AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yep. Mom’s decided that I need my favorite cookies to feel better about the breakup.”
Jay frowned. “And she thinks you still need them?”
“Apparently.”
“But you don’t think you need them anymore?” Jay asked.
“No. I think I’ve moved on, and now I’m afraid if she makes them right up until Christmas, I’m not going to like them anymore.”
“Tell your mom that if she doesn’t stop making them soon, when Christmas comes, you won’t be able to eat your favorite cookies without being reminded of a sad time in your life.”
Janessa wasn’t wrong. Already he was getting a little sick of the cookies, which was why he’d brought almost all the ones his mom had given him, and he planned to leave as many as possible with the Halversons. “I’ll mention that to her this weekend.”
“It’s sweet how much your mom cares for you,” Janessa said. “And I’m sure she’ll understand if you explain it that way.”
“Or maybe ask her to make you a different kind of cookie,” Misha suggested. “One that isn’t as tied to your… difficult time.”
“Just not chocolate chip ones,” Jay said. “None can measure up to Denise’s.”
“I think I’ll ask her to make… snickerdoodles.”
“That’s a brilliant choice,” Janessa said. “I like snickerdoodles, so if you bring them, I’ll enjoy eating them.”
Jay laughed. “Yeah. Pick a cookie that Janessa likes.”
Will could think of a worse reason to pick a type of cookie. At least then he wouldn’t have to eat them all by himself.
“All in favor of snickerdoodles?” Janessa asked as she lifted her hand. Hands went up around the table, Charli’s holding a cup of coffee. Janessa thumped her hand on the table and said, “Passed. William Jonathan Kennedy, your cookie choice has been approved.”
Will grinned at Janessa. “Excellent. I’ll pass that suggestion on to my mom and tell her it’s Janessa approved.”
“I’m not the only one that approved,” Janessa said. “But I guess Iamthe most important.”
That got more laughs, but Will was inclined to agree that she might be. He wasn’t sure why, but lately, she’d been the one who made him laugh and smile the most. So if she wanted credit for this, then he’d give her all of it.
It was a bit weird. The relationship between him and Janessa had certainly improved. But the odd thing was that things hadn’t exactly reverted to how they’d once been. Their interactions now were a bit… different. And yet, Will couldn’t say that he didn’t like how they were together now.
He wasn’t sure what that meant, exactly, but he couldn’t be bothered to spend too much time thinking about it.
The next day, Will was at the high school gym earlier than most people. Since Jay had started coaching, Will had made a habit of showing up around the same time as Jay and the players before a game. He enjoyed watching them warm-up and listening as Jay prepared the team for the game.
The sound of basketballs hitting the hardwood floor echoed as Will walked into the gym. He headed to the middle section of bleachers, then climbed up to the very top. Since he was there so early, he had plenty of options of where to sit. He preferred the top, where he could lean against the wall.
When Jay spotted him, he raised a hand. Will returned the greeting, then laid the jacket he’d brought with him out on the bleacher beside him. It wasn’t cold enough to wear it, but he’d brought it to save seats for the others. He wasn’t sure they’d all want to sit where he was, but a few might.
Will frowned when he spotted the new kid walk in with his dad. Most parents, when they brought their kids, whether they were cheerleaders or players, headed to the bleachers to find a seat. This man, however, walked with his son to where Jay stood beside the player bench on the opposite side of the gym.
Jay crossed his arms as the pair approached him. His attention went to the teen, then he said something and pointed to the door that led to the changing room. Donny looked at his dad, and when the man nodded, he jogged away from them.
Jay had a few inches on the dad, and Will couldn’t deny that it gave him a small amount of pleasure that the guy had to look up at Jay. The dad started talking, while Jay appeared to say nothing, only turning away to address one of the players who approached him.
Finally, Jay gestured to the bleachers and said something to the man. Will kind of wished he could be a fly on the wall. The guy hesitated before he turned and stalked toward the bleachers. It didn’t surprise Will at all when he took a seat on the lowest row.
It wasn’t long before he spotted the first of the Halversons. Gareth and Aria walked in, hand in hand, followed by Charli, Layla, and Janessa. In previous years, he hadn’t always sat with the Halversons. Daphne had usually joined him at the games, but she didn’t like to sit with them, preferring to hang out with a couple of her friends who also came to the games.
Because of that, he wasn’t sure if the Halversons would sit with him. But when Gareth spotted him, he pointed in Will’s direction as he talked over his shoulder to the others. They climbed straight up the steps to where Will sat.
He picked up his jacket and scooted down a bit to give them room. Janessa walked along the row in front of Will, then climbed over the bleacher to take a seat next to him, giving him a quick smile. Like him, Janessa wore a T-shirt in the school colors with the school logo on it, along with a pair of jeans.
