Me:
Then how about we call it a social skills practice?
Yana :
Nice try, golden boy
Golden boy? She’s already given me a nickname? Warmth radiates through me, and my heart hammers against my ribs. Damn, this little text exchange is fun. Ignoring the commotion in the locker room, I send her a screenshot of the schedule from the movie theater’s website.
Me:
What should we see?
Yana :
The new Marvel
I double-check the time to make sure I can drop off my things at home before our date, then shoot her one last text.
Me:
See you there
I stand and shove my things into my duffel bag. Everything will be wrinkled tomorrow, but I’ll worry about that later. My sole focus is to have an amazing date with a stunning girl.
“What’s the hurry?” Camden says as I sling the duffel over my shoulder.
He’s standing near his locker, a towel wrapped around his hips. His hair is damp, his skin glistening with droplets of water. When I see the ink that covers his arms and neck, I can’t help but think about the tattoos I always talked about getting when we were in high school.
He clearly followed through, while I can never find the time.
“I have a date.”
He twists his lips. “With that redhead?”
My heart stutters. “With Yana, yes.”
With a shake of his head, he shrugs. “Good luck then. See you tomorrow.”
I rock back on my heels, a question on the tip of my tongue. Rather than ask, I give him a single nod and head for the door. “Yeah, see you.”
If I’m right and he does find her attractive, it’s better that I don’t know.
When I texted Yana,I thought she’d ignore me or come up with an excuse to say no. Even after she agreed, I figured she’d cancel on me. But she’s here, stepping out of a black Escalade as I stand in front of the entrance to the theater. Maybe it’s silly, but I brought flowers—a bouquet of purple tulips.
She pulls her coat tight, and when she sees me, she shuffles my way. Her copper-red hair is loose around her shoulders, and for a second my brain goes blank. She was beautiful the othernight but also somehow untouchable. Online, she came across as fierce and determined on the court, then elegant and stylish at events.
Now, though? In dark blue jeans, ankle boots, and a black turtleneck under her unbuttoned coat, she’s all kinds of perfect.
I fix the collar of the beige shirt that I paired with light brown pants and a dark green bomber as she stops in front of me. “Hey.” I hold the flowers up between us. “These are for you.”
Smiling, she takes the flowers from me. “Hi, and thank you. They’re gorgeous.”
“Youare gorgeous.” I grin. “These tulips have nothing on you.”
She huffs a laugh. “Do you practice these lines in the mirror, or do they come to you spontaneously? They are way too cheesy, by the way.”
“Kind of both.” I wink at her. “I already bought tickets. Should we find seats?”
