“Go get me something to drink and bring back some gossip,” Haven instructed as she relaxed into her chair and pulled out her phone.
“Alright, auntie.” I laughed and started toward the open coolers. Small groups of people clustered together. I scanned for Hart while I grabbed a couple of iced bottled waters. When I couldn’t find him on my preliminary search, I texted:
Trying to report for duty. Where are you?
Hart
Sorry! Traffic off campus is horrible. Pulling up now.
I glanced over in time to see David’s silver car pulling into the lot. Hart and Weston hopped out of the back seat while Nathaniel and David climbed out of the front.
I knew it would be far more logical to follow Hart’s journey onto the field. But my eyes cast their voteon David’s easy stride, his furrowed brow. His dark hair fell into his eyes, and he continually shoved it off hisforehead.
David was in conversation with Weston, their expressions far more serious than one may expect during what was supposed to be a low-stakes evening. Hart and Nathaniel broke away from the two, B-lining to the coolers and me.
“You came.” Hart smiled and held his arms up, but didn’t step closer, giving me the final decision to accept the hug.
“Wouldn’t miss it.” I hugged him. He smelled of aloe and spicy aftershave. A bit of his wet hair pressed against my temple, leaving a cool imprint that I tried to wipe away discreetly. I waited for nerves to coil in my belly or for warmth to bloom on my cheeks, or for my heart to race even a little. A full-body scan showed no immediate changes in my body, which wasn’t necessarily a bad sign. No change could mean I was comfortable with Hart. And since I hadn’t gone on a date in forever, comfortable felt good. Safe.
“Yeah?” Hart chuckled at my statement and nudged his chin to a large group gathering on the field. “Have they named the teams yet? The game should start soon.”
“I don’t know; I just got here.” I shrugged. “Haven’t had the chance to ask.”
“I’ll make sure we’re together,” he promised. “Ready?”
“One second.” I waved the dripping water bottle to indicate I needed to make a detour.
Haven smiled, grateful for the water and my presence. “Who should I be cheering for?”
“Me, obviously.”
“I like to be on the winning side.”
I snorted and glanced over my shoulder, looking for Hart, but my gaze somehow immediately locked in on David. He was on the field, hands on his head as he talked to a few people. There was a smile on his face now, small but effective. He looked happy to be there, interacting.
My staring went on for far too long to be normal. David, probably feeling the weight of my gaze, glanced over. Whenour gazes met, his smile faded a little. But I wasn’t offended. The slight change in expression indicated something honest. His chest rose and fell as he took a deep breath before being the first to look away. His group regained the attention I craved.
“You realize you can say hi first.” Haven’s smiling up at me, the rim of her water bottle pressed against her lips.
I frowned and shed my jacket. “What?”
“To your fake boyfriend. You’re allowed to say hi first.”
“I don’t need to say hi.” I tossed the jacket beside her, and she tugged it onto her lap, using it as a blanket. “I talk to him all the time. All day through text, in fact.”
“And yet you really want to do it some more.” Her smile would annoy me if it didn’t reveal her cute dimples and make me want to pinch her cheeks.
“Film me?” I needed to change the subject, stat. “I want a record of doing something that’s not inside school walls so the next time my family complains about my nose being in a book, I have ample evidence.”
I tossed her my phone and jogged back to the field. Hart was easy to find with his broad shoulders and height. He was also looking for me, which was plenty of reason for a spark to run up my spine or breathing to take a brief intermission. Neither of which happened but it was still early.
“You, Nat, and I are blue.” Hart smiled wide. He offered me a blue vest that smelled of sweat and grass. I tried not to wrinkle my nose, swallowing down a “no, thanks” when I saw everyone else tugging on their vests without protest.
“What’s the game?” I clicked myself into the vest.
It was Nathaniel’s quiet voice that explained, “Flag football.”
“Fitting,” I murmured.
