Calder fights back a smile.
I pause for dramatic effect. “I’m really proud.”
Calder puts his hands on his hips and gives me a look. I flash a cheesy smile and bounce the ball once before getting into serving position. “I’m sorry. Just putting that out there in advance.”
Calder frowns. “Why?”
“Because of what’s about to happen.”
“You’re better than you give yourself credit for.”
I scoff. “Well, I don’t play like you.”
“Good partners usually don’t.”
Out of nowhere, the night’s events tumble over me a second time.Was that the problem?I want Garrett because he seems a little like me? Maybe I’m thinking about things all wrong. Maybe I need someone who doesn’t play like me. Who makes me think differently about the world. Who makes me a little uncomfortable.
“Ready?” Calder watches me, and I snap out of it.
“Yep.” I serve, blessedly keeping the ball inside the lines.
After a few points, I decide Pete and Julie are the most fun people I’ve ever played with. They make good shots, but they laugh it off when they miss the ball. They tease each other and us, and don’t take any of it too seriously.
When Julie notices Calder taking it easy, she calls him out. “Kill me on the angle if I’m out of position, Calder! Don’t be nice!”
He laughs, and I’m instantly obsessed with the sound. With the smile lines on his face. I need to see that again. I need to see it every day.
My heart races for every reason except that I’m rushing around the court chasing a ball.
As usual, Sam knows me better than I know myself. I do, in fact, seem to have a major thing for Calder.
“You’re quiet,” Calder says after we tap paddles on round one.
“Am I?” I brush the comment off and jog to my water bottle on our court. I’m being weird. I know it, but I can’t do anything to stop it. Now that I’ve acknowledged it, everything Calder does is lighting me on fire.
We play another game and a half with them before the staff member up front lets us know his cleaning is all done and he needs to shut down. Smash Point technically closed over half an hour ago, based on the lettering on the door. I love that he let us all play for extra time.
The four of us chat as we grab our things, then walk to the parking lot together. I’m dying to talk with Calder alone, but can’t figure out how to make it happen.
The parking lot looks like a spill of ink with only four cars dotting the two halos created by the light. Julie and Pete wave goodbye and hop in their SUV.
Calder and I are parked on opposite sides.
I adjust the strap of my bag on my shoulder. “Well, thanks for this.”
“Glad you could come.” He looks like he’s about to say something else, but doesn’t.
Just as I’m about to make a joke about talking with him in the ladies’ restroom again sometime, I catch a small flicker of movement in the red glow of Julie and Pete’s taillights. A tiny brown lump?—
“Stop!” I gasp, grabbing Calder’s hand and running into the lot. I wave my free hand until Pete sees me and brakes. He rolls down his window.
“Sorry! There’s just a rabbit!” I drop my bag and run behind the vehicle, sinking to my knees on the asphalt. “Calder, can you go to the front in case it bolts?”
Pete and Julie are already out of their seats. They each take a side of the SUV between the wheels. We have every exit covered.
I reach for the baby bunny. It jolts and turns, but when it doesn’t see an obvious path, it rushes next to the wheel and I’m able to scoop it up. “Got it!” It’s ears are slicked back, its little heart staccatto.
“Hi,” I whisper. “I’m not going to hurt you, okay?”
