Kieran: I think.
Sammie: You don’t know?
Kieran: It’s blue. My turn.
Kieran: What’s your favorite beer?
Sammie: Oooh a tough one
Sammie: Bet you didn’t think I’d have an answer ready
Sammie: Alas
Sammie: There’s a place in WI, right over the state line, a tiny microbrewery. They’ve got this blonde ale made with pickle juice
Sammie: Best thing I’ve tasted in my entire life
Kieran: That sounds horrific.
Sammie: You don’t like pickles????
Kieran: I don’t like pickles in things that don’t normally include pickles.
Sammie: Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it :P
Kieran: Maybe after the season we can roadtrip up there and you can prove me wrong.
Sammie: It’s less than an hr away so not much of a road trip
Sammie: But I’m in
Kieran: Thanks for the distraction Sammie. :)
Sammie: Anytime :)
CHAPTER TWENTY
“WHAT’S IN THERE?”
Sammie swung the door open, letting Kieran into her brother’s house. She looked tired, dark hair pulled back at the nape of her neck into a messy bun, hair falling from the tie to frame her face. There were dark circles under her eyes, a heaviness to her stance that made Kieran want to send her away for a nap. She gave him a soft smile as he sat his lunchbox down on the kitchen counter.
“It’s soup,” he finally answered. Sammie raised her brows.
“You made it?” She sounded impressed. Kieran chuckled.
“It’s nothing special. Had mom send me the recipe she always used when I was sick.”
“Well.” She let loose a bemused sigh. “He’s been whining for dinner for the last fifteen minutes, so this might be just what we need to shut him up.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” Kieran blurted. His words took Sammie by surprise, and he fought back a cringe. He’d spent the afternoon making the soup, thinking the whole time about how he wouldn’t even be making a guilt-soup if he’d kept his head in the game the night before. “I wanted to ask you to come with me, but you usually work on Mondays, and you’ve got enough on your plate as it is so I didn’t want to saddle you with my need for an emotional support person while I apologize to your brotheragain.” Kieran clamped his mouth shut to keep from rambling on.
Sammie blinked at him.
It was cute, the way her eyes went round, the lightest shade of pink tinting her cheeks.
“Not sure what all being an emotional support person entails, but I’m happy to be of service.”
It was Kieran’s turn to blush. It was silly, he knew, but he’d been nervous all afternoon. And the idea of Sammie being there… Well, it felt like a security blanket. Kieran wasn’t sure when she’d begun to feel like that for him, but he couldn’t deny it now. Not after texting with her the night before had calmed his heart almost as much as the words Coach Rodriguez had offered him.
