"Sure," I say, my voice steadier than I feel. "Can Serena come too?"
"Of course she can." His smile is so beautiful, and I have to assume my ready assent has calmed his nerves.
What will his face look like tonight when I tell him my true feelings? I won’t hold anything back, even if the thought of scaring him away with an I love you makes my skin vibrate with anxiety.
He deserves the full truth after weeks of my cowardice and petty games.
I’m choosing to be brave, even when the teenage girl within me screams at me to guard my wounded heart.
I won’t listen to her.
The three of us move slowly down the stands. Tristan's shoulder brushes mine occasionally, but his hands stay at his side. He typically touches me whenever we’re close, and I miss his warmth.
There's a strange solemnity to his movements, and an intensity that makes the air between us spark. When we reach the front row, he stops and turns toward me. His gaze is probing, and a ripple of nerves dances down my spine.
“You asked me to give the scholarship to someone else,” he says.
My gaze falls to the slab of metal under my feet. “Yes.”
“I didn’t consider it for a second. I hope you’re not mad.”
My stomach flips over, and I can’t help but smile when I meet his eyes. His expression is so tender, I could kiss him now.
"Is it okay if I approach you when I pick you as my winner?" he asks, looking almost bashful.
"Sure," I murmur.
"Thanks. I hope you like my…speech." With that, he turns around and walks toward the center of the field.
Serena leans into me. "Do you think he's going to call you his dearest, loveliest Amelia?"
Warmth unfurls in my belly at herPride and Prejudicequote. I'm just about to respond when someone behind me taps my shoulder. When I turn around, a pretty girl is holding her phone in the air. "Can I get a selfie with you, Amy? We watch the game episodes every week in our common room." She gestures at the two girls next to her. "You've been our pick from the beginning."
My mouth goes dry as I nod. Thank God, I have Serena here with me as a comforting presence. Even after all these weeks of being part of the game, I'm still not comfortable being in the public eye.
If Tristan cares for me too, and we start a real relationship, I’ll be in the public eye all the time. He’s practically a celebrity on this campus. The thought alone would have made me sick to my stomach weeks ago.
Not anymore.
I lean back as the girl holds her phone in the air. My smile is stiff, but I couldn't fix it if I tried. My nerves are sizzling.
After snapping the picture, she winces. “Oh shit, I think they're about to start."
Sure enough, the director is approaching the mic. I swallow hard, my palms dampening.
"Tonight," the director says, "Tristan will select the winner who will accompany him to the homecoming ball and receive a generous scholarship. Let's give a warm round of applause for our homecoming king, Tristan Wolfe."
The crowd breaks out into an uproar of cheers, and Serena sets her arm around my shoulder.
My throat squeezes. The moment of truth has come.
Please love me, Tristan Wolfe. I don’t deserve it, but I want it all the same.
Tristan
After taking in a deep breath, I make my way over to the mic. The stadium lights combined with the scent of the grass usually give me a visceral sense of calm.
But I'm not playing football tonight. I'm about to gamble with my heart, and I might not win.
