Chapter 12
TWELVE
SEPTEMBER
Ginny takes the seat across from me with her bowl of ice cream. “I’m ready for fall. My boobs are sweaty just from walking across the street.”
“I totally get it,” Mav says. “My balls—”
“All right. Too much information, man,” I tell him.
“I don’t see how it’s any different than Ginny’s boobs.” Mav shrugs and goes back to his homework laid out on the table in front of him.
“Boobs, Mav. It’s different because boobs.”
Ginny giggles, not the least bit offended by my buddy or me and slides the bowl along the top of the table to me without asking if I want any.
The chemistry between Ginny and I is hard to ignore.
I thought friend-zoning myself would take away the tension, but even when she says things like sweaty boobs, I find I’m wishing the clock would move a little slower so we could spend more time together.
There are too many complications. For one, I don’t need the team captain having it out for me.
And then there’s the fact that I don’t want to stop hanging out with Ginny.
If that means being friends instead of kissing her so I don’t screw things up, then so be it. Better friends than nothing at all.
I smile as I stare down at her bowl of ice cream. She never gets gummy bears on top anymore. I don’t know if she really believes it was their fault she admitted I was hot and let me kiss her or not, but the loss of them makes me a little sad. Hard, awful little things.
I take a small bite and push it back.
“That’s all you’re eating?”
“Gotta get the season diet back on track. We’re taking the ice today.”
I can barely keep from jumping out of my skin I want to be out there so badly.
Mav looks up and nods, but then groans. “It’s going to be short-lived for me if I fail this British literature test.” He hits his head on his book several times and then sits up and closes it.
He barely scraped by with grades good enough to play last year and Coach is watching him closely.
“You still have Tonya’s number? I think she tutors. ”
“Uhh… yeah, maybe.” I pull my phone up and find her and hand the phone to Maverick. “I wouldn’t tell her you got her number from me though, she’s not my biggest fan.”
“Did she tutor you?” Ginny asks.
“No, she did not.” What we had was much more honest—a quickie in a bathroom at a party last year. She wanted to continue the fun and I didn’t.
“Maybe I can help,” Ginny says. “I love literature.”
“Really?” Mav looks hopeful.
“Sure. Tonight?”
While they make plans, I sit back and watch Ginny.
She’s nice, interesting, funny, and a little na?ve.
But na?ve in that way that she still believes in the good of people and situations, and being around her makes me believe a little more too.
There isn’t anything I don’t like about her.
Every little detail. It’s safe to say Ginny Scott’s grown on me just like Neapolitan ice cream.
I look forward to our meals together. She’s never mentioned the gummy bear induced illicit kiss, and neither have I, but we both show up at the same time for breakfast and lunch every day to eat together. Sometimes Maverick and the guys are with us, sometimes not, but the two of us never miss.
Lunch friends. I can think of worse things to be. I can think of better things, too.
After lunch, I head to the rink for practice. I’m early, but I can’t wait another minute to get out on the ice. The weeks of preseason workouts on the football field are hot and grueling, but I’d do it three times a day if it meant stepping on the ice sooner.
Adam’s in the locker room already dressed when I walk in.
“Hey,” he says when he sees me. “Couldn’t wait either?”
“I barely slept last night,” I admit.
He chuckles and heads toward the door. “Guess it’ll be easy to stop you from scoring today.”
“You wish,” I call after him.
As I walk to the ice, I feel a sense of peace and an unbridled excitement.
One month without skating and I feel like I’m regaining a limb.
I respect Coach’s idea that a month of practice on the turf learning to work as a team makes us stronger before we step out onto the ice, but man, how I’ve missed it.
I breathe in the cool air as my skates glide over the fresh ice. I nod to Adam, who’s skating with that same look of joy on his face. We skate in silence for a few minutes before he juts his chin for me to join him. We take turns passing and shooting. I’m sweaty and breathless but in the best way.
When the rest of the team arrives, Coach Meyers and Coach Kelley start us with speed drills and then some power play scenarios.
My heart races and adrenaline courses through me as I skate hard.
“Move your feet,” Coach Meyers bellows from his spot in the opposing side fan section. “There you go. Nice.”
“I’m gonna puke,” Maverick says on a raspy breath as I fall back into line.
“How are you out of shape? We spent the last month running our asses off.”
“Can’t run this sweet ass off,” he says straight-faced. “Beautiful genetics, but not great for speed.”
I laugh. “You’re blaming your ass for being slow? Really?”
He smirks and takes off as Coach blows the whistle for the next person to go.
Practice goes by entirely too fast. The girls’ team practices in thirty minutes, so I can’t even linger like I want to.
Not everyone is so sad to be done.
Jordan’s face is red and splotchy and he mutters, “Oh thank god. I was burping ham and cheese. I swear it was coming up in the next five minutes.”
I’m the last one off the ice. Adam notices and laughs at what I’m guessing is close to a pout on my face. I’m totally not beyond kicking and screaming and throwing a tantrum if I thought it’d work instead of Coach Meyers making me run laps around the football field.
“Come on, Payne, I’ll buy you a beer.”
At The Hideout, Adam pays for two pitchers and sets it down on the table before handing out glasses.
Mav’s filled his glass and taken a long drink before the pitcher even makes its way to me. “Dude, maybe it’s the beer gut and not your ass that’s the problem.”
He flips me off, continues drinking and then says, “Hey man, how much do you think Coach Meyer will pay you to babysit Liam and Jordan this year? Minimum wage?”
I grimace and he laughs, knowing he’s hit a sore spot. Coach had me on a line with two freshmen forwards today, both need a lot of work.
“It’s going to be a great season,” Adam insists, always wearing his captain hat. “Frozen four this year. Last chance to secure my legacy as a frozen four champ before graduation.”
I lift my glass.
Ginny is waiting at the apartment when we get back.
“What are you doing here?” Adam asks and takes a seat on the couch next to her.
“Maverick and I are studying Shakespeare.”
Adam looks to Mav. “You know, you don’t live here, man.”
“I ordered pizzas,” he says, standing in the doorway. “Gotta take Charli out. Back in five.”
When he’s gone, Ginny looks from Adam to me. “How was it being back on the ice?”
“Amazing,” we say in unison.
Ginny giggles.
“I’m going to shower,” Adam says, standing and pulling off his shirt. “Save me some thin crust.”
“Come keep me company while Mav is gone.” I motion for Ginny to follow me back to my room and she does.
She walks in and scans the room before taking a seat on the bed, feet dangling off the side.
I drop my bag and then pull out a pair of basketball shorts and T-shirt.
I take off the shirt I’m wearing and toss it in the hamper without thinking about it.
Ginny’s eyes are fixed on my chest. I wait for her to catch herself, but she’s full-on checking me out.
“Hey, friend?”
“Hmm?”
“Eyes are up here,” I say with a wink.
She rolls her brown eyes, but then they land back on my bare upper body. “You’re seriously cut. Maybe I should give up ice cream.”
“Don’t you dare. You’re perfect.”
Charli zips into my room, jumps onto the bed, and covers Ginny with slobbery kisses. She smiles and leans away but pets her behind the ears.
“Down, Charli.”
Mav appears in the doorway and Charli goes to his side. “Ready, Ginny?”
“Yeah.” She scoots off the bed. “See you out there?”
I nod and watch my friend and the object of my fascination walk out of my room. I might need a shower and some Mariah first.