.” Eric joined my laughter.
    I shifted, swallowing. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your lunch. I just wanted to say that you’ve always been such a great friend to me. I miss seeing you.”
    â€œI miss talking to you too,” Eric said.
    â€œYou’re a good guy, and I don’t want things to be weird between us. I’m—” The next part was harder to get out. “I’m glad you’ve got Rachel. She seems cool and I want you to be happy. I just hope … that, somehow, we can still be friends.”
    The last part of the sentence gushed out. But I meant it. I needed Eric in my life. No more drama. Or wars between Jacob and Eric. Just all of us coexisting at school and getting back to our normal lives.
    â€œI want that, too, Sasha,” Eric said. He glanced at the cafeteria floor, then back at me. “We both went through rough things. Maybe the timing wasn’t right for us—I don’t know. But I care about you as a friend. I want to talk. The avoiding-each-other thing is ridiculous.”
    Relief dizzied me—almost forcing me to grab the table beside me.
    â€œI’m so glad you feel that way. Really. And I want to know how riding’s going. Maybe we can, I