She slid into the booth across from me and her denim jacket slipped off her shoulders. “You hit a personal record the other day. And Coach Hale told you that you’re captain material someday. I mean—Liam, that’s huge.”
I forced a smile. My chest was tight in that way I’d learned to hide. “It’s just a PR.”
“It is not ‘just a PR.’” She poked at the air between us. “I even told my mom. And my sister. They think you’re a rising campus legend.”
The wordlegendmade my stomach twist. The scrimmage was this weekend. The secret race was still a live grenade in my brain. And Emily was glowing like she’d won the lottery.
Then, a waiter with a thick black mustache appeared beside us, smiling like he’d been waiting all night for us. Weird.
“Hello, I'm Carlo. What can I get the young lovers this evening?” he said with a wink.
Emily went bright red. “We’re—well—can we get the garlic knots?”
“Of course.” He turned to me. “And for you, sir? A glass of wine? Something romantic?”
I coughed. “Just water.”
He gave me a disappointed sigh and walked off.
“What a weirdo,” I said.
Emily covered her face. “I swear he does that on purpose.”
“Probably.”
She peeked at me with a grin. “But... lovers? That’s kind of cute, right?”
I looked down at the menu and cracked a smile. “Yeah. It is.”
“So... did you tell your mom about the race?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“She’ll want to come, Liam.”
“Maybe,” I said.
Emily gave me that gentle, patient look. “She really would.”
My jaw tightened. Mom already worked two jobs, double shifts whenever she could pick them up. The last thing she needed was to drive all the way out here just to watch me stress about Kingswell and lose a race.
She’d say yes if I asked—because she always said yes—but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t cost her sleep, money, and energy she didn’t have.
“It’s not a big deal. She’s got a lot going on,” I said.
Emily nodded, like she understood but didn’t agree. “Still... she’d be proud. I know that much.”
Carlo returned just in time. “And what will we have for entrées?”
“Spaghetti and meatballs,” I said.
“Same,” Emily added. “Extra meatballs for me. I deserve them.”
“You both deserve them,” Carlo declared before sweeping off.
When he left, Emily rested her chin in her hand, smiling at me with that special glint in here eyes. “Okay. Start talking. What’s going on in that big head of yours? You’re all broody and moody.”
“I’m not brooding. I’m just... excited and nervous.”
