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He smiles, kisses me once more, then turns and heads in the direction of his truck.
“Caleb!”
He spins back toward me. “Yeah?”
I hold up the papers. “Thank you. It’s way too much and I’m not sure if I’ll ever spend a penny of it. Butthank you.”
He’s given me options. Choices.Thank youdoesn’t seem like enough, but it’s all I have to offer him.
Caleb nods, then keeps walking. I remain in place. He doesn’t glance back before he disappears around the corner of the farmhouse, and I’m glad.
I know indecision is written all over my face.
CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
CALEB
Coach Thompson catches me sneaking into the room where we hold film sessions five minutes late. I hold my breath when our eyes connect. I’ve seen him make an example out of tardiness before—calling guys up to the front of the room or making everyone stay late. But when I mouth aSorry, he just nods.
He’s trusting me, assuming I have a good reason for being late even after missing whole days of camp. I’m not sure he’d consider driving six hours roundtrip to spend fifteen minutes in Landry a good one. It was irresponsible and selfish.
But I didn’t feel like I had a choice. I was planning to travel to Landry this weekend to give the papers to her, then she unexpectedly showed up last night. As soon as they arrived this morning, I started driving. It felt like a conversation we needed to have in person. I mean, I basically proposed to her.
After our film session ends, I end up at O’Reilly’s with a bunch of the guys. It’s an Irish pub close to campus that serves three-dollar pints on weeknights.
Our large group takes up an entire corner of the pub, but none of the other patrons seem to mind. It’s a mix of other Clarkson students and a few older guys who must live here year round.
“Jessica’s coming,” Drew announces to my left, dropping his phone on the table. Jamie scoffs. The rest of us exchange looks. “Sounds like Sophie and Maggie are coming, too.”
Now I’m the one getting side glances. I realize I never responded to Sophie’s text last week. I’m assuming she’s probably heard about Lennon’s visit, adding to the incoming awkwardness. Jamie confirms when he adds, “I’m sure she’s heard about Lennon’s visit by now. Maggie met her at morning practice, apparently.”
“She did?” I ask.
“Yeah, she said there was some chick with your sweatshirt there.”
I take a sip of beer. I figured Lennon noticed all of the girls in the stands, but she didn’t say anything to me. It’s something we’ve never directly discussed, aside from the few teasing comments she’s made after her friends acted differently around me. Cassie Belmont still clams up around me, and she’s Lennon’s best friend.
Lennon hates being the center of attention, which I often am. And the amount of money I have makes her uncomfortable. In the span of one day, I put her on the spot and handed her a six-figure check.
“Is Lennon visiting again soon?” Jamie asks.
“I don’t know. She’s got a lot going on at home right now.” I leave it at that.
Jamie nods. “I hope she does. You’re funner to be around.”
I snort and take another sip of beer.
“I always figured you were full of shit when you said you don’t resent not being able to hook up with other girls,” Elliot says.
“You’ve obviously never been in love,” I reply.
“Nope,” Elliot replies. “Not interested.”
“Incoming,” Drew mutters.
Sophie reaches us first, wearing a low-cut top that has every guy looking at her. I rub a finger along the rim of my pint glass as she takes a seat on the stool next to mine. I keep my gaze on the table.
“Hey, guys,” Sophie says. There’s a flurry of responses from the guys.
