“Of course.” She turns to fully face me, and I cup a hand over her cheek. “I’ll be back from visiting my dad on New Year’s Day.”
“My show’s on the second,” she says, an apologetic look sweeping across her face.
I place a quick peck on her cheek. “I’ll be sure to be back in time.”
“Are you sure?”
“I won’t miss it, Teeny.”
She tilts up on her tiptoes and kisses me, opening her mouth and letting our tongues sweep and tangle. She sighs deeply, and her lips become persistent and urgent. And this time, she doesn’t push me away.
* * *
The game day bustle hasn’t changed, not even as we head into game six. And as we ride a bus on the hour-long drive to Irvine, it’s entirely filled with loud chitter-chatter and the boisterous excitement of pre-game jitters. The bus finally pulls into the parking lot of University High with a loud sigh, and we all file out, a round of cheers following our exit. As soon as my feet hit the parking lot, my eyes scan over the long row of cars, looking for the same maroon Pathfinder Teeny and Josh share.
That’s when I spot her in the parking lot with her hair tied in the same pigtails she had at the first game, but no sign. She’s wearing a hoodie zipped up to her neck, and when she spots me, she bolts into a sprint right into my arms. I lift her, spinning her in a dizzying twirl and she squeals.
“You made it,” I whisper into her ear.
“I did.” I set her back on solid ground and peer over her shoulder.
“So, no sign?”
She smiles smugly. “I have something better.” She takes a step back and swiftly unzips her hoodie. She flashes me with a big sparkly red and gold eight colored with some patterned fabric and puffy paint. Teeny beams at me with a proud smile.
My face lights up too, and I give in to the urge to kiss her. Right there, in front of the entire basketball team, including Teeny’s brother. A loud whoop sounds around us, and Teeny laughs against my face.
“Sounds like we have an audience.”
I stand back, taking in the shirt she’d made herself. Spent time planning and painting and drying. “I can’t believe you did this,” I say softly, still disbelieving of this enormous gesture that makes me feel like I could move mountains.
I’m suddenly shoved forward, a force of brawn pushing me into Teeny. “Stop making out with my sister,” Josh teases. “We have a game to win.”
I lean into Teeny and her face shifts into bliss. Into something so happy, I feel it all the way down to my toes. And my heart feels like it’s going to burst. Like all I ever want in life is to see Teeny like this. Happy and completely elated. “I’ll catch you after the game?”
“Yeah.” Teeny pulls away and lands a soft punch to my arm. “Now go get ’em, tiger.”
My face twists into a grimace. “‘Tiger?’”
“Sport?”
“Ugh,” I respond. “Why is that actually worse?”
“Go, Hayes. Before they have to drag you.”
“I like Hayes,” I tell her, taking a step backward. “Let’s stick with Hayes.”
She rolls her eyes and clamps her teeth on her bottom lip, shoving a hand into my stomach. I throw a wink in her direction, and I feel like I could win this game all by myself. Just me against the whole University High basketball team, fueled by Teeny’s smile.
The entirety of the game—the fast accumulating points, the cheers and buzzers, the fleeting but very noticeable glances at Teeny on the bleachers in the thick of the crowd, the halftime routine—happens in a blur. Next thing I know, the time clock has run out, and the scoreboard is showing Home 81, Visitor 116. By the time I’ve changed in the locker room and walked out into the parking lot, I see Teeny waiting by her car.
“I’ll see you back home,” Josh says in a low voice, patting a hand on my shoulder. He walks past Teeny, never missing an opportunity to annoy his little sister by mussing up her hair. Teeny shoves a hand against his head before he turns to a commotion of guys waiting at a nearby car. With the bus going home only half full, the parking lot is more hectic. Parents and friends picking up some of the guys on the team, waiting to celebrate yet another win. I see Josh walk onto the bus, leaving Teeny all to myself.
“Hey.” I come to a stop in front of Teeny’s car, dropping my duffel bag to the ground.
“Hi.”
“Josh isn’t riding with us?”
