20. Dahlia
DAHLIA
On Wednesday night, I have an early dinner with the girls and then head up to my room.
We leave tomorrow morning for Gold Canyon, even though the tournament doesn’t start until Friday.
We’ll get to the host course Thursday afternoon, hit the driving range, maybe play a few holes, then go to sleep early so we can be up in case we’re in the first group to tee off.
I finalize and submit some homework, triple-check I have everything I need for the next two to three days, and I’m in bed by nine, bag packed and by the door so I can grab it and go in the morning.
My internal clock isn’t ready to go to sleep yet, though, so I pull out my laptop and find something to watch.
I pick the first thing I see, some unsolved mysteries-type show.
All the lights are off in my room and the house is quiet downstairs.
Daisy and Jordan were going out, Violet headed over to Gavin’s, and Jane went to the library to study.
I’m not sure how much time passes. Enough that I’m deeply engrossed in the suspicious and alarming way a young girl went missing without a trace when a scraping noise outside gets my attention.
I hit pause and train an ear toward the window.
Living next door to The White House, I’ve gotten pretty used to random noises at all hours of the day and night.
Whatever it is, stops, so I go back to my show.
But a few minutes later, the noise is back, and this time, it’s louder. Closer.
I set my laptop aside and get up. I’m sure it’s nothing, but I still pad slowly over to the window. A foot away from it, I look out to the street. I don’t see anyone, and everything looks like it always does. I guess this is what I get for watching a creepy true crime show before bed.
My shoulders relax and I take a step closer to admire the clear, quiet night. Suddenly, a dark head pops up out of nowhere. Glowing eyes stare through the glass pane and the knock that comes a millisecond later sends me jumping backward and screaming.
The floating head on the other side screams back, then laughs. “Shit, you scared me. Little help here, hot stuff.”
I hurry to open the window, and Felix pulls himself inside.
“I scared you?! What are you doing?”
“Nobody was answering downstairs.”
“So you climbed up to my window? Why? And how?”
“It was easy, actually. I climbed onto the fence around your yard, and then from there, I was able to pull myself onto the porch roof.” He smiles proudly. “I brought you something. I brought you two somethings, in fact.”
“Is one of them a new heart because mine feels like it’s going to explode at any second. Holy crap. What if you’d fallen?”
“Worried about me? Aww. That’s sweet. I was perfectly safe the whole time. Promise.” He makes an X over his heart.
Pulse still racing, I shut my laptop to cut off the ominous music from the show and then flip on the overhead light in my room.
“I’m sorry,” Felix says as he sits on my bed. “I didn’t mean to go full-on psycho stalker, but I wanted to see you before you left.”
“Maybe call next time?” I offer.
“Noted.” Grinning, he pats the bed. “Now, come here so I can give you your gifts before your heart explodes and I scaled your house for nothing.”
His playful side is endearing and impossible to resist. As the shock wears off, my surprise turns to delight that he’s here.
We haven’t hung out all week, except breakfast with his teammates.
He’s had extra practices and meetings leading up to their first game of the season Saturday, and I’ve had a similarly busy schedule, trying to get schoolwork done and prepping for the tournament.
When I sit, he turns so we’re facing one another. It isn’t until now I realize how little I’m wearing. Thin sleep shorts and a tank top with no bra. I pull a blanket from Jane’s fort and wrap it around me before I sit beside him. Excitement finally zips through me. “You got me a gift?”
“Two.” His expression is all boyish pride. He’s so pleased with himself and I’m dying to know what he could possibly want to give me that’s worth climbing into my window at night. “Which do you want first, right pocket or left pocket?”
His hands disappear behind him.
“Right,” I say, then watch eagerly as he pulls something out of his back pocket and places it in front of me.
My stomach flips as he sets the red licorice on the bed between us.
“You got me licorice?”
“Red licorice,” he clarifies. “You made your opinion on black licorice very clear the other night, so I got you cherry-flavored.”
My gaze flicks between him and the candy. I’m a little thrown and a whole lot delighted.
“I’m sure you don’t need luck to kick everyone’s ass this weekend, but a little luck never hurt anyone.”
“Thank you.” I trail my fingers along the package, trying to name all the feelings coursing through me at the thoughtfulness of his gift.
I’m not sure anyone has ever given me a gift like this.
No, I know no one has. I would remember it.
I pick up the licorice and hold it protectively in my lap. “What’s in the other pocket?”
His smile grows impossibly bigger, and I’m nearly giddy with anticipation.
“This one is technically a gift for you and me. Another good luck charm, if you will.” He pulls out a wad of blue fabric and holds it up. As the material falls open, I take in the Valley U Football across the front of the jersey. A replica of the ones the team wears.
“I love it,” I say. Then he flips it around and my stomach bottoms out. It has his last name and number. Walters #10.
“Players’ girlfriends all wear them at the games.” He tosses it at me. “You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to.”
“No, I want to.” I don’t care one bit that it’s part of a ruse to make people believe we’re dating when we’re not. I’m going to wear Felix’s jersey on game day.
“Good,” he says. “Because I can’t wait to see you in it.”
We play thirty-six holes on Friday, then eighteen on Saturday.
The fall season is generally more casual.
It’s a chance to work on things, while still staying in a competitive mindset.
I’ve been working on my short game since last spring, and it shows in the improvement of my overall score.
I finish tied for third, and Valley takes second overall.
“Plans tonight?” Harper asks from where she sits next to me in the van on the way back to Valley. The mood is light. Everyone seems happy with their performances and we’re all eager to get home and enjoy our Saturday night.
No one more than me, though.
“Yeah, I’m going to the football game. You?”
“Oh, right. You’re dating Felix Walters now.”
My face warms as I smile.
“Good for you. He’s gorgeous. All that dark hair and those arms.” She sighs. “Forget about it.”
“He’s pretty great,” I say, feeling a little breathless just talking about him.
“Yeah?” she asks, cocking a brow.
“You seem surprised.”
“I mean, don’t get me wrong, I haven’t heard anything otherwise, but usually when people talk about him, it’s just about how hot he is or how great he is at football. I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone say anything about his personality. But if he’s good to you then I’m happy to hear it.”
“You don’t think it’s odd that we’re together?”
Harper and I aren’t super close. We’ve gone out to parties together a few times, but we each have our own friend groups we hang out with most of the time.
But we’ve spent enough time together on long bus rides and practices that she knows me well enough to know my usual dating pool would not include the captain of the Valley U football team.
“Well, I saw the video, so I know he’s your type.”
I suppress a groan. No one at practice said anything, but I should have known that was just them being polite. “Of course, you did.”
“Whose type isn’t Felix? I’m not even dating men right now and he’s my type.”
A small laugh escapes. Harper’s sexuality is ever-changing. She says she’s still figuring it out. Not that it’s any of my business, she just offers updates randomly in our conversations.
She elbows me. “You’re beautiful and sweet, and you have a gorgeous backswing.”
I snort at the last compliment. “I doubt he cares about my golf swing.”
“I guess he had to have one flaw.” Her smile brightens. “But seriously, if you weren’t his type, then I’d say he’s a very dumb man. And I doubt a successful guy like Felix is dumb.”
“Thanks, Harp.”
It’s almost eight when the bus pulls to a stop in the back parking lot of Ray Fieldhouse.
I hurry to grab my stuff and leave. Jane is waiting at the house for me so we can walk over to the football field.
Of course, Coach takes forever giving us one last ‘good job’ pep-talk before going over the schedule for next week.
The football field is two blocks south of the fieldhouse. I can hear the noise of the crowd and the crackle of the announcer over the loudspeakers, though I can’t make out any distinct words.
I run, as fast as one can with a set of golf clubs and a bag strapped to their back, through the lot and then across the street. Jane throws open the front door of our house before I get there.
“I’m sorry.” I pant as I drop my backpack to the floor and then, more gently, set my clubs down.
“I swear Coach was driving ten under the speed limit the entire drive back like he knew we all had plans and wanted to mess with us. I’m sweaty and gross and I need to find something to wear for the party after the game. ”
“I’ve got you covered. Outfit is laid out on your bed.”
“Thank you.” I hug her around the neck. She’s always so ready to help me, even before I ask.
“You’re welcome.” She laughs lightly as we pull apart. “Now, hustle young lady. We have a football game to get you to so you can cheer on the star player.”
My stomach does several flips.
Twenty minutes later, I am showered, dressed, and descending the stairs to head to the game.
Jane sits up on the couch and drops the magazine she was flipping through on the coffee table. “Oh. My. Gosh.” She punches each word.
I run a hand over my stomach and fist the soft jersey in my hands. It smells faintly of Felix, and the scent is making me nervous, as if he’s standing right in front of me. “Is it okay?”
She doesn’t speak as she stands and walks over to me, and her silence makes me panic, thinking this is all a terrible idea and I look ridiculous.
Then Jane’s lips pull into a huge smile. “This is going to be amazing.”