Page 25 of Kickoff

A groan formed in my throat. “I meant girl friend. Not girlfriend.” I swallowed. “Obviously.”

She searched my face as if she was trying to decipher the words I hadn’t spoken out loud. If she looked too closely, could she tell I’d just lied to her and the truth was that the word girlfriend tumbled out of my mouth and it didn’t even bother me because it felt right when I said it? Afraid she could read my thoughts, I skirted her and continued my retreat.

Melinda jogged after me and grabbed my arm from behind, slowing me. “Stop.”

“Nah, I’m out of here. Already told you.”

“What happened?”

“Nothing except Asshat over there.” I pointed behind me where we left Nathan.

“You’re riled because of what went down with Nate minutes ago?”

I muttered something under my breath, not in the mood to explain the extent of my feelings for her and why I was in such a piss-poor state. “I’m done. You should really go back to the party instead of staying here all by yourself since—” I cocked my head and looked at her, losing my train of thought.

We stared at each other for an infinite second. Awareness spread through my body at her proximity.

She let go of her grip on me as if our connection had set her fingers on fire and rubbed her palm over her shirt. “Can I…huh…can I join you? Walk home with you, I mean… I don’t feel like being here anymore either.”

“Fine.” I shrugged. “Whatever pleases you.” I fished my phone from my back pocket and shot my brother a text. “Told Craig we were leaving.”

“Oh…okay. Thanks.”

For the next ten minutes, we walked side by side in silence. The energy between us wasn’t as uncomfortable as I thought it would be. More like charged with something hard to define instead. It felt as if our silence translated the secrets none of our words could, an unspoken conversation nobody else was privy to.

“I thought you hated me,” I said after a while.

“You just saved me from being assaulted. The last thing I feel for you is hate.”

I nodded once.

The night was dark now, thanks to a thick cover of clouds. Not even a sliver of the moon or a tapestry of stars lit up the sky anymore.

The treetops danced, and we heard an owl somewhere in the distance and crickets chirping around us. Our footfalls blended with the night sounds.

The breeze picked up, and Melinda shivered, hugging herself with her arms to keep warm.

“You cold?” I asked.

She turned her head to look at me. “A little. It’s fine, though. I’ll survive.”

Before she could react, I slipped off my hoodie and handed it to her.

Melinda pushed it back with a hand. “Keep it. You’ll be cold too.”

“Nah, I run hot. Don’t worry about me.” I placed it in her arms. “Take it. I insist.”

“Thanks.” She put it on, and on her, it landed mid thigh. Something close to possessiveness flooded my heart.

We continued our stroll, new silence falling upon us.

Our neighborhood looked different in the dark. Other than the one car that passed us, the streets were deserted.

“Are you ready to resume training and all?” Melinda asked when we crossed the park and took the path circling the soccer field.

I shoved my hands into my pockets. “Yah. The guys are ready. Pre-season training has been good. Coach believes we have another chance at State this year.”

“Nice.”