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Wait! He’s getting closer!
“Come on, let’s get you up.”
Beckett’s big hands slide under the armpits, and he lifts me off the ground like I’m some sort of doll. His tone is so kind, I almost forget that I just saw him smash another kid in the face with a kickball.
He waits until my feet are firmly planted beneath me before he lets go.
By now James and Tony are standing in front of me, checking out the torn knees of my jeans and the few spots of blood on my hands.
“It’s not so bad,” James smiles. But I know he’s just trying to make me feel better, because I saw his wince.
I nod at my brother, then muster up the rest of my courage to look Beckett in the eye. “Thank you.”
My voice is quiet and wobbly, but Beckett just shrugs. “No problem, Elouise.” Then he turns to our brothers. “You guys got it from here?”
The boys say something in reply, but I don’t hear it.
Elouise. He said my name. My full name!
Sure, our brothers have been best friends forever - and I’ve seen him a few times over the years - but I didn’t know he knew my name. My real name too, not just Lou, like most people call me.
And that night, lying in bed, with neon green Band-Aids on both my knees, I decide that I’m in love with Beckett Stoleman.
