Page 231 of Worth the Trip

“Because sometimes, one of us answers wrong.”

“I didn’t.”

Nyla looked back at Andrea. “We both sing.”

I turned toward her.

Andrea smiled. “No pressure. We start in about twenty.”

Then she walked away.

I pointed at Nyla.

“No.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You’re about to.”

“I’m saying we can.”

“I know we can.”

“You sang for Landon Monday.”

“That was different.”

His voice returned easily. My refusal. His equally easy acceptance. The way I later chose to sing because he hadn’t treated no like something he needed to negotiate.

Nyla reached for my hand.

“I’m not pushing you, Noli. If you don’t wanna do it, we don’t. But if you want to, and nerves trying to answer first, that’s different.”

“That sounded suspiciously like Landon.”

“Big Lando got good material.”

“I’m reporting plagiarism.”

“Cite me correctly.”

I laughed and looked toward the stage.

I could say no.

Nobody would punish me for it.

Landon least of all.

I searched for him.

He stood near the field, listening to another coach. As if some part of him had expected me to look, his head turned.

His eyes caught mine.

His brows lifted.

You good?