“Not anymore.”
He smiles faintly. “I’m glad.” He’s quiet for a moment. “Because I brought up those game nights for a reason.”
I look over at him in confusion.
“I’ve been thinking about how boring or miserable those nights could have been when we were younger. Being left at a random house every weekend while my parents had fun downstairs, having to kill time with some kid I didn’t know. When they first brought it up, I begged Mom to let me stay home alone instead. But then we hung out, and I never complained to her again. It was anything but miserable hanging out with you.” His eyes rove over my face. “We’re competitive and stubborn, but it worked between us anyway. We’ve always worked, Hazel.”
My heart speeds again. Max turns onto his left side and I turn on my right, but the netting is awkward and we both tip into each other, as if we were lying together on a regularhammock.
I giggle nervously and try to scoot back so I’m not pressed against him, but he puts a hand on my hip to stop me.
“If you aren’t interested in me as more than your competitive friend, then that’s okay. But I’ve missed everything about you. There’s no one else in the world like you, Hazel. I’m still hoping there’s something I can do to win you over.”
It’s as if his words are an electric jolt, racing through the length of my body. My world narrows until all I can see is his face. I can barely believe this is happening. I’ve spent the last five years waiting for these exact words.
“You won me over when I was twelve,” I whisper. “I’ve just been waiting for you to notice.”
His eyes flare wide in surprise at the same moment that I lean a bit closer to him. The netting pushes us together farther, and our lips brush. His hand squeezes my hip, and he deepens the kiss. Fire rushes through me, hot and wild and electric. Kissing Max is what I expected in the best possible way, and also so much more. The slide of his hand up my back, his breath in my mouth, the sound he makes when I shift closer against him. It makes me feel like I’m floating. I think I am.
A few moments later I pull away, although it’s hard to do that when the hammock material seems designed to tip us closer together.
“Are you okay?” Max asks breathlessly. His gray eyes are warm, and his expression is hungry, but it fades as he studies me. “Do you need off of here?”
He moves to sit up.
“No.” I put a hand on his chest. “I don’t want to go.Actually, I wanted to tell you that this netting thing was a really great call. Although I wouldn’t call it relaxing. My heart won’t slow down.”
His mischievous expression returns. “Sorry, but I don’t think I can help you with that one.”
Then he leans closer and presses me back, and everything but him fades from my mind.
Chapter Twenty-Six
I can’t stop smiling for the next twenty-four hours. I probably look scary. My parents keep giving me sideways glances and even Kelsey asks me why I’m so happy all of a sudden. I just shrug and say I’m in a good mood. And I am. My time with Max plays on repeat in my mind. The way he looked at me, as if he couldn’t possibly believe his luck. As if I was what he wanted the most in the whole world.
I’m staring down at my bagel sandwich with a stupid smile on my face when Mom clears her throat and points at the calendar hanging on the kitchen wall.
“I can’t believe October is around the corner. Soon you’re going to have your last regional band competition and then state.”
That wakes me up from my blissful stupor. “If the band qualifies for state, you mean.”
“Of course you’ll qualify.” Her lips press into an aggravated frown. “Glen Vale has performed at state every year forthe past eighteen years. This isn’t going to be the moment it all falls apart. Not when you’re a senior.”
A wave of nausea rolls through me, and I push my sandwich away. I wish Mom’s grim determination was enough to guarantee us a spot. Going into this year, making it to state hadn’t even been a concern for me. But now, with only one competition left, all the pressure is on. Devastated doesn’t begin to describe how I’ll feel if we don’t qualify.
“It won’t fall apart, Mom,” I say quietly.
“I know it won’t. You won’t let it. How are those synchronized drop spins coming?”
“They’re coming along.”
Translation: At least one person is off almost every time we practice,butthat’s better than several people being off.
“And how about the Most Valuable Member award? I can’t think of anyone more deserving.”
With everything going on, I’ve barely thought about my chances of winning that award…and honestly, I don’t care as much about it now. It would certainly be an honor, and Mom and Dad would be over the moon, but do I need it? I’m not as certain as I once was.
“Right now I’m trying to focus on prepping for our last regional competition,” I finally reply.
