I remember where the cameras are, so I park behind her house on the street out of sight.
I check the time, and it’s just past nine. She should be awake.
I walk across the neighbor’s yard, eyeing the house. Her bedroom light is on. I walk across the yard. Here goes nothing.
I look through the slit of the curtain and see her lying on the bed with her phone in her hands. Her black hair is loose around her shoulders.
I tap the glass lightly.
She sits up fast, looking at the window.
When she sees me, her face lights up. And something in my chest locks into place.
“What are you doing here?” she asks, surprised, but smiling like she’s happy to see me.
I pull the screen off. “I’m coming in.”
She laughs, watching me try to fit through the window.
I’m too tall for this. My shoulders barely squeeze through.
When I finally tumble onto her bed, she’s laughing harder.
“Hi,” I say, looking up at her. My legs still dangle a little out the window.
“Hi.” She’s blushing. That perfect shade of pink that makes me want to do stupid things.
I pull my legs through, and she closes the window behind me.
“You can’t be here,” she whispers once it closes.
When she turns, she’s smiling. Flushed. Not mad at all.
“How are you?” I ask. “I heard about last night.”
She shrugs. “It was fine this morning. Normal. I’m okay.”
I sit on the edge of her bed and pull her closer until she’s tucked under my arm.
“Are you sure?”
She nods against my shoulder. “Yeah.”
“What time will your dad be home?”
She shrugs, pulling back slightly. “Probably midnight.”
I check my phone for the time. “We have a lot of time.”
She smiles. Shy. Nervous.
Silence stretches between us.
“How was your game?” she asks.
I grin. “I kicked their asses.”
“You?”
