4. G R E E N
FOUR
G R E E N
“Practice started off fine, but then all of a sudden Hart started acting like a bloody ball hog! I swear, sometimes the guy is such a twat, but somehow he manages to make it work on the field? I just don’t get it. I don’t…”
Hazel hardly had a second to peer down at the drink menu of the pub I’d just dragged her out to before I immediately broke into my rant.
I feel bad.
I know this place isn’t her vibe, but right now, I need my two comforts—a pint and her .
“Go on,” she instructs, gesturing for me to continue, knowing there’s more.
There’s always more.
“Well, after that Coach was riding my tail. He was saying I was in my head, which…” I look into her always intentful and watchful brown eyes, “was true. I was . I was completely off my game today.”
“But why?” she asks, tilting her head in confusion. “You’re never off your game, Greenie .” Her voice is as delicate as my nickname falling from her lips.
Greenie.
The truth is, the nickname is a little embarrassing. I’d never dream of letting anyone else call me that but her, but who am I kidding? I’m a sucker when it comes to Hazel Collins. Always have been, always will be.
I release a long-drawn-out breath, using the menu to sink both my head and nerves into it before Hazel pulls it away and tucks it into her side.
“ Waiting .” She flashes an impatient stare, reminding me I’m not going to get away with hiding my emotions so easily. Unlike Wilks, nothing gets past Hazel. Sure, I consider both to be my best friends, but when it comes to Hazel, she’s got this radar. She always knows when something is up with me. She always has.
“It’s just…I’m tired of being single,” I finally own up to the secret I’ve been trying to suppress. “I mean, being single…it sucks. Everywhere I turn, I feel like I’m surrounded by people who are in love. At first, it was Coach and Delaney, and at least back then, I had Wilks to bitch about being single too, but now, he’s got Chelsie.” I slump my shoulders, my head falling back against the cold leather of the booth. “And it’s not that I’m jealous, Haze, I’m not! I’m happy that they’re all in love. Trust me, I am.” I sit back up, using my hands to speak. “It’s just…” I slouch again. “Been a while since I’ve been with someone and I don’t know…maybe I’ve been in a slump wondering why relationships don’t come naturally to me. Like take Hart, for example,” I tell her. “He has no problem getting laid, but me? I overthink it every time I get close and because of that, it’s been months since I brought a girl home, Haze. Months . How pathetic is that?”
The way this topic of conversation has diverted from annoyance to sadness to now downright sexless makes Hazel awkwardly shift in her chair and rub along her arms in comfort.
Usually, we avoid subject matters such as these. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s just an unspoken rule between us, but frankly, I’m tired of holding back. I need someone to rant to, but seeing Hazel so tense and so unsure, it immediately makes me want to scrap my mention of it altogether.
Shit .
“You alright, Haze?” I ask, stretching my arm out across the table, briefly swiping my fingertips along her skin that pokes free from her blouse.
She pulls back.
She never pulls back.
“Hey…” I reach for her once more, wishing there wasn’t a table dividing us so I could scoot in closer to her. Comfort her . “I’m sorry, Hazel. I didn’t mean to make things awkward.”
“You didn’t,” she immediately refutes the thought, yet refuses to make eye contact with me.
“Then what’s up with that sad face?” I’m left searching. “Tell me what’s wrong, bug ?”
“‘Bug?’” She looks up from her lap, creases forming around her eyes as she laughs. “That’s new.”
“I know,” I scoff, unexpecting that was what I was going to call her until it was too late. “It just felt… right . Why?” I ask, curious to know her take on it. “Did you like it?” I joke.
“I didn’t hate it.” Her cheeks flush into a rosy shade of pink. I’m getting mixed signals. “But maybe just stick to Haze. I prefer Haze,” she tells me.
Deep down, I do too.
I’ve always preferred Haze over anything else.
“Fine then.” I decide to completely disband my side of the booth and push into hers instead, wrapping a strong arm around her shoulder before pulling her in tight. “Then tell me, Haze .” I draw out her nickname. “What’s up? Why are you so suddenly sad too?”
She frowns, staring back down at the ground. “It’s nothing.” She settles within my arms, ambient chatter filling the void, but all I can hear is Wilks in my ear shouting, “It’s not nothing! Don’t fall for this trap, Green. Ask her what’s really wrong!”
Thanks for the word of advice, imaginary Wilks, though, even without you, I would've already known not to fall for her pitiful excuse.
Hazel’s my best friend. I’ve known her for so long that I can’t remember a time that I haven’t. The truth is, I never expected that a friendship would blossom between the two of us, nor did I imagine that after our conversation the day we first met, she'd actually follow through on my request, find me the next day and hand deliver a drawing of me— for me.
It was perfect. It was just what I’d asked for.
A simple picture of me, in a football jersey, kicking the ball into the net with the name “Greenie” plastered along the back. I couldn’t believe Hazel had drawn it. Hell, I still can’t every time I look over at the picture as it hangs in my station.
Over the span of fifteen years of friendship, Hazel has drawn me hundreds upon hundreds of things, insisting that her other pieces of art are a million times better than her work at seven years old and that if anything should be hanging up, it should be something new.
I told her I’d swapped it out with something else a while ago just to appease her, but the reality is, I never will.
It’s too special, and although it may not be the best drawing she’s ever done, it will always be my favorite.
As for the photo I promised I’d draw for her in return? Somehow, I’ve managed to put it off over the last decade and a half. I’ll do it one day for her. I made a deal that I would after all, but like everything in life, the timing has to be right. Just like it was when our paths crossed.
I think the universe knew that Hazel and I both needed each other, more so now than ever before. Hazel has always been my crutch, my go-to, and the number one person I can count on.
I’ve learned that when you’ve got something special like that in your life, you protect it, take care of it, and when you feel as though they’re holding something back from you, you gently push when they continue to say, “Seriously, it’s nothing.”
“C’mon Hazel,” I say with a frown, brushing some hair away from her cheek. “I told you what’s up with me. Now it’s your turn. Tell your best mate what’s wrong. Please ?” I pout.
Hazel releases her inner cheek from between the grasp of her teeth and peers up at me. “It’s just…” Her voice is so quiet that I have to lean closer to hear it. “You’re not the only one who’s painfully single out here. I am too, so hearing you talk about how alone you are only reminds me that I’m in the same boat.”
Over the years, I’ve had several girlfriends. Hazel’s known that. Hell, she's even become friends with most of them. Frankly, that was a non-negotiable with any girl I’ve ever been with. Hazel and I were a package deal. Take it or leave it, but never, ever , has Hazel mentioned anyone to me.
Not one boyfriend.
Not one crush.
Not one hook-up.
Nothing.
I have no doubt that it’s happened, that Hazel has had all three. I mean, it would only make sense.
Hazel is so many things…
Smart.
Bubbly.
Funny.
Talented.
Beautiful.
God, everywhere we go, she’s easily hands-down the most gorgeous girl in the room. She’s got these deep, brown, doll-like eyes. This infectious smile and a face that you’ll never forget. I mean, she’s any guy's dream. So really, it makes no sense to me why she’s single. No sense at all.
Now, I’m the one stiffening, unsure what to say and how to say it. I guess I’ve never thought about Hazel with someone else before, but now that I have, the thought becomes iffy in my mind, leading me to push it toward the back of my mind as I peer down at her with reassurance.
“Well, Haze,” I begin. “If I’ve learned anything about relationships, it’s that they can’t be forced. I’m sure both you and I will find the right person eventually, and if we don’t, we will at least have each other, right?”
Hazel’s rosy cheeks turn into a bright shade of flaming red, and just when she’s about to open her mouth to respond, someone calls out, “Wait a damn minute!”
Before I know it, a busty brunette barges toward our table with a shocked look on her face and a narrowed stare at Hazel.
“ Crap …” Hazel mutters under her breath as she removes herself from underneath my grasp and raises her arms in defense. “Amira, I can explain.”
This is Amira?
I've always heard Hazel mention her roommate Amira to me over the years, but I've never once seen or met her. Odd, I know, but now that I have… damn , I wish I’d had a whole lot sooner.
Amira is quite literally the epitome of a bombshell. With her full lips, blown-out hair, intoxicatingly long legs and sultry smile, she’s the poster child of a wet dream.
“No need.” Amira places her hands on her hips, surveying the two of us up and down as a smirk forms across her lips. “All you had to do was tell me that you were going on a date, Hazel. You know I wouldn’t have been mad. Hey …is that my top?” She takes a seat on the other side of the booth as Hazel stumbles over her words.
I had a feeling this wasn’t Hazel’s top.
“Sorry!” Hazel immediately apologizes. “I just couldn’t find anything to wear and?—”
“I don’t give a toss about that,” Amira cuts her short. “So, are you on a date or not?
“No, no ,” Hazel stutters. “We’re uh—not together, Amira.” Hazel grinds her teeth as she speaks. “This is Greenie— Daniel Green ,” she corrects herself with a cough before gesturing in my direction. “My best friend, remember?” She looks at Amira expectantly, hopeful she’ll remember who I am.
“Ah, Daniel Green. Yes!” Amira nods, resting her hands on either side of her chin as she smiles over at me.
Fuck, the more I look at her, the better she gets. She’s got this gorgeous tan of her skin with bright green eyes, and if the look of her isn’t enough to stiffen me beneath my trousers, the endearing scent she’s wearing is.
“Nice to meet you.” She reaches across the table to shake my hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you…” She flashes Hazel a look—a suspicious one as her hand disappears within the breath of my own.
Hazel glares at her, eyes full of the word “ stop ,” leading me to wonder what exactly has been said about me. I want to ask but I bite my tongue, left daydreaming about what Amira’s tastes like instead.
“So, what are you doing here then?” Amira pulls her hand out of mine and reaches for my pint, mouthing, “ Do you mind ?”
Fuck, do I? Not in the slightest. I nod.
“It was a last-minute thing,” Hazel reassures her as Amira brings the glass to her lips, takes a slow, controlled sip and leaves behind a smudge of lipstick in return. “Daniel wanted to come out and talk and here we are…” She gestures between the two of us. “Just talking. Just friends .”
“Thanks for the reminder.” Amira rolls her eyes, making me start to question why Hazel needed to clarify that last detail. I peer down at her, ready to ask, but she jumps back into conversation and beats me to it.
“Enough about us. What are you doing here?” Hazel pries. “I thought you said you were going to a party? Remember, the one you were so insistent I join you in going to.”
“I went. It stunk.” Amira shrugs before flashing Hazel a suggestive smirk. “Besides, there’s always hot guys at the pub. I mean…” Her eyes fall back onto me, visibly undressing me with her stare. It makes my stomach churn from the inside out.
Is she flirting with me?
I clear my throat to break the tension between the three of us, but all it does is prompt Hazel to say, “Why don’t you go talk to them then?”
I can’t tell if Hazel’s comment is backhanded or not, given that Amira leaps out of her chair and demands my full attention.
“Good idea,” She smirks. “I’ll do that and let you two get back to your… talking .” She breaks away from the table, but not before she takes an extra second to place a careful hand on my shoulder and whisper, “It was nice to finally meet you, Daniel. I hope to see you around soon.”
Left entranced in a starry-eyed gaze, I gulp in place of a response, left watching the sway of Amira’s short skirt as she struts away like a downright supermodel.
Christ .
“ Hello ?” Hazel physically has to snap in front of my face to draw me back into reality. “Are you listening, Green?”
“Sorry.” I shake my head, commanding my attention back over to her. “I was just?—”
“Staring at Amira’s arse, yeah, I saw. See, that’s the difference between you and me.” She furrows her brows, sulking as she folds her arms across her chest.
“What is? That I stare at Amira’s arse and you don't?”
“No, you dickhead!” She pushes against my chest. “The difference is that you complain about being single but don’t see the way girls fawn all over you.”
“Girls do not fawn all over me.”
“No?” she responds. “Then what was that?” She points back. “The way Amira just caressessed your shoulder— strategic .”
I feel a surge of energy, unable to hold back the boyish smile on my face. “Wait…are you saying that she likes me?”
Hazel sighs. “The touch? The sip of your drink? The way she stared you up and down? All of the signs are there, Green. It’s obvious. Don’t be so naive.”
“Damn, Hazel.” I’m shocked by all the small details she picked up on. “Are you an expert at love or something?”
Hazel scoffs, eyes proud but shoulders frail. “I mean, clearly not. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be single. That’s the problem, Green. I can see all the signs in everyone else, but when it comes to me…I see nothing.”
“So what you’re telling me that you didn’t see the way guys were checking you out when we walked in here?” I throw back at her.
“‘Checking me out’?” she repeats in disbelief. “In what way?”
“Googly eyes? Following your trail? Periodically staring over at you in between their conversations?” I suppose I hadn’t realized I’d recalled all the details either until now. “All of the signs are there, Hazel,” I mimic her line from earlier. “It’s obvious .”
Stumped, Hazel runs a hand along her forehead and through her brown hair. “Well then, I suppose we both have something to learn from one another, don’t we?”
A moment of silence passes between us, enough time for an idea to electrify through my mind like a lightbulb exploding into a million pieces.
I know what we can do.
I’ve got it .
“Uh oh.” Hazel’s got that worried look on her face, one that I combat with a sly smirk on my lips. “What are you thinking about?” she asks, almost hesitant to even pry.
I lean in close, pulling her in tightly against my shoulder as I speak, “What if I told you, Haze, that I had an idea to solve our singleness? What would you say? Would you do it for me?”
I can feel Hazel's breath on my cheek as she looks up at me, swallows deeply and responds, “For you, you know I’d do anything . ”