February 14
Brackenridge Off-campus Apartments
"Come on, we're going to be late,” Kanami hollered from the other room.
I crushed my eyes shut, as if that could block out my roommate's voice. Lumps formed in my stomach and chewed holes through my insides. This was an epically bad idea.I don’t want to go."It’s going to get rained out,” I shot back and tucked my arms into the warmth of my comforter.
"No, it isn’t." Kanami poked her head into my room. "Misha’s in charge and she’s ruthless. So put some layers on and let’s get going."
I hid my face in my blanket.Misha's ruthless. Not you?
“Come on, Briella.”
I groaned and sat up, the chill puckering the skin of my arms into thousands of goosebumps. "You sound like mymother." I stood with a sigh, my stomach flipped over; lumps tumbled on top of lumps. I stretched my arms over my head.
"That’s because you’re acting like a child."
I huffed and crossed my arms. "No, I’m being proactive about my health. Softball season starts in two weeks,Captain, and I can't afford to get sick."
One hand on her hip, she gave me a look of ice and steel.
"Thisis acting like a child." I stuck my tongue out at her and threw myself backward onto my bed. I yelled at the ceiling, "I don’t want to go!" and kicked my feet. It felt quasi-ridiculous, but the motion released the lumps building a wall inside my stomach; blood pumped and warmed my bare arms.
My moment over, I righted myself—only to get caught in her gaze. She arched an eyebrow and gritted out, "Feel better."
Was that a question or a command? "Oddly, yes."
"Great. Get moving,Red.We’ve got to go."
Thatwas a command.
"And where the hell is Liesl?" Kanami threw her hands up and pivoted, her dark ponytail waved with the movement. "She said she’d be here by now." Her voice trailed off as she left my room.
Quiet slipped through the doorway, but didn't bring any peace. I inhaled a long, deep breath. The faint scent of juniper filtered in from the trees outside our apartment window.Don't think, just go.I hopped to my feet and padded across the floor to my chest of drawers.
Not dressing up for him.
I unearthed an old sweatshirt, two random socks and fleece-lined tights from the bottom drawer. Got a headstart on warming up my leg muscles by shimmying and dancinginto the leggings. I pulled the bulky sweatshirt over my head, and eyed myself in the mirror. "It's practical. Between the mud and the"—I spotted a hole in the seam of the sleeve—"Suck." I sighed and sat on the end of my bed.What am I doing?
It's Valentine's Day…why does that even matter?I struggled out of the sweatshirt. Static electricity crackled as pieces of my hair stood on end.Smoothing them down, I opened the top drawer and snagged my new, lavender athletic hoodie with thumbholes—a present I bought for myself with the holiday gift card from my parents. Its structured seams accentuated lines and curves while the color, my favorite, actually looked nice with my copper-colored hair.
It washes. It's made for getting dirty.I pulled it on and found the purple socks from my high school uniform—the ones I wore during the state championship tournament my senior year. The color was a little faded, now, but the memories…three years have gone by, and I still remember that day.
My team. The way it felt to slam that ball into deep left field. Score the winning run.
I sat down on the floor and pulled the socks over the base of the tights, then tucked my feet into an older pair of practice cleats.Only two seasons left.
I hugged my knees to my chest, staring at the laces of my untied shoes.He’ll be there.My lungs tightened and that heated, breathless, squirming feeling took root in the pit of my abdomen again.
His breath heavy, his arm curled around my waist. I threaded my fingers with his and closed my eyes—his presence heady despite the fatigue of the past several days.
In the hazy, comforting space, a part of me imagined his fingertipson the skin of my stomach,tracing sensual patterns as his teeth nipped at my earlobe.
Instead, he held me until sleep soaked through my skin, the rest of me drifting off to a dream of what it would be like to wake beside him.
How could I have been so wrong? I shook my head and set about tying my shoes. Just in time for Kanami to slap her palm against the door jamb.
"Found Liesl. She’ll meet us in the parking lot in four.” She poked her head into my room. “How are you still tying your shoes? Seriously? You could have stolen two bases by?—"
