Chapter Twenty-Six
I can’t stop smiling for the next twenty-four hours.
I probably look scary. My parents keep giving me sideways glances and even Kelsey asks me why I’m so happy all of a sudden.
I just shrug and say I’m in a good mood.
And I am. My time with Max plays on repeat in my mind.
The way he looked at me, as if he couldn’t possibly believe his luck.
As if I was what he wanted the most in the whole world.
I’m staring down at my bagel sandwich with a stupid smile on my face when Mom clears her throat and points at the calendar hanging on the kitchen wall.
“I can’t believe October is around the corner. Soon you’re going to have your last regional band competition and then state.”
That wakes me up from my blissful stupor. “If the band qualifies for state, you mean.”
“Of course you’ll qualify.” Her lips press into an aggravated frown. “Glen Vale has performed at state every year for the past eighteen years. This isn’t going to be the moment it all falls apart. Not when you’re a senior.”
A wave of nausea rolls through me, and I push my sandwich away.
I wish Mom’s grim determination was enough to guarantee us a spot.
Going into this year, making it to state hadn’t even been a concern for me.
But now, with only one competition left, all the pressure is on.
Devastated doesn’t begin to describe how I’ll feel if we don’t qualify.
“It won’t fall apart, Mom,” I say quietly.
“I know it won’t. You won’t let it. How are those synchronized drop spins coming?”
“They’re coming along.”
Translation: At least one person is off almost every time we practice, but that’s better than several people being off.
“And how about the Most Valuable Member award? I can’t think of anyone more deserving.”
With everything going on, I’ve barely thought about my chances of winning that award…and honestly, I don’t care as much about it now. It would certainly be an honor, and Mom and Dad would be over the moon, but do I need it? I’m not as certain as I once was.
“Right now I’m trying to focus on prepping for our last regional competition,” I finally reply.
She reaches out and pats my hand. “Spoken like a leader deserving of that award.”
“Are you meeting Dad and Kelsey at the fair this afternoon?” I ask, mostly because I’m desperate to get off this conversation.
“Yes. Wait, where are my sunglasses?” She spins in a circle. “I swear I’m so busy I can’t keep track of anything nowadays.” She rustles through her large bag and pulls them out triumphantly. “Are you coming too? I ran into Nova yesterday evening and she said you and Max had left.”
“Uh, yeah, he and I walked around a nature preserve. It was…really fun.” An image of his fingers combing through my hair rises in my mind and I smile again before I can help it. Am I blushing? I think I might be blushing.
“Ooh.” Her voice rises in pitch. “So, you and Max are spending time alone together now? That’s very interesting.”
“It’s not interesting. It’s mundane. We saw trees.”
“You saw trees. Right.” Her smile widens. “I was wondering why you couldn’t stop smiling all last night.”
“It’s really not a big deal, so don’t make it into a thing, okay?”
“Okay, okay.”
She studies me, possibly waiting for me to say more, but I take a bite of my sandwich instead.
Max and I haven’t talked about what comes next, and I don’t need her embarrassing us as soon as he walks in the door.
As it is, I’m already sure we’ll be a topic of conversation downstairs during their D&D game tonight.
“Well, just so we’re on the same page, I will say that I think you and Max would be adorable together and I’m already on board.
Melanie and I always wondered if there might be something between you two.
But”—I try to interrupt to no avail—“make sure you’re keeping your focus and attention on what matters.
Marching band season is almost over. No regrets. ”
“No regrets,” I mumble. I’m definitely having regrets about this conversation, though. I should have eaten lunch in my room.
It feels like an eternity until Max and his mom arrive Sunday evening for the game. I’m curious how Max will act around me with his mom next to him, but he’s just the same as always until Melanie is safely downstairs with my parents and we’re alone.
“Hey.” His voice is hopeful.
Nerves and anticipation flutter through me. “Hey.”
He takes my hand and pulls me into the dining room. “How are you? Are you freaking out?”
“Are you freaking out?”
“No, except I’m worried you might be second-guessing us.”
Us. My heart tugs at the word. There was a tiny part of me that was worried about how things would go today.
What if yesterday hadn’t meant as much to him as it had to me?
What if he’d had his fun and now he was over me?
But the realization that we both have the same worries allows me to take a breath.
I lean into him, and he pulls me to his chest without hesitation.
“I’m not second-guessing anything,” I whisper.
“Good, because I really missed you. I haven’t been able to think about anything else.” His hand rubs up my back and through my hair. “Have I already told you how much I love your hair?”
“If you have, then you should say it again.”
“I really love it.” He leans back so he can see my face. “We probably should have discussed this yesterday, but what’s the likelihood of canceling the game so we can spend the night together, just the two of us? I’m thinking movie, popcorn, the two of us under a thick blanket…”
I laugh and step out of his arms. “The others will riot.”
“We could take ’em.” Strands of hair fall over his face. I push them out of the way so I can see his eyes, and my heart almost bursts with the knowledge that I’m allowed to do that now.
He squeezes my hand. “Speaking of the others, have you thought about what you want to do tonight? Are we telling them?”
I bite the inside of my cheek. “It’s not that I’m embarrassed or ashamed or anything—”
“No, me neither.”
“But it’s going to be a big thing when we tell them. Especially with our color guard and percussion history—”
“And it might distract from the game—”
“That’s true. Though I don’t want to mess anything up between us.”
He steps closer. “You won’t. We can do whatever makes you more comfortable. If you’d rather not say anything, then we don’t have to, it’s okay.”
“Well…”
I stare down at our hands. His thumb is tracing circles across my skin, and that small movement sends electricity racing up my arm and through my body.
Part of me loves the idea of screaming the news to the others as soon as they walk in the door, and holding hands during the game tonight, and kissing him whenever he rolls well.
But to say that would change the dynamics of the game is an understatement.
We’re still not on steady ground as a group.
Having the Dungeon Master dating one of the members could throw everything off even more.
“It’s really okay, Hazel,” Max murmurs.
I glance up to find an unflustered expression on his face. He already knew what I was going to say before I could figure it out.
“Yeah? We’ll just…play it cool, then?” I ask. “We don’t need to pretend to hate each other or anything, but we’ll just act the same as always.”
“The same as always?” He smiles. “Then we better start making nachos.”
“Actually, I already have that part figured out.” I lead him into the kitchen and hold up a bag of flour tortillas. “I have two words for you.”
“Missed you?”
“Dessert nachos!” I throw my arms open wide in excitement.
He chuckles. “I thought it couldn’t get better than missed you—well, maybe kiss me could work nicely—but dessert nachos has a nice ring to it. Though, uh, what exactly are they?”
“We cut the tortillas into triangles, brush them with butter and cinnamon sugar, and bake them. Then we top them with chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and strawberries. I got restless this afternoon, so I decided to search for nacho recipes we haven’t had yet. What do you think?”
He steps up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. “That I’ve never been happier I convinced you to let me join your game.”
“I think I could make you a tiny bit happier.” I twist around in his arms so I’m facing him.
“Really?” He gives me a skeptical look. “I’d like to see you try.”
I lift onto the balls of my feet so I can reach his ear and whisper, “Kiss me.”
He doesn’t need more convincing. His lips are on my neck at the same time that he takes a step forward so my back is pressed against the kitchen counter.
I suck in a breath. Just then the front door opens with a bang and the telltale sound of nails clicking on hardwood alerts us that we’re not alone.
“Hello!” Nova calls.
Max jumps back from me as Zoinks bounds into the kitchen. My heart races, but an Old English sheepdog is a great distraction. I bury my face in his fluff.
“Oh, you’re just the cutest!” I tell him. “Wait, I have presents for you, buddy.” I grab a shopping bag from the kitchen island and pull out each item for him. “Two squeaky potion bottle toys, a squeaky dragon for him to chew on, and…” I pull the last dog toy out with a flourish. “His own d20.”
Zoinks starts mouthing and sniffing each of the toys.
Max picks up the d20 and inspects it in awe. “You found D&D dog toys?”
“They make dog toys of everything in existence, so it wasn’t too hard. It only seemed fair to include him a little more. Who can play D&D without a d20?”
“I’m mildly annoyed you didn’t get me any presents, but these are too cute to ignore,” Nova says with a shake of her head.
Soon, Li and Felix arrive—together—and the oohing and awwing start all over again.
It’s a full thirty minutes before we can speak about anything other than Zoinks, but I’m not complaining.
No one can notice any changes between me and Max if we’re all too busy fussing over our favorite member of the D&D party.