Chapter Fifteen Rowan
Chapter Fifteen
Rowan
I stand and place both hands around my mouth as I yell, “Go Summer!”
She doesn’t look over, but her lips pull at the corners like she’s fighting a smile as she jogs down the field. Frost Lake is now up by two and my girl just scored the last goal.
“She’s fire, right?” I glance back at my friends still sitting on the bleacher. I have no idea how they’re so calm. Ralley is good and the girls are about to beat them for the first time in years.
I shout a few more “Nice job’s” and “Woooo’s” before I take my seat with the rest of the crowd.
“You really like this girl,” Austin says from beside me. It’s not a question, but the surprise in his expression is clear.
I open my mouth to say something, only I’m not sure what. I do like her but not the way he thinks. Or…do I? I’m not even sure anymore.
“I think it’s cute. And I like her for you.” Claire gives me a smile as she snuggles closer to Austin’s other side.
“Yeah, she’s great.” I’m hesitant to say more. I don’t love hiding the truth from them about Summer and me, but I do think she’s fantastic, so that isn’t a lie.
After the game, I wait for her in the parking lot. We’re going to Austin’s house with a handful of other people. A chill get-together because the boys and I are traveling tomorrow morning for our game in Stoutland.
I’m scrolling my phone and leaning against the side of my truck. I look up when the next person comes out of the school doors and almost immediately glance down again when it isn’t red hair I see but blond. Amanda’s familiar face makes me pause.
We haven’t spoken much. A polite hello at school when we pass in the hallway but that’s it.
I stand tall and give her a small smile as she gets closer. “Hey, nice game.”
“Thanks.” She doesn’t look as happy as I’d expect given the outcome.
“That was a big win over Ralley. They’re tough.”
“Yeah. Coach is really happy. The girls too.”
But not her.
“Is everything okay?”
A moment passes where I think she’s going to blow me off or shrug and continue to her car, but then she says, “Ronnie and I had a fight, and I was in my head all game because of it. That’s why I played like shit.”
“I didn’t notice.”
She lets out a rough, disbelieving chuckle like there’s no way anyone couldn’t have noticed her terrible game. I don’t know if she’s exaggerating or if I was too busy pretending to be a good boyfriend.
“I’m really sorry,” I tell her. I don’t know if I mean about Ronnie or the game.
“Thanks.” She shifts her weight and pushes her backpack up higher on her shoulder. “Things with you seem good.”
I nod and swallow around the lump forming in my throat.
Amanda watches me like she wants me to say more, but I’m lost in my thoughts. She and Ronnie are fighting. Does that mean they’re over? Or will be soon? And if so, what does that mean for us?
“Are you going to Keller’s house?” she asks.
“Yeah.” I find my voice. “You?”
“I think so.”
“Cool. I’ll see you there.”
“Probably not.” She takes a step away. “You’ll be busy being all cute and cozy with your girlfriend.”
I run her words and tone through the jealousy filter, but she’s so damn hard to read.
“I’m never too busy for you.”
One side of her mouth lifts into a pleased smile. “See you, Rowan.”
“See you,” I say quietly.
I watch as Amanda disappears into the rows of cars.
A pit forms in my stomach as I replay our conversation.
Did I really not notice she had a bad game?
I can’t think of a single example where I saw her screw up.
Maybe a couple instances she dribbled too far into the defense when she should have passed to Summer, but other than that…
nothing comes to mind. In fact, as I run the game back, it’s mostly Summer I remember.
Summer being a total badass. She really came into her own out there tonight.
The other girls were passing and looking for her, and she worked hard on defense, razzing the other team and winning possessions back.
I’m lost to the world around me when that flash of red I was looking for earlier finally comes into my periphery. I’ve no sooner blinked away my thoughts than Summer throws her arms over my shoulders.
“We won!” She squeals and hugs me around the neck.
I’m slow to hug her back, but a happy zing pulses over my skin as she presses against me and bounces. “I can’t believe it. Did you see my goal?”
I squeeze her around the waist and push away the cloud of weirdness hanging over me from the talk with Amanda.
She pulls back while she waits for my answer, but her hands still rest on my chest.
“You know I did. I was screaming so loud the people in the next county heard me.”
She jumps in place a few more times. She’s so damn happy that it loosens a smile from my lips.
“Congratulations,” I say to her.
“Thank you.” Summer steps back but continues beaming at me. She looks around like she expected more people. “You waited for me.”
“Yeah, of course.”
“I could have met you at Austin’s house.”
“No way. I’m the kind of boyfriend who likes to chauffeur his awesome girlfriend after she scores the game-winning goal.” I go around my truck and open the passenger side door for her. “I’ll bring you back to your car later.”
“Okay.” Without protest, she hops into the truck, and I shut her in. As I’m circling the front to get to the driver’s seat, I can’t help but wonder if this whole faking-it thing is messing with my head more than I expected.