Chapter 8 Reagan
EIGHT
REAGAN
Basketball is a huge part of my family’s life, and it always has been. But my mom and I love football for ourselves. Her grandpa taught her the game, and when I was about ten, she sat me down to watch, and I fell in love with it.
I’m between Riggs and my brother, screaming at the line to hold so our quarterback can have time to throw. As I do, he drops back and heaves a bomb for about forty yards right into his receiver’s arms. The guy catches it with ease and runs it the rest of the way for a touchdown as time expires.
Carolina Tech Titans win 27-21!
I scream and jump right into Riggs’s arms without thinking.
He instantly has his arms wrapped around me, holding me up.
I freeze when I realize where I am. Our faces are close, like one-move-and-our-lips-touch kind of close.
My breath hitches, and I see his Adam's apple bob with a swallow.
He is truly flawless. Even the stubble on his cheeks does it for me.
“Put my sister down!” Jordan ruins the moment, and I basically jump down like I’m on fire. Riggs just stares down at me with wide eyes that I can’t figure out.
Mom is giving me the look, and I know she saw what just happened. I’m sure she will have questions. Too bad I have zero answers.
“Y’all want to hit a party with me tonight?” Jordan asks. My brother is a party guy. He also has a lot of lady friends we don’t talk about. It’s one of the ways my twin is the opposite of me. I’m a homebody, and I haven’t been on a date in a long time.
“I’m busy tonight,” I say quickly. Jordan laughs at me, and I pin him with an angry stare.
“What’s so funny?” I ask.
“Come on, we all know you’re about to go home and read your Kindle until you pass out.” He can’t help but chuckle again. I give him a glare that hopefully shuts him up. Thanks for making me sound like a loser, jerk.
“First off, Jordan, rude. You don’t need to laugh at my choices. Second, who cares? I said I was busy, and my Kindle gives me plenty to do. You already know I hate parties. Too many groupies.” My eyes scan over Riggs to see his reaction to all of this, but his face tells me nothing.
“Riggs, you down to party tonight? You haven’t come out once since school started, and it’s been over a month,” Jordan points out. Something inside me warms knowing Riggs isn’t a partier like the rest of the basketball team.
“Nah, man, I’m good. I’m just gonna chill at home tonight,” Riggs says.
I wonder if he will be home alone or maybe he has a girl coming over. That thought sends down a spiral of jealousy I haven’t felt since high school. Not going to think about Drew right now.
“Boo!” Jordan yells. “Your loss, bro. There are so many girls out after a win. More for me, I guess.” He tosses it out like it’s a big deal. Then he hugs my parents and me before giving Riggs a nod and heading out.
“I think I’m gonna head out too. Mr. and Mrs. Mills, it was nice to meet you both. And thanks for the basketball chat, Mr. Mills,” Riggs says.
His eyes are lonely and a bit sad before they meet mine.
“See you later, Reagan.”
I don’t know if he’s called me Reagan once since he started that little Sunshine nickname that I want to hate but secretly love. Then he turns and walks away.
It's like I’m possessed because the next thing I know, I’m chasing him. “Hey, Point Guard!” I say, and he stops, waiting for me to catch up.
The surprised look on his face matches how I feel inside. Now that I’m standing with him, I don’t know what I want to say. He looked so lost earlier. I know a little about that feeling, and I decide to do something about it.
“Hey, do you want to come to our place? We could watch a movie. Unless you have plans at your apartment that you didn’t want to talk about… if you do, that is totally fine. Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t assume that you would want to hang out with me. Just forget it—”
“Sunshine.” He cuts me off. “First off, take a breath. Second, I don’t have anything going on. I’ll meet you at your place around eight. That work? I’ll bring some snacks if you’ll make popcorn.”
“Perfect,” I say quietly. Half of me is thrilled, but the other half is freaking out with anxiety.
“See you soon, Reagan,” Riggs says and then heads off to his car with more swagger in one step than most guys have in their entire bodies.
I wait a second before turning around to catch my parents' reaction. They are looking at me with concern written all over their faces.
We walk out to the parking lot, discussing how well the team played and how much they enjoyed the tailgate.
A short ride delayed by football traffic allows me to soak up a few extra minutes with Mom and Dad. I know we are only a few hours away, but I don’t make it home often because of my rigorous class schedule and basketball obligations.
“Reagan, sweetie…” Uh-oh, she pulled out the sweetie. I’m either about to get sage advice or a lecture.
“Yeah, Mom?” Please don’t let this be the sex talk. I can’t go through that trauma again.
“I heard you invite Riggs over. I think that’s great, but please be careful.” I know she worries about me after everything with Drew.
“Okay, Mom. It’s nothing. He just looked sad, and I figured I’d be friendly. That’s it. I’m not getting into anything with another basketball player.”
“Angel,” Dad says, and I’m not ready for whatever he’s about to say. “Not every basketball player is going to be a Drew Cole. But being his friend is great. You are too young to date, and no one is good enough for my baby girl.” His comment defuses the tension in the air.
“Dad, I’m twenty-one!” I say, laughing and get out of the car. Before I shut the door, I tell my parents I love them. Then I walk up the front steps and let myself in.
I replay what my parents told me as I get ready for tonight. My mind drifts to Drew briefly before I remind myself that Riggs isn’t Drew. But that doesn’t mean I want anything more than a friend right now. A very handsome, muscular, tall friend.