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Chapter 21
Arianna
* * *
Come Wednesday, midterms are in full effect and caffeine is the food of choice. Most of those on campus are hunkered down with study groups, essays, and a million other things that keep all of us busy and on the go. I’ve seen Cameron twice all week, talked to my brother once outside of a few texts, and while I haven’t seen Noah either, we’ve both found the time to respond to each other’s messages.
Except for today.
Today, I didn’t hear back from him, but they traveled all day yesterday, and this morning played their first early game. I’m not sure what his game day routine is, so I figure he likes to stay busy and focused, and maybe he’d text me later, but then the game ended. Badly.
His receiver fumbled with three minutes on the clock, and the opposing team picked it up, running it back to score a touchdown. If that weren’t bad enough, he was sacked twice in the next drive, and the coach pulled him out of the game when he hopped up limping.
Mason got to go in as his backup, but it was already third down. There wasn’t enough time left, and the Sharks took the loss.
Noah was okay, though, because I watched him walk off the field after interviews.
I tried to text him after the game, but he didn’t answer then either, so I think he might be the sit back and reflect after a defeat type, which is why I’m sitting here staring at Cameron, unsure of what to do.
She cocks her hip. “Well? Are you coming or not?”
“You said they just got home two hours ago. Are you sure they’re partying? Shouldn’t they, like, sleep?”
She scoffs, as she moves to my desk and snags a pair of dangly earrings. “Please, they had midterms just like the rest of us. They’re pissed, tired, and in need of a pick-me-up.”
“Who called?”
“Brady. He said he left you a message too.”
Frowning, I pick up my phone, and sure enough, I have a voicemail from Brady and one from Mason. “They must have called when I was taking out the trash.”
I look at her, and she folds her hands in front of her in a prayer-like motion.
“What if he doesn’t feel like hanging out? Or what if he’s busy?”
“Honey, he will get unbusy when you show up. Trust that.” She stomps like an excited child. “Come on, please! You’re already looking fine, fresh face, hair did, so let’s go!”
Biting my lip, I push to my feet. “Okay, hurry before I change my mind.”
Cameron squeals, throws her arm around my shoulders and we’re out the door.
Less than an hour later, we’re walking up the porch to the football house.
Mason spots us the second we step inside—I’d swear he had GPS trackers on us, if I didn’t know any better.
He steps up, wrapping me in a hug and lifting me off the ground a moment. “My baby fucking sister came to party! Finally!” He smiles, drunkenly, steering us toward the keg in the corner.
I grin up at him, patting him on the back while he fills up a few cups, passing them over.
“How you feeling?”
“Pissed off.” He laughs with a shrug. “But ready to get back out there.”
“Yeah, sucks to be a loser,” Cameron teases, and he playfully flinches her way.
Cameron gets the familiar giggle she always does when Mason shows her attention, but she quickly swallows it.
He pulls his phone from his pocket with a frown. “Be back, my buddy’s here, needs help carrying shit in. Stay away from all these fuckers ‘til I get to tell ‘em you’re my sister.”
I salute him with my middle finger and he smirks, but Cam and I find ourselves two cups deep and still, Mase hasn’t returned.
“I’m beginning to think his friend was a girl.”
“His friend was totally a girl. Oh, shit. Okay hurry, tell me how you want to play this.” Cam squeezes my arm.
“Play what?”
“Bitch—” she hisses.
“I spy Trey.”
She whips around, her grin instant. “Okay, fine. I’m going, but run away or cry and you’re so dead.”
“Wait, what?”
She points two fingers at me as if to say she’s watching me and skips off.
With a laugh, I spin around, and as I face forward, my spine jerks straight. I did not pick up what she was putting down.
Shit is right.
Chase stands not ten feet away, and he’s headed right for me.
A lump instantly forms in my throat, but I force myself to swallow past it.
This is his house, of course he would be here.
Why didn’t I think of that?
“Hey,” he steps up, but before I can respond, he’s wrapping his arms around me in a hug.
My body goes stiff, but only for a moment, and I find myself hugging him back.
I can’t help but inhale as my face buries into his chest, and I’m immediately hit with the warm familiar scent seared into my memory. Suddenly, images of our night on the beach are front and center.
