“Yes there are more schools in Boston, Olivia.”
My eyes are fixated on the court, even though the game hasn’t started. Still, I can feel Olivia roll her eyes at my side, frustrated with my lack of clarity. I clench my jaw, which I’m hoping will indicate that I do not want to be questioned. To her benefit, I’m sure that Ian guy put her up to it, thinking there was some sort of juicy story happening in the background. I guess star player not being able to control his anxiety could be that, but Dan and my mother went to extremes trying to hide my ‘issues’ from the school and furthermore their peers, so giving Olivia the inside scoop could cause even more of a rift with my parents than the one that already exists. Sensing that she won’t give up I toss out a question of my own.
“So, Will huh?”
“Is that a question or a statement?”
“A question, I guess. Based on what I walked into this morning it seems you don’t actually mind being manhandled, or is it just when he does it?”
“Correct. Will can manhandle me whenever he likes.” She tosses me a mischievous grin, but it doesn’t meet her eyes. While it’s obvious she’s being sardonic her tone seems deflated, like if I keep tapping on this sore spot she won’t be able to pretend it doesn’t hurt. I fully break my eyes away from the court, glancing at her. She’s tucking her hair behind her ear, looking down at her notebook. Her blush is more apparent now than it was before.Did I just embarrass her?Regret fills my stomach as I take in the only glimpse of vulnerability I’m sure to see from her tonight.
The players begin filing out of the locker rooms as loud music fills the stands. Olivia stands alongside the rest of the gymnasium cheering as each player is announced. She waves at Will when he finally comes out, the captain always being announced last. His gaze is impenetrable, I’d know that focus anywhere. It’s the one thing we have in common when playing. Nothing could distract us during a game.
The players gather around the coach as he explains the play and the mass of fans fall back into their seats. I notice Grant who goofily shoots Olivia and I the middle finger. Olivia pretends to catch it and hold it to her heart, which cracks Grant up. Her smile is so genuine, I feel jealousy erupt within me. Boy, what I would give for her to smile at me like that? I shake the unwanted feeling away.
“So you know Grant?” I say, nudging her shoulder with mine. Her smile fades as her eyes go from Grant to Will who hasn’t even glanced our way.
“We’re in the same study group,” Olivia states flatly, her tone guarded.
“Grant’s one of the best people I know,” I say, shifting toward her. “He’s my best friend. I feel silly saying that, but it’s true.”
Olivia meets my gaze and seems to relax slightly, unhinging her shoulders as she turns toward me, and I see a small smileplay at her lips. “Grant’s one of the best people I know too, believe it or not.”
Olivia’s bare thigh grazes my jeans and I feel clammy and ill. I shouldn’t be doing this, feeling these things.
“So are you going to help me out here at all Cabot, or am I being forced to revisit this at a later date?”
Her charm makes my entire body vibrate. I swallow hard. Ian made a few attempts to get me to answer the ever present question of why I left school last year. The reporters he sent me were ditzy blondes who seemed to want to sleep with me more than write a story, but it seems he’s actually taking this story seriously now since he sent the one person I can’t say no to, whether he knows it or not.
“Well we can’t do that, now can we?” I say, my gaze shifting to my brother out on the court, trying to find a way to get her to back off this story. Her eyes follow mine until she lands on Will. She looks down at her pad, tapping her pen again.
“He doesn’t own me,” she says, defiance etched in the sudden slant of her eyes.
“I didn’t say that he did,” I retort, unable to contain my amusement.
“He doesn’t have to know,” she says, cracking a half smile, her eyes piercing into me.
I raise an eyebrow. “Olivia Beckett, I am shocked,” I say in a fake mocking tone.
“If there’s one thing to know about me, it’s that I’m full of surprises.” Her eyes flutter, an air of mischief in her tone.
“Oh, that I can tell,” I give her a smile.
She licks her lips and looks at the court in an attempt to hide the flush that was getting rosier by the minute.
“So… Boston…?” She says in a playful impatient tone.
“My grandfather lives in Boston. He’s getting old. I wanted to see him.”
She scribbles into her notebook. I reach over into her lap and shut the notepad abruptly. Her face is hard to read, the blush appearing underneath the freckles I am now becoming familiar with. It’s funny, for a girl that seemed to intimidate the entire school she’s easy to rile up.
“Can we at least get to know each other before you give me the fifth degree?” I ask with mock innocence, pushing my thigh further into hers and letting the warmth of my body press against her, our arms now fully brushing.
She blows out a breath, attempting to regain control of the conversation but seemingly flustered by our closeness.
“We go to McKinley’s on Saturday nights, if you want to pick this up then, “ she says in almost a whisper, clearing her throat as she bounces up onto her feet before I have time to respond. Scribbling into her notebook she rips out the page and hands it to me. “Call me when you’re ready to talk, Cabot. ”
And like that she’s gone, heads turning as she pushes her way through the double doors, light streaming into the arena around her.
