“I don’t know, I’ve read a lot of them….”
“Mmm, still, I’m not sure I’m ready to share that information. Maybe next time?”
“Next time?”
“Yeah, this is our thing now, right? Meeting up at afternoon practice?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I guess it’s our thing.” I cover my face with a hand so he can’t see just how happy it makes me that he said this.
CHAPTER 7
DASH
It turnsout we do not talk about books at the next practice because the next practice is actually a scrimmage. In fact, a huge freaking deal scrimmage. Caleb did tell me it was a whole thing, but he didnotadequately prepare me.
At least I have a roommate who warned me it might be crowded. Which turns out to be like saying Harvey Fierstein might be gay.
I’m late. It’s almost game time as I fight my way through the mob. Fortunately, students get in free, and the special line where you just have to show your ID is moving way faster than any of the paid ticket windows the general public has to use.
The Stags are playing against Holy Heart, the small liberal arts college that’s just fifteen minutes away. And, I mean, I knew there was a historical rivalry between the two schools. But this is insanity.
I weave my way through the lobby and into the arena. It’s so packed, I’m not sure everyone in line right now is actually going to make it in. There’s music playing and the players are skating around on the ice, warming up, I guess. Everyone here for the game is hyped up, loud, and dressed in team colors from both sides, all mixed together in the stands. Not sure whose decisionthat seating plan was. I guess it makes sense since the U and Holy Heart are both local schools. This is definitely a regional event, and judging by what I’m seeing all around me, people have strong opinions one way or the other. This ought to be interesting.
I look around, like maybe I’m going to spot Caleb, but there arethousandsof people here. We should have made more of a plan besides Caleb’s “I’ll see you there.”
That or I should have just asked for his phone number like I wanted to. But he didn’t offer, so I didn’t ask, and now here we are.
What Ireallyshould have done is show up early, like I said I would. I see now why he suggested that. I sigh. Okay, well, I guess my best bet is to check our usual seats, even though I would’ve thought he’d want to be closer to the action for?—
“Dash!”
I stop just a few rows up the stairs and turn to see Caleb waving frantically from the section below where I came in.
I go down and squeeze past the people already sitting in the row to sit beside Caleb.
“Hey,” he says when I make it to him. “I stayed near your usual entrance so I could watch for you.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. If I had realized it was going to be like this, I would have ducked out of my Spanish study group earlier.”
“No worries, I’m just glad you’re here.” He smiles at me with such genuine excitement, I can’t help but feel the same way. I’m not sure how much of his joy (if any) is for me and how much is for the game, but either way, it’s infectious.
My eyes flick down to his lap, where he’s holding the most comically oversized popcorn bucket I’ve ever seen. “Hungry?”
He blushes. “Oh, no. I mean, I thought we could share?”
I grab a handful and pop a kernel into my mouth. “Thanks, that was nice of you. Want me to go grab some drinks?”
He blushes more. “Well, actually, I…” He hands me the popcorn and reaches below his seat, producing two large drinks. “Coke or Sprite? I didn’t know what you’d like. I hope one of those is okay.”
“Thanks. You really didn’t have to do that. I’ll take whichever one you don’t want.”
He bites his lip before handing me the Coke. My God, if he’s not interested in being more than just hockey buddies, he really has to stop being so sweet and adorable. I can’t stand it.
“So, how long have you been here?” I take a sip of my soda.
“Not long. Maybe an hour and a half?”
I cough as the soda goes down the wrong way. “God, I’m sorry. I should have been here sooner.”
