“Got you covered, Jeeves.”
As he collects his things, he hits the back of his hand against the palm of the other.
I’ve known him long enough to know that means he’s nervous, probably about to ask a girl out. Still no Sophie. I’m usually better at guessing this kind of thing. I point to the Tic Tacs on my desk.
He grins. “Back atcha, man. Even a good wingman from here.” He dumps a couple Tic Tacs into his palm and pops them in his mouth. “Later. See you at practice.”
“Go route tonight?”
“Yes.” He points at me, quarterback-style.
We’ve been perfecting that route. Football is my favorite intramural sport, and it’s particularly rewarding this year with a certain new observer on the sidelines. Besides that, though, I want Austin to feel comfortable to pass more often when his knee is bugging him. He needs someone to look out for him more than most because he’s sacrificial to a fault.
Haymitch whizzes down the hall on his bike, yelling to everyone in his drawl, “Practice at seven! Don’t forget!” Never a dull moment on the floor.
I need to talk to Haymitch and Mateo. Now that I found a spot for our upcoming prank on Club, we should go over strategy and timing for building our pulley contraption in increments. We won’t be able to carry 2x4s into the gym while people are walking around.
My gaze falls from the doorway to the cookie waiting on mydesk, covered in chocolate shots and wrapped to perfection by Miss Evelyn. The right message for the note has eluded me, so it’s still sitting there, begging me to make a fool of myself. Two gifts a week sent to a girl who won’t go on a single real date … I’ve never been so much like a stalker. But Sophie assures me Kit adores my little presents, so I continue. Kit bends toward me eagerly as her deep blue eyes smile into mine—she’s not exactly waving me off.
My computer is sitting ignored on my lap. I won’t be getting anywhere with this race condition until I have a clear mind, so I go to my desk. Time to write something and reset my focus. I tap the lid of my favorite fountain pen on the desk as I consider. Poetry? Not in my wheelhouse. “From Levi”? Boring. A compliment? Only if it has nothing to do with how she looks. Something funny? She likes movie quotes.
If I could only solve the riddle of Kit’s hang-up about me, I could use these notes to answer the underlying question she holds. Is it my money? Do I seem pretentious since the Matt thing? Is it the bad experience she mentioned early on? Sometimes she looks scared for a minute. Nervous is an honor, but scared I hate. I want her to feel safe with me, valued, protected.
Those eyes betray that she’s attracted to me—such a pleasure—but something else lives there too. The confusing anger is a thing of the past, but lately I see a hesitancy, almost like guilt.
And then I have her rare but harrowing reactions to consider. It must have been the loud noise that sent her into a panic and jetting out of our study date. My gut says she endured something terrible. Kit is private like me, so uncovering the truth may be a lengthy endeavor. Still, the mystery is a challenge I accept willingly. She’s well worth the effort.
Leo appears in my doorway.
“Hiccup, what’s up, man?”
He scratches the back of his neck. “Hey Jeeves, sorry to ask, but I need a favor. You hang out with Sophie, right?”
I want to laugh but maintain my composure. I would never break Kit’s confidence. “Ido.”
“I think she might like me. I mean, that sounds stupid, right? She’s so fun and cool and pretty. But she’s been coming up to me and trying to talk to me and stuff. Dude, I just clam up every time. It’s the worst. And now”—he drops his hands in defeat—“now I’ve completely stopped talking to her.”
I motion for him to sit on my couch. Kit looped me into her shenanigans and said she might want further help, but what if Austin decides he wants a chance with Sophie? He’s dating everyone but her, won’t even admit to liking her. Plus, Austin is a legend. He could best this kid with a single smile if he decided to. I bounce my heel on the floor. I’ll help Kit with this but unwind it if Austin changes his mind.
“I just need to send a quick text,” I say.
I’m all too happy to have a valid reason to text Kit. I’ve been resisting the urge to text her so this doesn’t become a text-only relationship. I suspect it would go deep fast and get weird between us in person. I’m in for the long game and can’t afford that result, even if sometimes I have to wait for days to have a private conversation with her.
Hey, friend. I have a lead on your Hitch situation. Mind if I cover this one?
I lock my phone and set it on the desk. It lights up, and I grab it like the last tray-passed salmon puff. Woah there. I’m a bit overeager.
That’s amazing, Levi, thank you. I trust you.
She trusts me. My desire to help is amazing. She uses commas in her texts.
I reluctantly release the phone and face Leo. “The right girl can make a guy act like an idiot.”
“Yeah, exactly,” he says with emphasis.
“I know the feeling, man. How can I help?”
He lets out an incredulous laugh. I appreciate his well-timed confidence boost. Kit’s had the opposite effect on me.
