Tyree hooted at something Tally said and my head came up.
We were all sitting on the couches in the common room of my dorm, watching the pre-NFL Draft commentators discuss who they thought would go which round. I tried to settle my insides. It was difficult with everyone in the room. Of course, Cooper, Nevin, and Tyree were there. They wouldn’t miss it for anything. And Tally and Brooklyn. But Jonah was the shocker of the evening. It helped that he and Brooklyn were still hot and heavy. I was pretty sure he’d forgotten all about me by the time the new year had rolled in. I was happy for them. Truly. But would Jonah be okay seeing Blue go first round as everyone had predicted?
The bigger question: would I be okay? Or would I break down and run to the bathroom in tears like I had when I opened my vet school admissions letter?
I looked around at my friends and my heart panged. The semester was almost over. My time at James River was coming to a close. In ten days I’d take my last exam. Two days after that I’d walk across the stage. The rest of them were staying. Tally had another year but then she planned to get a master’s here. She wouldn’t admit it, and though she gave him a ridiculously hard time, something about being at a school where Ashton was available anytime she needed help with a paper left her feeling secure.
My phone buzzed. I looked down and my insides were a fluttery mess.
Blue
Thanks. I appreciate that. I need all the luck I can get as I head off into this next phase of life.
I gripped my phone, reading it over and over. My lungs wouldn’t release a full exhale, I was so happy to hear from him.
Any idea where you’re going?
Maybe it would be somewhere close, like D.C. or Charlotte. I could go see him play sometimes. That was a friend thing to do.
Blue
C’mon, Anna. You know they’re not allowed to tell me ahead of time.
Blue:
I gasped.
Wait. Does that mean you do know?
Blue:
He totally knew!
“Hey.” Ashton plopped down on the couch next to me, still in his professor attire. A light-blue button-down with his sleeves rolled up and a pair of dark slacks. Blue had taught him about fitted dress shirts and he was running with the knowledge. His top button was undone and I could picture his tie balled up in the cup holder of his truck.
“Hey,” I gave him a one-armed squeeze. “You stayed.”
When I’d asked this morning if he wanted to watch the draft with me, he said he’d “think about it.” Being around Tally since she’d started dating Madden had become increasingly difficult for him. He never said that but it was obvious. The closer Madden and Tally grew, the more he’d distanced himself.
“’Course I did,” he said in a hush. “I knew this might be hard for you.”
My eyes flicked to Tally on the other couch and I caught her watching him. And watching him. And watching him. Her eyes snapped to mine. Then her cheeks flushed and her eyes flashed away. She turned her attention back to Tyree who was telling her some super intense story about the history of football. Then she threw her head back and laughed. The girl probably didn’t even know what he’d said. Yeah, Tally had feelings for my Brontë-hating uncle, whether she wanted to admit it or not. Poor Madden. Poor Ashton.
“Yo, yo, yo, Anna,” Cooper boomed. “Look.” He pointed to the TV. Blue’s face was on the screen. It was the headshot they always used. No smile. No dimple. Just tough as nails, Blue Walker Bishop.
“Turn it up,” I said. Brooklyn lifted the remote and raised the volume.
A female sportscaster with blond hair and a royal blue polo stared right into the camera. “In a shocking turn of events, top NFL draft prospect Blue Bishop has announced he’s withdrawing from this year’s draft.”
“Um, what?” I said at the same time Ashton said, “No way.”
Ash sat up. “People don’t pull out of the draft the day of. Is this a joke? Are we being punked?” He glanced around as if to check for actual camera people who might be hiding in the ceiling cracks or behind the window blinds.
“He’s actually insane,” Nevin said, mouth open wide.
Cooper guffawed. “Anna, tell your boyfriend he’s an idiot.”
“He’s not her boyfriend anymore,” Brooklyn smacked Cooper in the back of the head. “You know that.”
