Page 29 of Wildflowers and Wide Receivers

Sucking in a deep breath, I type the words and press send. My heart is pounding in my chest.

This reaction is so stupid. It’s just a text. A text to a girl who I really like.

Hey, it’s Jonah. I just wanted to say thank you again for buying the candy bar.

“Did you hit send?” Sully asks.

I glare at him like he’s suddenly annoying when he’s anything but.

Tyler chuckles, but still he reaches over and pats me on the shoulder.

“This feels ridiculously like a therapy session.”

“You still going to those?” Sully asks.

“No, I’m not. But Vivi still is. She’s better for sure, but she’s not quite there yet. And I’d like to think that by now I know what to do and what to say to make her happy, but I don’t. She still has down days, and her therapist, I don’t have the answers like she does, and I’m man enough to admit that.”

“How often do you go?”

“We’re down to once a month.”

My phone vibrates in my hand and the screen lights up with Sophie’s name.

Tyler sees it and smirks.

Of course. How could I tell her no. Besides, peanut butter is my favorite.

“What did she say?” Sully asks.

“Nothing,” I tell him. It’s a stupid thing, but I like knowing something that is a favorite to her and I want to keep this to myself.

“She must have said something because you’ve got a stupid grin on your face.”

I ignore them all.

I knew there was a reason I liked you. Great minds think alike.

Has she sold them all yet?

No. She’s sold some to Camille, you, Tyler, Sully, and Camden. Next up, I’m unleashing her at the training facility. I don’t think there will be anything left, but if there are, I’ll cover it.

Personally, I’m traumatized from fundraisers. I was a Girl Scout and had to sell cookies.

Girl Scout you say. Cute little uniform and all?

It wasn’t cute, but yes. The problem was, we were all Girl Scouts in my neighborhood and in the same troop. We were all trying to sell cookies to the same people, so it was stressful. I once had a little old lady tell me no, that the early bird gets the worm, and it wasn’t me.

Stop.

See, traumatized.

So what you’re saying is, you’re a pro at this and next time you’ll take Vivi out? Door to door?

Ha! Not a chance.

Chapter 12

Sophie