On a couch.
I rest my head against his shoulder and soak in his warmth.
“It’s still a little surreal,” I admit.
“What is?”
“Us being here. Together.”
“Yeah, I know.” He slowly runs a hand up and down my arm. “I’m having a little trouble believing it too.”
“Jude and Chloe were great. They really made me feel welcome.”
“I told you they would.”
“It won’t be like that with everyone else. Your coach. Your parents.”
He shrugs. “Your parents aren’t exactly going to be rolling out the red carpet for me either.”
“Oh, believe me, I know.”
“You sound like you have doubts.”
“Don’t you?”
“Yes and no. I know it won’t be easy but I also know we wouldn’t be here if there wasn’t a reason. We just need time to work through it all.”
“It’s going to be hard to see each other.”
“Yeah. We have practice tomorrow and the next day we leave on a road trip. I’ll be gone ten days.”
I’d forgotten about the long periods of time apart.
“I forgot about the travel. I mean, not entirely, but how extensive it is.”
“Maybe it’s a good thing. Forcing us to talk on the phone, getting to know each other again. We’ve talked about this a lot, but the answers are murky. Like, is blue still your favorite color?”
I laugh. “Nope. Now it’s purple.”
“See?” He’s teasing but he also has a point.
We may have changed in ways neither of us considered.
“What’s yours?” I ask playfully.
“Red.”
“And you still love barbequed ribs.” Somehow, I’m positive this hasn’t changed.
“More than anything in this world.”
We smile at each other.
“And I’ll still eat pasta any day of the week.”
“I really have to take you to Cicero’s.”
“Oh, I go there quite a bit. I love the food. Maria always packs extra for me when I pick up—she says I’m too skinny.”
