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“Just record it and watch it when they aren’t around,” Hollie says. I start to object before remembering I told them we record the games, and I silently curse the technology that lets you store a library of shows to watch whenever you want. Now there’s no way I can get out of it.
“Yeah, I guess I could do that.” I give in, regretting that the process of making friends means I’ve just relegated myself to hours of torture.
That thought doesn’t weigh me down long, replaced by the tingly feeling I get when Wes is near. Even though I know it’s so wrong, that knowledge brings a smile to my lips.
Wes
I’mdoingmybestnot to stare at her across the field, though her silhouette in the fading sun is impossible not to notice.
Arms crossed in front of her slender frame, a cup held delicately in her fingertips, hair flowing softly behind her in the light breeze. She’s poised but not stiff, almost contemplative as she watches some of the rowdiness around her. She’s not judging, just observing, occasionally smiling at whatever the girls around her are saying, though rarely speaking. It makes me a little jealous, because I want to be the one to make her smile.
Over the past month, I’ve learned Sawyer doesn’t smile easily. Not that she’s angry or grumpy, but she’s maybe a little distant, guarded, so when she does smile, it’s something special. Real. And it makes me so fucking happy when I can get her to do it.
I really want to know what’s making her smile now, however, it’s best to keep my distance when there are so many eyes around. Sawyer might not be quick to smile, but I know I can’t stop when she’s close, and that’s not something I need or want anyone to know. Instead of going over to talk to her I’m sticking close to my teammates and the cheerleaders they’re enamored with, pretending to be interested in whatever party or movie they’re talking about. No wait, it’s a dance. Homecoming.
Did Carter just ask Devon to go to the dance with him? That would explain why Jessie is looking at me intently. I have no desire to go to the dance with her, and just to make sure no one suggests it I nudge Ryan. “I need another drink, let’s go find one.”
Ryan walks with me as I head toward where we parked the car. “I’ve never seen you have more than one beer a night during the season. Are you changing the rules since you’ve already got your scholarship?”
“No way. I could still screw that up by having a bad season or doing something stupid, I just needed an excuse to get away.”
“From the guys?” His voice doesn’t hide his confusion.
“From the way Jessie's looking at me.”
“Since when do you not like a hot girl sizing you up?” He gives me a horrified look.
“Since Sawyer told me they’ve all been picking her brain about every last detail of my life. It creeps me out.” I shudder just thinking about it.
“Girls ask about you all the time. Every last guy on the team has been asked at least once what sort of movies or music you like, what your favorite food is, or what you’re planning to do for the weekend. Why is it suddenly weird now?”
“Okay first off,” I face him as we reach my truck,” I didn’t realize they did that and it's messed up that you never told me. And second, those aren’t the questions Sawyer gets.”
“What questions does Sawyer get?” His furrowed brow suggests he’s still not following me.
“Do I sleep naked, do I wear boxers or briefs, how big is my junk?” I rattle off the ones I know about.
“Seriously? Why does anyone think your step sister would know that?” Even though it’s a valid question, hearing Sawyer referred to as my stepsister makes my mood even worse. I keep talking like I didn’t hear the question.
“Plus, Jessie invited Sawyer to join the cheerleading team as some sort of weird excuse to get closer to me, and I hate that she would try to use Sawyer like that. I don’t have any interest in a girl who would do that crap.”
“Yeah that is kind of shitty.” He drops his empty beer can on the ground and stomps it flat. “Wait, didn’t you just say it was messed up I never told you that girls ask about you? And I’m just hearing about all this question stuff now? What the hell?”
“Come on.” I shake my head. “If I came to you guys and told you I knew every girl in the school was asking around about my junk you’d all give me shit about my helmet not fitting over my ego or something.”
“I totally would.” Ryan laughs. “But then I’d ask why it bothers you, because you can’t tell me you’re oblivious to the fact that girls talk about guys like that.”
“Of course, I’m not oblivious to it. I just don’t like Sawyer getting caught up in their creepy conversations.”
“Hey, speaking of Sawyer,” Ryan says with a glint in his eye. “I need a homecoming date. How serious are you about us not going out with her?”
“Deadly.” I try not to glare at my best friend as I say that.
“So, you’d rather she go out with some random guy you don’t know instead of one of us?” He reaches for the cooler in the bed of the truck and grabs another beer from the ice that’s more water in the late evening sun.
“I’d rather she not go out with anyone at all,” I say without thinking.
“You’re taking this brother thing awfully seriously.” He’s too busy wiping his hand on his pants to read into my statement.
