30. Felix
FELIX
Friday night, also known as two days without kissing Dahlia, I go to the basketball game with Lucas. We meet up with some of the other guys. Our game is tomorrow afternoon, so curfew is early. We have enough time to watch maybe half before we have to duck out.
The stands are packed. It being parents’ weekend means a lot of students have family in town.
“Hey,” Brogan says as he juts his chin in our direction. He and Archer move down a seat to make room for us. “Dahlia coming too?”
“No.” I focus way too hard on the court where the guys are still warming up.
“Where’s she been?” Archer asks. “She wasn’t at breakfast the last two mornings either.”
“She had a golf tournament today, and her dad is in town, so she’s probably hanging with him tonight.”
“Probably?” Archer and Brogan ask in unison.
“They broke up,” Lucas answers for me.
I shoot him a side glance. We haven’t talked about Dahlia at all.
In fact, he hasn’t asked once where she’s been, unlike Brogan, Archer, Teddy, and my sisters.
The latter are pissed at me. I knew they liked Dahlia, but I didn’t expect they’d take the news so hard.
They’re the only ones I’ve told, plus Teddy. And I guess now these three.
“I heard it from a girl in University Hall today, who heard it from some girl who has a class with Dahlia,” he clarifies.
Geez. The rumor mill is even faster than I thought. “You knew and you didn’t say anything?”
He shrugs. “Figured if you weren’t telling anyone, then you didn’t want to talk about it.”
I nod. It’s been weirder than I expected. I knew I’d miss hanging with her, but I didn’t expect it to feel so…fuck, I don’t even know. It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before.
“I also heard you were getting back together with Bethany,” Lucas adds, and then waits for my reaction.
“Definitely false.”
He looks relieved, but says, “That’s not what she’s telling everyone.”
I shake my head. “Zero chance.”
“You and Dahlia broke up?” Brogan stares at me, slack-jawed.
“Yeah. Yesterday.”
“Why would you break up with Dahlia? She’s great. Or did she break up with your dumb ass?”
“It was mutual. We’re both busy and…” I trail off, letting him fill in the rest.
He seems super unimpressed by my lackluster response. “Sounds stupid, but what the hell do I know?”
“Is that a trick question?” I smirk as I deliver the playful jab, hoping to move on from this conversation.
He elbows me in the side, then he lowers his voice, tone sincere as he says, “I’m sorry, man.”
Well, fuck. I didn’t expect to be getting sympathy from him.
“Actually, no, maybe I’m not. Dahlia is single.” He rubs his hands together and then laughs. There’s the asshole I know.
I glower at him and he just grins back, smug as fuck.
“Touch her and die, dickwad.”
At halftime, we have to head out for curfew.
Lucas catches a ride with Brogan and Archer so I can swing by and check on the guys at the dorms to make sure they’ve all made it back.
Game day will look a little different tomorrow with all our parents in town.
We’ll still meet up in the morning for a light workout to shake off the nerves, but then we’re having a brunch, where families can come and meet the coaches and get a behind-the-scenes peek at the facilities.
My parents have already done that stuff and I’m thankful I can use that time to prep for the game instead of giving a tour of the locker room for the fourth time.
As I push through the mezzanine level on the way out of the fieldhouse, I spot Dahlia in line at the concession stand. Her long, blonde hair is pulled back into a low ponytail and she’s wearing a blue Valley U T-shirt with jean shorts and Jordans.
She and Violet are talking and smiling, and I find myself walking toward her without really deciding.
Violet sees me approaching first. Her smile turns hesitant, and she glances at Dahlia for her reaction.
“Hey.” My voice is light and friendly. I thought it would be awkward, but all I feel is happy to see her.
“Hi.” She smiles up at me, not looking quite as comfortable in this scenario. I really hope she doesn’t go back to freezing up around me. I’d miss talking to her.
There’s a beat of uncertainty as we both grapple with how to handle the situation. Do we hug? Wave? Fist bump? Fuck, I don’t know.
Ultimately, I step forward to hug her and she comes into my arms, burrowing her head against my chest. I tilt my head down, inhaling her familiar scent on instinct before she pulls away.
“Is your family here?” she asks, taking a look around me.
“No, they get in tomorrow. Did your dad make it in?”
“Yeah.” She hitches her thumb behind her. “He’s off buying a foam finger or sweatshirt or something.” Her tone is a little uneven, words coming quick. “I’m surprised you’re out this late.”
“Heading out now to do curfew check. What about you? How’s the tournament going? What time do you tee off tomorrow?” Fuck, now I’m rambling.
“It was good.”
“She’s tied for first,” Violet says proudly.
“Congrats.”
She smiles. “Thanks. And I don’t tee off until nine tomorrow. I’m sure we’re going to leave pretty soon too, though. Thanks for the licorice by the way.” Her cheeks are turning pink.
“You’re welcome.”
Violet’s gaze pings between us. I wish she wasn’t here so I could talk to Dahlia alone, tell her she doesn’t need to be nervous around me. Not ever.
“Well, I guess I should go,” I tell her when neither of us seems to know what to say next. “Good luck tomorrow.”
“You too.” She steps back and holds her hand up in a wave.
“Heck of a game,” my dad says, putting his arm around the back of my mom’s chair and smiling across the table at me.
We’re at The Hideout for dinner before my parents head back. The five of us, plus Teddy.
“Thanks,” I say, letting myself feel the pride in his words. I’m not sure if they saw this path for me, playing football and hoping to make a career of it, but both my mom and dad have always been supportive of my dream.
We won the game, my family was there watching and cheering me on, and there are a number of parties and people going out tonight to celebrate.
I should be ecstatic, and I am, but I also find myself wondering how Dahlia’s tournament went.
It might even still be going. I consider texting her, but resist. I’m sure I’ll see her out tonight.
“How’s everything else?” My mom asks. She has a twinkle in her eye—a happy glint that tells me she knows something. But what? I’m not sure.
“Fine,” I say, hesitantly. “School is school.”
She keeps staring at me like she expects me to say more.
“They broke up,” Stella says.
Mom’s happy expression falls.
I glare at my sister. “You told them?”
“I didn’t realize it was a secret,” she tosses back.
“It isn’t. It wasn’t.” I look to my mom. “I didn’t tell you because it wasn’t that serious.”
Stella scoffs.
“I liked her a lot,” Holly says, quieter, but meeting my stare.
“Yeah, me too. We’re both just busy. Geez, she didn’t die. You’ll still see her around.” I shovel in a few fries to have something to do.
My dad takes pity on me and brings the conversation back to the game. They’re driving back home after dinner, so when we’re finished, we head out to the parking lot.
“It was so good to see you.” My mom hugs me first.
“You, too.” I squeeze her harder and lift her off the ground. She laughs like she always does when I do it. From the time I turned sixteen, I’ve been taller than her and I remind her by picking her up every time we hug.
When I set her down, she smooths out her shirt and then reaches forward and pinches my chin. “We’re so proud of you.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
She steps back and moves to say goodbye to my sisters.
Dad hugs me next. “You’re having a great season. It’s clear to see how hard you’re working, but don’t forget to have a little fun, too.”
That’s Dad. He’s all about work-life balance. Work hard, play hard. I’m pretty sure I got that from him.
“No worries there,” I tell him. “I’ll have a beer in my hand by the time you hit the freeway.”
When they’re gone, Holly and Stella catch a ride with Teddy, and I get in my car. I have a ton of new texts, but I bypass them all and send one of my own.
Me
How’d the last day of the tournament go?
I wait a few minutes for her reply, but she must still be on the course or hanging with her dad. So, I open up my unread texts to figure out where the best place is to grab a beer or twelve.