She laughs. “I heard a few more things when I went over there last night.”
All the air seems as if it’s been sucked out of my lungs. I breathe out. “What do you mean?”
“Finny said he saw the two of you hugging, and maybe kissing?”
My cheeks are on fire, and I lift my hands up, hoping it will cool them down a bit.
“There was no kissing, just a goodbye hug.”
“Then the question is, do you want there to be more than a hug?”
I laugh, and it’s one of those awkward, forced ones where I’m trying to stall for time. “I mean, Burton is super nice, and I feel like I’ve gotten to know him even more than my ex-boyfriend, and I was with him for a year. But Burton and I only just met on the night of the brainstorming session. How is that even possible?”
Jessa laughs. “Sometimes we just need a little nudge. I didn’t in a million years think I would be engaged to Clark. He used to be a punk when he played lacrosse with my brother.”
“I’m not saying I’m going to marry him, but Burton is an amazingly cheerful guy for all that he’s gone through.”
Jessa nods. “I have something for you once we get on the plane. Don’t let me forget to give it to you.”
I’ve known this group of people for only a couple of weeks, and yet they’ve been the most giving of anyone I’ve ever known. Moving me into the house, fixing my car, giving me rides everywhere before the car was fixed. And now, something else?
“You don’t have to do that. You let me move in with you.”
“I didn’t. It’s from Burton.”
I bite my upper lip to keep from grinning. What would he be trying to give me now?
We make it to the airport and park, heading into the smaller terminal. The screening process is minimal, and then we’re walking out onto the runway, heading to the private plane.
I stow my bag and take my seat, feeling the exhaustion of not sleeping as easily.
“This is for you,” Jessa says, handing me a container of multicolored candies.
“For me?” I say, taking it from her. It looks like it’s tropical Skittles in a clear jar. On the front, instead of the Skittles sticker, there’s a piece of white printed paper taped up as a little “key” to the different colors.
Looking closer, I read the first line.
Purple - for when you need a break.
Blue - for when you did a great job on the sidelines.
Red – when you need a little extra motivation.
I don’t finish reading all of them because I glance up and see a small note taped to the top.
“I know you’re going to be gone for a while, so I figured I’d send along a little ‘medicine’ kit. Hopefully, you get some good use out of this while you’re gone. I’m hoping the green ones are gone by the time you get back ”
I glance back to the green section of the label.
Green - I wish I were hanging out with Burton.
I know it’s early, but thank you so much for this.
I take a picture with the jar next to my face with a green Skittle between my teeth and send it to Burton.
“Are you sure you’re not catching feelings for a certain lacrosse player?” Jessa asks, taking a seat next to me.
“The refs are still reviewing that call.”
