Page 82 of Last First Kiss

She twists around to ask, “Did we miss much?”

“I hope not,” Suraj says. He waves eagerly in Mikah’s direction.

Jordan’s silent, more concerned with what Kami did or didn’t see five seconds ago.

Clearly, Jamie’s unaffected.

“Nope,” he says. “Only that number eight’s great.”

Another chant of “Let’s go, number eight!” echoes in the air.

“Wow.” Kami clutches her chest, shocked. “I didn’t know Mikah had so many fans.”

Jamie beams. “He’s their fave.”

Politely, Jordan elbows Jamie to stop him from glaring over his shoulder in Sunburn Guy’s direction.

“Thanks for being here, Jordan,” Kami says. “You too, Jamie.”

Jamie throws an arm around Jordan’s shoulders. If he notices Jordan’s stiff posture, he doesn’t mention it. “We wouldn’t miss this for anything.”

“Yup,” Jordan says roughly.

He lets himself get drawn back into the game. Mikah steals the ball from the other team. Jamie shouts as loud as Kami. But nothing’s noisier than Suraj whistling. When Mikah’s team scores, Jordan finds himself on his feet with everyone else, clapping like a maniac.

It’s not the cleanest game. The kids have more grass stains than goals. But Jordan can’t get enough. It’s the kind of low-stakes intensity he misses about youth sports. Where winning seems secondary to making someone in the bleachers proud of you.

By the end, one thought settles into Jordan’s overheated brain:

Not once did he shrug Jamie’s arm off his shoulders.

“MVP! MVP! MVP!”

Suraj hasn’t stopped chanting since the end of the game. While parents and guardians gather their exhausted players, he holds court centerfield. Mikah’s perched on his shoulders, laughing.

This is their third victory lap in five minutes.

Near the bleachers, Kami hugs herself, watching them. Her smile’s cheek-achingly wide.

Jordan’s is too.

He only ever gets to see Mikah and Suraj together at themonthly family dinners Auntie Leena hosts. And that’s if Suraj isn’t working a shift at the hospital. He tends to be quieter, more subdued around the other Carters. Like he’s still trying to win them over. But not here.

Here, Suraj is loud. Uninhibited.

He twirls Mikah around like a helicopter. Smacks proud kisses to his forehead. He doesn’t hesitate to hoist Mikah back onto his shoulders for another lap when Mikah begs for more.

It’s nice. Different. In a good way, of course.

“Someone’s happy.”

Jordan jumps, startled by Jamie’s singsong voice. But when he looks, Jamie’s atKami’sside. He bumps her shoulder.

Her nose wrinkles with embarrassment. “Please, stop.”

“No, come on. This is great,” Jamie says, arm flung around her tense shoulders. “Kamila Carter in love is my favorite thing!”

“Shut up.”