Emmett’s eyes follow the line of my finger to the top. “But it’s gonna be windier up there,” he says, and he’s probably right. We’ve only been out of the car for a few minutes, but already his cheeks are pinking with cold. Then, to my growing horror, he turns to Luc.“Areyou saving seats for anyone?”
Luc’s smile grows just a little, but not enough to reach his eyes, and not nearly enough to bring outLes Dimples.“Nope. Y’all can sit.”
“Yes!” Emmett hisses in triumph, looking back at me. “See? Luc wants us to sit with him.”
If I had a free hand, I’d palm my face. Instead, I mutter anokayand busy myself setting up our bleacher chairs. I try to plunk Emmett’s down just a little further away from Luc so my baby brother isn’t practically in the guy’s lap, but Emmett just hops up and slides the seat right next to Luc before bouncing into it.
He immediately starts jabbering away, talking first about how cold it is. Then about Japanese Macaques who take baths in hot springs to warm up, and wouldn’t it be great if we could watch the soccer game from a hot spring? And then he asks if Luc has ever been to Hot Springs, Arkansas.
“Stop swinging your legs,” Mattie interrupts, trying to make Emmett be still. I strategically placed her bleacher chair next to Emmett’s to give Luc as much distance from me as possible. Even so, I can still hear his and Emmett’s whole conversation, which Luc is contributing to—Lord, bless him—whenever Emmett gives him the chance.
If Luc hates me now, I’m grateful he still treats Emmett with patience and kindness. Beyond grateful, really. I steal a quick glance in their direction and feel a surge of warmth in my chest. Emmett thrives on Luc’s attention, and when I look over, Luc is chuckling at my little brother’s description of geothermal springs and fumaroles, whatever those are. A dimple marks Luc’s left cheek, and I relax a little. If he were only smiling or laughing to be polite, it wouldn’t be there. Whatever Luc thinks of me, he likes Emmett. And it’s no secret Emmett worships him. I’m relieved to see I haven’t screwed that up for either of them.
“Ugh!” Mattie growls at Emmett through gritted teeth. “You’re driving me crazy. Be still!”
Emmett looks up at her, surprised, I can tell, but not contrite. “Don’t blame me. It’s the Cha-Cha-Moo-Moo.”
Mattie scowls. “Don’t start—”
“Cha-Cha-Moo-Moo-Cha-Cha-Moo-Moo,”he chants, swinging his legs in time with each cha and moo.
Mattie fists her hair by the roots.“Grrr.”She reels to face me. “Youhaveto switch places with me or I’m going to punch him.”
“Mattie...” I attempt to cajole.
She just glares. “Switch or I ditch.”
My head jerks back at this. “What?”
“Switch with me, or I’m out of here.”
I stare at her, stunned. “Mattie—”
“Seriously, I don’t see why I have to sit here freezing my butt off on a Saturday morning—the first day of Thanksgiving break—when all of my friends are still asleep. Switch with me or I’m calling an Uber.”
For a moment, I’m speechless. This is my little Mattie? Mattie The Worry Wart? Mattie The Peacemaker?
Mattie, who’s going on fifteen and has more than enough reasons to be angry with the world,I remind myself.
“Sure. I’ll switch with you,” I say softly, pitching my voice several decibels lower than hers, hoping to disarm her. But she jerks out of her seat and elbows past me as I move. My eyes meet Luc’s for a split-second, but he glances away before I can shoot him a look of apology.
So I sit. My sister stews on one side of me. My brother rides his sugar high on the other. And beside him, the guy whose face I nearly kissed off a week ago won’t even look at me.
And the game hasn’t even started yet.
Chapter Fifteen
LUC
Millie doesn’t wantto be sitting here. It’s written all over her face. And why would she? I might maul her again.
“Idon’twant this.”
She’d said it twice. Made that damn clear. The look in her eyes had felt like a guilty verdict. And Iwasguilty. I broke every one of my rules with her in the span of three minutes. Everything about professionalism. Boundaries. Respect.
Restraint.
A part of me wishes she would fire me. Then I wouldn’t have to come face to face with my failure every day. My failure to be the man I thought I was.
