I let him have it. "Center. Where do you think I learned all my bad habits?"
The corner of his mouth twitches. For a second, he just pushes his food around his plate. Then he says, carefully, "You know,Coach wanted you at center when you first transferred."
"What?" I frown. “Why didn't he put me at center then?"
Jamie stares down at his plate. Because apparently whatever's about to come out is hard enough that he can't look at me while he says it. "Because I asked him not to."
I blink. "You what?"
He lets out a deep sigh before responding. "I asked him to put you on wing instead."
"Why?"
He finally looks up. And for the first time all night, he looks nervous. Actually nervous. "You were distracting me."
I laugh because that's obviously a joke.
Jamie doesn't laugh back.
My smile slips.
"Oh."
"Yeah."
Neither of us says anything for a second. I can practically see him regretting this conversation in real time.
"You changed my position because I distracted you?"
His face goes red.
Jesus Christ.
Captain Jamie Nash is blushing.
"I didn't change your position."
"You absolutely changed my position."
"I made a suggestion to Coach."
I can't stop smiling. "Because I was distracting."
He points his fork at me. "Don't make this worse, it’s hard enough without you being an asshole. I’m trying to say I’m sorry. Anyway, I talked to him and he switched you to center, where you belong."
"Jamie."
His eyes narrow. "Rhys."
I grin. "You had a crush on me!" He immediately reaches for his glass. And somehow that answer tells me everything.
"No, and stop smiling. I just couldn’t concentrate with you constantly talking."
"Oh my god, you changed my position because you had a crush on me. I can’t believe it."
His lip lifts at the corner of his mouth.
He sets his fork down carefully.
