We stood in the middle of the field, bundled up in hoodies. The brisk winter air blew fiercely as the sun did nothing to warm me. The tip of Ollie’s nose was red as he blew hot air into his palms and rubbed them together before cupping my face. “Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea. You’re freezing.”
Correction: he was freezing.
“I’m fine. I’m from Pennsylvania,” I reminded him, used to snow and temperatures lower than this. “This isn’t bad, and once you start some physical activity, you’ll warm up.”
Ollie raised his brow as his smile slowly grew.
“Not that kind of physical activity.” I laughed and pushed him playfully in the shoulder.
Ollie caught my wrist and pulled me closer. “Kiss me,” he commanded, “before everyone gets here.” Relaxing against him, I stood on my toes as he dipped his head down to meet my lips. “Mmm … I’m warming up already,” he growled.
Breathing him in, I whispered through an exhale, “I love you, Ollie.”
He moaned. “Say it again.”
I kissed the sensitive spot below his ear because I knew what it did to him. “I love you.”
Ollie hummed into my neck, and it was a beautiful sound. “I’ll never tire of hearing you say those words.” And he captured my mouth again.
“Found a ball!” Jake said, snapping Ollie and me away from each other instantly. “Seriously? You guys don’t have to hide from me …”
“What are you talking about?” I asked casually and shoved my hands into the front pocket of the hoodie. We weren’t drinking. There was no excuse for us to be kissing in Jake’s eyes. In my eyes, there were a thousand reasons why we should, starting with Ollie.
Jake caught the ball he threw to himself in the air before planting it between his hip and his arm. “You guys can trust me, you know. I would never keep whatever you guys seem to have apart. That right there is precious,” he added, pointing back and forth between me and Ollie standing at least three feet apart.
“I appreciate it, mate,” Ollie said to Jake, genuinely, then tipped his head in my direction. “I’m in love with her, you know …” Ollie beamed. I beamed. Jake’s eyes swelled as they slid back and forth between us. “Damn, it feels good to finally tell someone else,” Ollie said and closed the gap between us again. “Now, don’t go and throw a spanner in the works, alright?”
“I thought you guys were just doing the rumpy-pumpy.” Jake smiled and shook his head in surprise. “This is brilliant. The two of you.” He gushed with his hand over his chest. “Can I be in the wedding party?” He fired his arm high in the air. “Oh! I call maid of honor!”
Ollie laughed as he took his beanie off his head before stretching it over mine and down over my ears. His mouth covered mine once more as our fingers intertwined. “Alright, alright, Mia … now you’re just rubbing it in.” Jake threw the ball at Ollie’s back, and Ollie released me before swiping the ball up from the grass and gesturing for Jake to go long.
Alicia and Bria finally showed up, followed by Isaac. The whole crew was finally here, and so was the sun, gradually moving higher above us. The skies were open, the wind was quieting, and I went through the basic rules of American football. “No tackle, we’re playing touch. You have to touch with both hands,” I reiterated. It was boys against girls. “Who’s the better catcher?” I asked in our small huddle. Bria pointed to Alicia, and I figured. “Okay, I’m going to snap the ball, and you make a run for it.”
“Snap the ball?” Alicia asked as she held a brow in the air.
“Hikethe ball.” I sighed. “Screw it, I’ll just throw the ball to you, just make sure you’re in the end zone.”
“And where is this end zone, exactly?”
Huffing and wishing I was on the other team, I pointed between the two trees behind the anxious boys who stood with their arms crossed over their chests.
“Come on, ladies. We haven’t got all day!” Ollie called out before warming his hands back up over his mouth.
“Ready?” I asked.
“No,” Bria whined. “What am I supposed to do?”
“Distract Isaac and Ollie. You’re already good at that.”
Bria nodded with a wicked smile.
“Break!”
“Now we’re having a break?” Alicia asked.
Holy shit. Groaning, I rolled my eyes. “No, it means I’m done talking. Now we can play.”
After directing the girls with rapid finger gestures, I shouted, “Hike,” and Alicia only stood there while Ollie took off toward me. “Run, Alicia!”
