He blows out a breath and runs a hand through his hair. “I think so.”
“You’re ready,” I say definitively. “You can do this.”
I place my hand over his on the bed without thinking. Warmth spreads up my arm as awareness for what I’ve done hits me. I start to move my hand off his, but then his pinky finger hooks over my thumb as if to keep it there.
“Thank you.”
I nod, heart hammering, as every nerve in my fingertips pulses. “You’re welcome.”
Chapter Sixteen
Vaughn
Rowan wraps both arms around me and lifts my feet off the ground. He bounces us in place, yelling, “Cap! Cap! Cap!”
“What’s going on?” Austin asks, stepping up to us as Rowan releases me.
“He passed!” Rowan’s excitement matches my own. “The Cap is back!”
Austin’s expression is one of relief, followed by joy. “Thank god.”
In seconds, the news has spread to our teammates, and they crowd around to join in the excitement. I hate that I let them down in the first place, but it feels good to know they missed me and are glad to have me back on the field with them.
Through the commotion, I spot Lacey watching from her locker. She and Claire stand together. Claire smiles, but Lacey’s expression isn’t as easy to read.
I weave my way through the circle of soccer players and make my way to the girls.
Claire steps toward me, giving me a quick one-armedhug. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
Claire glances back at Lacey and then walks past me toward the guys. It’s just Lacey standing in front of the lockers now.
Adrenaline pumps through me, and I don’t think twice about leaning down and hugging her so she’s in my arms. Surprise makes her body stiffen at first, then slowly she melts into me and wraps her arms around my neck.
She’s short, and the movement has our bodies pressed flush against each other. I can feel her heart racing in time with mine. Her hair is in my face and my arms tighten, clutching her to me and not wanting to let her go. My skin tingles with awareness of how much I like this feeling.
I don’t know how long we hug, but when I pull back, her cheeks are a pretty shade of pink.
“Congrats,” she says a little breathlessly.
I’m amped up on excitement and on her. I can’t remember feeling this light. “Ninety-five percent. I think that’s the best grade I’ve gotten on a math test since elementary school.”
“I knew you could do it.”
“You’re the only one,” I tell her. And I’m not exaggerating. Sure, my teammates hoped I could, and it’s not like any of them said directly that they thought I’d fail, but I could see the worry in their faces. Lacey believed in me, and I don’t know why it felt so good for her to have my back, but it did. It meant a lot. Actually, I do know why. I’ve never had that kind of support before. Dad is too busy being my coach and my teammates andfriends expect me to have all the answers. It felt good to have her in my corner, cheering me on with no ulterior motive.
“I have something for you.” She gives her head a small shake and turns to her locker.
“You gotmesomething?” I ask.
“It’s not much.” She pulls out a pack of Nerds with a blue bow tied around it. She tosses it at me, and I catch it one handed.
“It was that or a protein bar,” she says, poking a little fun at the gift I gave her. “I took a chance. Congrats, Nerd.”
Warmth spreads through my chest. “Thank you, Lacey. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“You’re welcome.”
