“Stop,” he grumbles, his ears going pink again. This man is going to kill me, I swear. “I’m not perfect.”
“I think everyone is perfect in their own way. As long as they’re being their true self, and not an evil person, they’re perfect just the way they are.”
He doesn’t say anything, shifting in his seat, but he does cast me a glance. I catch him and chuckle.
“Sorry to break it to you, Latte Boy, but I don’t think there’s anything you could do that would drive me away. Like Val would say, I licked you, so you’re mine.”
He laughs at that, the sound making me shiver in a good way. “Bizarre thing is, she actually said that. Then did it.”
“Wait.” I grin wide. “Are you telling me Val licked you?”
“Yup.” He grunts. “On the damn cheek.”
I start to howl with laughter. “God, that girl doesn’t have boundaries sometimes, I swear.”
“It’s okay,” he says. “It’s Val. I wasn’t offended. I mean, hey, closest thing to my first kiss if you think about it.”
As soon as the words leave his mouth, I see his body stiffen.
He thinks he slipped up, but I want him to know he can be comfortable around me.
“Trust me, when you have your first kiss, there will be less tongue on the face and more inside the mouth,” I say. “Unless you’re drunk. So, no first kisses when you’re drunk. They get sloppy.”
“Thanks for the advice.” He relaxes.
I preen a bit, knowing I helped. Point for me.
We get to the school parking lot, and Blake shuts the car off. “Ah, not sure what to do now.” He rubs the back of his head. “Do you need me for anything? If not, I was thinking of just walking home.”
“No. Don’t walk. Come watch if you want, and after I’m done, I’ll give you a ride back. Or, maybe we can go grab something to eat.”
“Watch you practice?” he asks. “I don’t know.”
He looks out the window toward the field. Fuck. Right. Mickey.
“You don’t have to worry about him.” I place my hand over Blake’s, keeping my voice soft and assuring. “He’s not going tohurt you, not ever again. I’ll make sure of it. You’re safe, Blake. No one is going to hurt you again. I promise.”
His eyes are locked on where I’m touching him, and I curse myself for doing it. But when I go to move my hand away, Blake takes one of his fingers and tangles it with mine.
“Thanks.” His voice is so low, so broken. He won’t look at me, but I can see the tears in his eyes. I don’t want to see him sad, to see him hurt. It makes me want to protect him from the world. To never let anyone hurt him again.
“Soooo, come watch me play?” I ask playfully. “I’ll make it worth it. I know a place that sells killer breakfast sandwiches.”
“Yeah.” He nods. “Okay.”
“Yes!” I cheer.
He laughs, and I call that a win.
Blake heads for the bleachers while I head for the locker room. It’s loud in there, guys laughing and chatting.
“There he is,” Brody says. “Was afraid you weren't going to make it.”
“Nah, why wouldn’t I?” I open my locker, grabbing my gear. Thank god they wash it for us and put it back in our lockers. Otherwise, I’d be fucked.
“Because Ellie told me how wasted you were last night?” He grins. “Not like you to drink on a school night.”
“Whatever, Dad.” I roll my eyes. “I’m a big boy.”
