Connor nodded, and I suddenly worried he was rethinking everything. When he took my hand, my breath caught. “I want to give things a try between us, Mads,” he said.
“Me too,” I agreed.
His smile reappeared. “But I’d like to wait a few days if that’s okay. I don’t want this associated with my breakup with Lauren.”
“I understand,” I said, then gestured to the flatscreen. “Shall we?”
“Yes.” He squeezed my fingers before letting go. “We shall.”
***
My club team was thrilled when Connor made an appearance at our scrimmage on Saturday, and spent warmups checking him out. “Mads, does he have a girlfriend right now?” one of my teammates finally asked during shuttles.
“Yes,” I said matter-of-factly. “Me.”
And even though their hopes were dashed, they squealed like fangirls…which wasexactlyhow Austin had reacted before his Jackson Hole flight took off yesterday. “Jeez, Austin!” I’d pulled my phone away from my ear. “You just gave me some serious heart palpitations.”
“Sorry. I’m sorry,” he quickly said. “But this is so great, sis. He’s yourbest friend.”
“I know,” I mimicked him.
“I have to go,” Austin said. “My zone is boarding now.” He sighed. “I’m so happy for you, Mads. This is the way it should be.”
Samira echoed him in her texts; funnily enough, she was also about to fly somewhere.That’s amazing, she’d written.I can’t wait to see you two together!
Meanwhile, Da and Dad had spent half the drive to my game explaining new guidelines now that Connor’s and my relationship had shifted from friends to more than friends. “No sleeping over unless you are in the guest room,” Dad said, “or on the couch with the dogs.”
“And if you’re in Mads’s room, Connor, her door must be at least halfway open,” Da added. “No more closed-door movie nights.”
Our first official date was that night; Natalie had invited Connor and me to her hockey game, and he asked if I’d like to get dinner nearby. The only reason I hesitated was because Natalie’s game was at Princeton’s ice rink.There are so many restaurants, I reminded myself as I tried on a third sweater.You aren’t going to run into him.
Slime suddenly coated the roof of my mouth. I hated that I worried about seeing Marco. Who cared? Who freaking cared? Connor and I had finally had our “You Belong with Me” moment. Even Marco himself had said that he thought we’d be good together. At least, I think he had.
Maybe.
I was alsohappy; I was happier than I’d been in a while.
We went to Winberie’s Tavern for burgers, and it was close quarters with all the Princeton students crowded around us. We were practically dining with the couple next to us. “Are you two freshmen?” a burly guy asked us.
Connor and I shared a silent snicker. “Yes,” he said, taking my hand. His palm was warm against mine.
“Cool, cool,” the guy said and then introduced himself and his girlfriend. They were juniors. “Where’re you living?”
“We’re both in Forbes,” I answered as Connor excused himself to go to the bathroom. I reluctantly let go of his hand, using it to ward away the midnight memory of me at Wawa—refusing to let Marco walk me back to Shelly’s room.
“Oh, yeah, Forbes,” he said. “That’s…” He dropped off, bursting into laughter at something over my shoulder. “Dude!” he called out. “What the hell?”
“Seriously!” an excruciatingly familiar voice called back. “Bit early in the night, don’t you think?”
My stomach soured hearing Marco’s footsteps come closer. “What’s the deal?” his friend asked when he’d reached their table.
But Marco didn’t answer; instead, his face slowly drained of color, which made the burgundy stain on his shirt even more startling. Had someone spilled their drink on him? It reminded me of Stone Harbor this summer; his mother’s sangria had left him flushed, his face scarlet.You are my favorite person, you know?he’dsaid after Connor had gone to bed. We were stretched out on the screened-in porch’s ropey rug, listening to the ocean waves crash against the beach. My feet were on his lap, and I’d gently kick him every time he made me laugh. He was still kind of drunk.I mean it, Mads. Not only my closest friend, but honestly, myfavoriteperson…
I was so obliviously obsessed, I thought.So obliviously obsessed with him to see how obsessed he was with me.
Now, I wanted to get up and leave, but my stomach growled in protest. Connor and I hadn’t gotten our food yet.
“Long story,” Marco said, snapping back to attention. “I’ll tell you at Tower later.”
