Chapter 3
3
Niko
I want to laugh at Summer trying to be serious as the large round raindrops collect on her long eyelashes. She wipes at her eyes to clear her vision, but as she swipes them away, more drops fall to replace them.
The rain picks up quickly, from a drizzle to just short of a downpour.
“What do you say we stop arguing and get back to work before we see lightning.” I hate that since we’ve been paired up, there’s so much tension and animosity between us. I’d hoped she’d loosen up with me. Instead, things are worse.
“Didn’t you hear the thunder a minute ago?” Summer stands in front of me with her arms crossed over her chest, quickly turning into a sopping mess.
I shrug. “Thunder isn’t lightning.”
“Where do you think thunder comes from?” She wipes the water from her forehead with her upper arm, but it doesn’t help any more than her fingers did.
Half the dirty blonde hair from her ponytail has fallen and hangs plastered to the side of her face.
“How about you stay here and dare the lightning to strike you. I’m going home,” she says through chattering teeth. How did she get so cold so quickly? Easy, she never worked hard enough to break a sweat.
I shake my head, annoyed that she’s not just ready to quit but looking for an excuse to. “Always taking the easy way out.”
Anger flares in her gray eyes. She’s pissed. I bite the inside of my cheek so I don’t smile. She’s cute when she’s pissed. She’s beautiful when she smiles. Or when she does nothing at all. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to give in and let her have her way. I can’t go easy on her because of her looks.
“Have fun getting fried. I’ll see you next Thursday.”
“That’s the start of league.” She can’t be serious. She doesn’t want to get together again?
“And?” She shivers as her clothes cling to her.
“A bunch of us are meeting up Saturday. We should practice at least one more time.”
“No worries. I’m sure someone will be dumb enough to partner up with you. See you Thursday,” she repeats before jogging off to her car in the parking lot. I’m left with nothing to do but stand here and watch her ass as she runs away.