I know. I've been watching film since before you could skate.
Rhys:
aggressive. also wrong. i was skating at six too.
Jamie:
yeah but i was better than you.
Rhys:
Doubt it. :)
Jamie:
Pay attention.
Rhys:
i am paying attention. i'm also texting you. You’re the one flirting
I look at the screen.
Rhys:
also you have that line on your forehead again
I put my phone face down on my knee.
Pick it up.
Jamie:
Stop looking at my forehead.
Rhys:
hard to stop looking at you in general
Three seconds.
Four.
I put my phone in my pocket and stare at the screen andabsolutely do not look at him, which is extremely difficult because I can feel him right there — his knee pressed against mine in the dark — and he leaves it there and so do I and the film plays and I retain none of it, for the first time. After, when everyone's filing out, he leans over.
"Weak side center," he says. Right at my ear. His breath against the side of my neck. "We exploit it Friday and we win."
"I know," I say.
"Just making sure." He pulls back and looks at me. "You're cute when you're pretending not to listen to me, you know." I open my mouth to respond, but he’s already gone. The locker room empties fast after film. Guys have places to be, a weekday night to get to, lives outside of this building that I sometimes forget people have.
I stay. I always stay behind to review some more or discuss film with Coach. I'm doing exactly this and going through notes at my stall when I hear him behind me. I didn't realize he was still here. I thought he'd left with the others.
"Nash."
I turn around. He’s across the room, leaning against the opposite lockers with his arms crossed, watching me with an expression that makes my chest tense tightly. He’s been looking at me for a while, I think. Long before I turned around.
"Everyone's gone," he says, like it’s a secret.
