Just seeing this now, I couldn’t have my phone on. Today’s been big for me. Will read all your previous messages later.
See you tonight.
Today was big for him? Talk about an impressive adjective. Big. The word simple, yet vulnerable, for a guy like him.
“When a stoic texts you their day’s been big, what do you think?” I asked Haven. I was doing the most, but it alwaysmade everything a little more fun that way. I glanced at her through our bathroom mirror. She was kind enough to help with my wash day, putting my hair into mini twists to tide me over until my next appointment.
“That their day was big.” She shrugged, too disinterested to delve into a conspiracy with me. “What did he do this time?”
“Nothing. After nearly twenty-four hours of ignoring me, he said he’ll see me tonight.”
“Do you want to stage a fight?” she asked. “I’m still down to be your fake rebound girlfriend after your fake last-minute boyfriend.”
I took a breath, trying to pretend to be put out by this whole endeavor. But the memory of David’s relaxed smile while we were in his apartment planted a seed of endearment in my chest. I’d grown dangerously fond of the idea of having him by my side for dinner. If not for anything but the chance to give me an entertaining sparring partner.
“Let’s leave that option open.” I reached for a hairband to tie the twists up, but Haven placed her hand over mine, stopping me.
“You have some serious breakage.” She gently pressed two fingers on the crown of my head. “Right here. I know they’re your signature, but you'd better cool it on the high ponytails.”
I smiled, doing my best to keep my embarrassment to a minimum. I hadn’t checked the spot in weeks. In fact, I actively ignored it.
I’d shoved David’s observation that I had OCD into a corner along with the picking. I’d happily keep it there if this weren’t the second time someone had brought it up.
Two people knew about the spot. One was a guy who often thought of ways to ruin me mentally. And the other, my best friend, who didn’t yet sense the red flag, but once she did, would surely implement a six-part recovery plan. I didn’t havetime to war with the two greatest fighters I knew, so I decided I was quitting cold turkey.
“Are you driving, or should we take the bus?” I slipped on an oversized jean jacket that Haven was letting me borrow. It was a little too stiff for my liking, but the casualness was a necessity since I was trying to impress Hart. I wanted to show him another side of me that didn’t involve academia, because he was a cute guy with a romantic interest in me. And I could work with that. I wanted to work with that. I’d love to break out of the monotony of university life and have something else to think about for once.
“Driving,” she said. “I need to see if the battery’s holding up. The best place to break down is on campus.”
I nodded in agreement. It didn’t take her more than a few minutes to tuck her hair into a headscarf and dab a bit of pink blush on her cheeks.
By the time we got to the location Hart had sent me, most people had arrived. The soccer fields were muddy from the earlier evening rain. No one seemed to care as they set up their lawn chairs and coolers. There were hordes of gaming supplies, things like tug-of-war and ring toss.
“It’s actually a field day.” I crossed my arms over my chest, examining the set-up.
“What were you expecting?” Haven tugged a lawn chair out of her trunk, along with her own mini cooler and a baseball cap.
“For it to be a metaphor. An excuse to drink and aimlessly kick a ball around before campus security told us to leave.” I gestured to the cap. “How are you going to get that over your scarf?”
Haven undid the back clasp and hooked it on her shoulder strap. “Go team.”
I laughed. “Why?”
“I can have school spirit, can’t I?”
My shoulders sagged when I realized what that meant. “You’re not playing any of the games?”
She gave me a smile and dragged her chair behind her toward the field.
I hurried after her, giving up on finding a step to take that didn’t result in a muddy sole. “Then you didn’t have to come just because of me.”
Haven laughed and whipped her chair open. “How presumptuous. I may or may not be interested in socializing.”
“You want to socialize with football players?”
“They’re very close to the girls on the softball team.” She flipped open her fan with dramatic flair.
“Ahh.” I smiled as I watched her take it all in. The sunset, the open field, the short shorts.
