He cocks his head. “Really? The only thing that got me out of bed this morning was knowing we had D&D tonight.”
He’s talking about band. Like any sane person would assume.
“I’m…I guess I’m pretending like yesterday didn’t happen.”
“They should have canceled the competition or delayed it or something. The field was way too muddy for us to be out there. It was like marching through swampland.”
“I couldn’t make out the yard lines,” I admit. It’s so weird to be talking to Max about this like we’re part of the same team instead of mortal enemies.
“No one could. It was impossible. One time I could have sworn I was on the forty, but it must have been the forty-five because Sock’s tuba almost knocked me to the ground.” He chuckles and pops open a jar of salsa.
“Better than me.”
He turns to face me. His wavy curls are messy today. I’ve always had a thing for his hair. I frown and stir the ground beef quicker.
“What do you mean?” he asks. “What happened?”
“If you don’t already know, then there’s no way I’mtrusting you with that information. You’ll turn around and use it against me Monday.”
I say it in a lighthearted way, not as an accusation, but Max falls back like I shoved him.
“I wouldn’t do that. Why do you always assume the worst from me?”
“Because you taught me to.”
“Just tell me. I’m not going to stab you in the back.” He steps closer and wraps a hand around my wrist to pull me toward him. “I told you I was sorry before and I meant it. What else do you want me to do?”
“Fine!” I take a breath and step away from him. I can’t think when he’s so close to me. “I fell yesterday. I was running to the sideline for one of our flag switches, and my foot slipped, and I fell. On my face. And the ground was so disgusting that mud smeared all over my chin and went up my nose, but I got my flag, and I marched back out on the field anyway because that’s what captains do.”
I cross my arms over my chest defiantly.
“The mud went up your nose?” His lips quirk like he’s trying not to smile.
“All the way up.”
“How…” His mouth screws up even tighter. “How’d you get it out?”
“I just kept trying to blow air out of my nose. I was able to shoot the last chunk out right before Nova’s solo.”
I stare him down, trying with all my might not to break, but neither of us is that strong. He bursts out laughing and I do the same. He folds in half at the waist, laughing so loudly I think he might choke from lack of air. I’m not much better. Ilean against the counter and wipe tears from my eyes. Saying it aloud for the first time really puts into perspective how ridiculous that performance was. I was marching through a field with so much mud in my nose that I had to breathe through mymouth.If I can’t laugh at that, then what’s the point?
“No nachos for me,” Max says when he can stand upright again. “My stomach is too cramped from laughing.”
I gesture emphatically at him. “Now you know why I didn’t want to tell you. It was so bad. And you’ll have this information to use against me whenever you want.”
“I’m not going to use the information against you, whatever that means. I can’t promise the rest of my section will follow suit, especially with Brody at the lead, but I’m done. I don’t want to fight with you anymore.”
My heart picks up in a staccato rhythm. I don’t know what to say other than to make another joke. “Be serious, you stillkind ofwant to fight with me, though, right? I’m pretty sure it’s in your nature.”
“I wouldn’t mind finally kicking your butt at Settlers of Catan right now.”
“An impossible goal when you’re so bad at board games. Set your sights lower.”
He swallows and his eyes trail over me. “I’ve already set my sights very high.”
Just then the front door opens and breaks the spell between us. I turn back to my ground beef—which is well on its way to burnt—and Max messes with the cheese. Li and Felix come into the kitchen, much to my chagrin.
“More Mexican food?” Felix asks as he surveys the kitchen.
