25. Bailey
Why didn’tI tell him no? How could I not have considered the spotlight I’d be under as Jamie’s date to Homecoming?
As I suspected, Jamie was voted one of the nominees for Homecoming King. As his date, I would be required to attend all the Homecoming events, including the annual trip to Thunder City the next day.
“Come on, Bales, it’ll be fun. You love amusement parks,” he whispered in my ear as we stood in front of the principal, who announced the other nominees and their dates.
Amusement parks? Yes. Attention from the entire population of our high school? Not so much.
After the pep rally, Dallin joined Jamie and me for burgers at our favorite diner. Dallin was all up to date on everything that had happened between Jamie and me. I knew the slightly green tinge beneath both of Jamie’s eyes was from Dallin, and I was glad the two boys had gotten over their misunderstanding, which had been about me. I gave Dallin a big hug.
Mostly, things were back to normal. The glaring differences were the hand holding, moony eyes (Dallin’s words, accompanied by a disgusted glare), and Jamie had asked me to wear his home jersey to the away game that night. He wanted me to wear it to school, but I wasn’t ready to deal with that quiteyet. And we still had some kinks to work out before we became official.
After the diner, we went back to the school so the guys could catch the bus. Dallin headed straight for the locker room, but Jamie stayed with me beside his car.
“Are you sure you want me to drive your car?” I’d already asked him a million times that day. I didn’t feel comfortable taking his car, but I’d miss the game if I didn’t.
Jamie hooked his arm around my waist.“Will you stop. I want you at the game.”
“Maybe I can get Jerry or Mom to give me a ride.” It sucked not having a car.
Jamie ignored that and brought me up against his chest.“You look cute in my jersey.”
I couldn’t stop my smile or blush. “I dolike wearing your clothes.”
Jamie’s eyes flared with a heat I recognized, and my heart thrummed with anticipation. After our dinner the night before, we’d both agreed not to make out. Instead, we’d spent the evening talking, snuggling, and being close without kisses clouding our thoughts.
“I like you wearing my clothes.” His hands snaked up my back. I inhaled his familiar scent. I loved how he smelled.
“Good luck tonight.” I wrapped my arms around his waist.
“Do I get a good luck kiss?” His smile was tentative and mischievous.
“I don’t know. Do you think you deserve one?” I’d meant the question playfully, but Jamie’s expression turned serious as his hands reached up to cup my face.
“No, I know I don’t, but I’m sincerely hoping one day I will.”
With every fiber of my being, I knew he meant those wordsand made a decision. I knew Jamie wasn’t perfect, and the chances of him breaking my heart again were high, but I did love him. And I desperately wanted to kiss him.
“I’m not sure I can wait that long,” I teased just before touching my lips to his.
I caught him smiling, but he was quick to catch up. With a soft groan, Jamie kissed me back. As familiar as his kiss felt, it took my breath away. I wanted nothing more than to stay right where I was, kissing him for the rest of the night.
But we couldn’t do that. He had a game to play.
I pulled back, and he leaned down to follow me, keeping our lips connected. I giggled, breaking their seal.
“It’s been too long since we’ve done that.” His arms came around me again, holding me tight against him.
I relaxed against him,and another thread of hope wove through my heart.
“Good luck tonight.” I knew this game meant a lot to him. He’d told me about his talk with his mom about football. And I knew about the interest he was getting from schools.
“Thanks. I’m so glad you will be there.” We’d also talked about how much he missed me at last week’s game. He confessed to feeling bad that he hadn’t been able to make it to any of the cross-country meets because of football, but I understood. It meant a lot, though, that he even thought about it.
Jamie brushed a sweet kiss across my forehead before leaving me to head into the locker room.
Maybe, just maybe, things would be okay.
The visitor’ssection was packed. This game was always a big one every year against our cross-town rivals. They were also undefeated this season, so this game packed an extra punch for both teams since only one of them would walk away undefeated.
I found a seat between two girls from the cross-country team. An unforeseen benefit to Jamie defecting to the football team was that it forced me to make friends other than him and Dallin. I liked Marissa and Katelyn. I’d been sitting with them at lunch and hanging out with them at practice and meets.
“Woohoo, look at you!” Marissa smiled, nodding at Jamie’s jersey.
I blushed a hot pink. Both of them laughed, and I joined them—I was that happy.
It was cold, but I’d grabbed a blanket from Jamie’s trunk. I spread it over our laps and prepared to cheer on my two best friends, one of which I hoped to spend some time snuggling with later.
“So, are you guys like a thing now?” Katelyn asked with a huge smile. We’d talked at length about Jamie and his noncommittal ways.
“I think so. We’re going to Homecoming.” I bit my lip to hold in the smile those words brought on.
“I know. I about fainted when I saw you up there with him during the pep rally,” Marissa said.
Oh, right. I’d forgotten about that. The whole school knew I was going to Homecoming with Jamie, and now everyone would know I was wearing his jersey at this game. That must have been Jamie’s plan, a subtle way of staking his claim.
I could think of worse things to happen.
JAMIE
Undefeated.Emotions ran high on the bus ride back to the high school. It was loud, rowdy, and the most fun I’d had in a long time. Runners didn’t get this excited. I’d remember the rush for a long, long time.
Bailey and I agreed to meet back at the school after the game. The bus going to Thunder City would leave early in the morning, but I’d talked Bailey into coming to the party to celebrate. I wanted everyone to see us together. Part of gaining her trust included proving I was committed. What better way than to let the world know she was mine?
Bailey waited for me by my car when the bus pulled up. Dallin was going to drive himself. Bailey’d taken off my jersey, but she looked amazing in a pair of skinny jeans and a long sweater. She’d pulled her hair back in a high ponytail that hung down her back.
“You look gorgeous.” She’d always been pretty, but now, it was like I never wanted to stop looking at her.
Bailey ducked her head shyly. “Thanks.”
She came willingly into my arms. I’d been so dumb, so blind, not to see what was right in front of me. Committing to a relationship with Bailey was so easy. I dropped a kiss on the top of her head.
“Should we go?”
She nodded, but neither of us moved.
“Now?”
She nodded again, her arms wrapping tightly around my waist. I wasn’t complaining. Keeping my arms around her, I pulled lightly on her ponytail, tipping her face back to meet mine. The look in her eyes told me everything I needed to know.
My heart hammered against my ribcage as I lowered my mouth to hers. I tasted her strawberry lip balm,and it sent my senses reeling. Kissing had always been fun, but kissing Bailey was a whole new ballgame. Deepening the kiss, I held her as close as I could get her until we were both breathless.
“Wow.” I set my forehead on hers.
“Yeah,” she sighed.
I wanted to stay there and keep kissing, but I had a plan to earn Bailey’s trust, and her thinking I just wanted to make out wouldn’t help.
I grabbed her hand. “Let’s go.” I held open the passenger door.
For the first time, I wished I had a truck with a bench seat so Bailey could sit next to me. Instead, I made do with holding her hand. “We won’t stay long. Big day tomorrow.”
She shrugged. “It’s fine.”
“Are you excited about Thunder City?” I was.
“Yeah, we always have fun there.” We usually went with Dallin, though. Tomorrow would just be us. Like a date. Honestly, our first date. I couldn’t wait.
Was that what falling in love felt like? Wanting to spend every minute with another person? Anxiously waiting for the next time you got to see them?
I didn’t know. But that was how I felt about Bailey. The two weeks we were barely talking had been awful. I missed her. I didn’t realize how much I’d come to rely on her and rely on our relationship. I could live without Bailey, but I sure didn’t want to.