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“Let me guess, your favorite game’s Madden?”
His smile widened. “You know your football video games.”
“I do have a brother, remember?” A brother who would talk nonstop about the new Madden game when it came out every year.
“Do you know who Madden is?”
“He’s a football announcer.”
Kolson grinned again, his dimple appeared. “You’re probably the coolest girl I’ve ever met.”
A spark shot through Autumn’s stomach. No guy had ever said that about her.
“I prefer the NCAA game, but they quit making it.” Kolson took a sip of water.
A new song came on and it was growing noticeably louder, making it hard to hear.
“Do you want to go outside?”
Kolson put his hand on her arm. Her stomach flipped. She nodded. She looked behind her as they walked out the back door as if Berkely would magically appear. She was glad that her best friend made friends easily wherever they went.
There were a few party goers outside in lawn chairs. But it was much quieter. Kolson pointed toward two lounges next to one another on the patio. There was a large can in between them with several cigarette butts.
“We should play Madden sometime.” Kolson lowered himself onto one of the lounges.
“Yeah, no.” She sat in the lounge opposite him.
“Have you played?” He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees.
“I have and I never win,” she said, “I hate losing.”
“I don’t like losing either,” he said.
A breeze blew through, sending a chill across the sliver of stomach exposed to the air. Autumn wished she was in the hoodie that she’d wanted to wear now.
“Does she belong to you?”
Autumn turned to the new voice coming toward them. Berkley was leaning against the friend Kolson had been talking to. He was propping her up from one side and holding a beer in the opposite hand. “She says she does.”
“Hey friend.” Berkley giggled, then she reached up and honked Kolson’s friend’s nose. She was definitely drunk. Autumn looked at her phone. She normally didn’t lose track of time like this, but it was getting late. “She’s so pretty.”
“Yeah, she’s my friend.” Autumn stood and put her phone in her pocket. “And we better get going.”
“So soon?” Berkley poked her bottom lip out.
Autumn turned apologetically toward Kolson. “I’ll see you Monday.”
“Hey,” he stood with her and grabbed her by the hand. “What’s your social handle?”
“Uh …” Autumn’s face flushed. She didn’t know why she was embarrassed by it. She was the one who chose it.
“It’s autumn studies. No space.” Berkley blurted out as Kolson’s friend transferred her to Autumn. She was choosy about what she shared on social media because of internet safety. There wasn’t anything about her age or where she went to school, but still she wasn’t sure if she wanted him to see that part of her life.
“Really?” He looked up from his phone with a hint of a smirk.
“Yes.” She glared at Berkley. Berkley thought she was being helpful, but she wasn’t. “What’s yours? Your name and jersey number?”
Berkely giggled. “Pitcherpreston55.” Why was Berkley spouting off her brother’s handle?
