AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She paused. Blinked at me. “O-okay?”
“Okay.”
Another pause. “I admit, I thought that would take much more convincing. Perhaps even sexual favors.”
I laughed. “Maybe I should change my answer.”
“No, no don’t!” She giggled, leaning into me. Her arm wrapped around my biceps and her head came to rest on my shoulder. “Why was it so easy, Remy?”
I rested my cheek on the top of her head. “I’m starting to realize I’d do a lot of things for you.” The words were out before I could reel them back in. I kept talking so she wouldn’t ask more questions. “You’re the first person in a long, long time to believe in me like this.”
“What about your mother? Cass?”
“They believe in me. But they also gave up on me. It wasn’t their fault—I pushed them to leave me alone about it. All I wanted was to close the door on all of that, so they finally let it go and let me pretend like I didn’t want it. But I do. Probably always will. At least if I do this, I’ll have done something. And if I’m honest, it’s easier to do it for you than for me.”
“I understand,” she said softly. “Thank you.”
“Will you come back for tryouts?”
“Of course. I’m sad I won’t see another game before I go.”
“It’s probably for the best. You nearly cost me the last one.”
“Me? What did I do?”
I didn’t want to answer with the whole truth, so I said, “Gave me your panties. They’re my new good-luck charm.”
“Oh my God,” she said on a laugh.
“So if I try out, what are you gonna give me, Duchess?”
“Hmm. I’ll have to think about it.”
“It’d better be good. Top shelf sexual favors at the very least. And you’d better think fast. We don’t have much time left.”
We fell quiet at the mention of her leaving.
She broke the silence. “I was thinking about telling Cass. About us.”
My head swiveled to look down at her even though she couldn’t see me. “Really?”
She sighed. “I’m tired of keeping it from her. She’s my best friend, after all. That, and I’d like to dance with you at her wedding and not leave everyone thinking I’m trying to make Henry jealous. I’ve realized I don’t care a fig about Henry after all.”
“Did you realize this before or after the roof?”
“Before, actually. Over beans and rice with this brutish baseballer I met.”
I chuckled. But my smile fell. “Cass is going to be pissed.”
She sighed. “I know.”
“I mean, pissed-pissed.”
“Yes, I suppose.”
I chewed the thought. “Like, she’ll be pissed for longer than you’ll be here.”
At that, she said nothing for a second, still leaning on my arm, looking out over the town. “That’s probably true.” She sounded so sad, something in my heart fissured.
