Page 42 of Best I Never Had

“Nothing.” I turn to face him with the laughter still dancing around the corners of my mouth. “Are you ready to go?” I ask, my hold on my newest treasure growing tighter.

16

Hayden

senior year

“Takefive and meet back at the line of scrimmage,” Coach Burns announces as he huddles together with our offensive and defensive coaches on the field. A collective sigh leaves every member of the team, all tired with still an hour left of practice.

We all trudge to the sidelines, our helmets held loosely in our hands, where we reach for our water bottles. I see Tyler kick up his steps as he practically skips to the bleachers, his dopey grin all wide and bright for his “not-girlfriend” Yuri Kim. I watch as she leans down on the metal railing with her long dark hair blowing in the wind. Behind Yuri, on the bench closest to the railing, I see Natalia, smiling along as Tyler and Yuri flirt with playful giggles and excessively touchy hands.

I’m surprised Natalia is here. When I lasttalked to her in bio class today, she told me her flight would be leaving early for New York tomorrow morning. I thought she would have been at home already, readying for her trip. But seeing her warm smile and laugh that I can hear without actually hearing, I’m glad she hasn’t gone home for the day. I’m glad she’s here, her heart still in our hometown instead of a city hundreds of miles away.

I glance back at our coaches. They’re still deep in conversation with their hands on their hips and brows furrowed, so I jog over to where Tyler’s standing.

“Hey, Nat,” I call, nodding my head in her direction. She stands, smiling even brighter than before as she leans against the railing, mirroring Yuri’s stance.

I half expect her to greet me with the shy side of her. The side that I’ve grown accustomed to, as it’s the only side she’s trusted me with so far. I don’t expect her to be so…open. Almost as if she’s as happy to see me as I’m to see her. In fact, ever since our run-in at Starbucks, it seems that this side of Natalia has been pulled to the surface, front and center. Smiling more, willing to fork out more pieces of her without me having to coax them out. I’m beginning to feel myself getting comfortable with Natalia and her finally acknowledging us as actual friends instead of just lab partners.

“Hey, Hayden,” she calls. She rests her chin on the heel of her hand, and the tip of her nose does that little dip before she scrunches it.

“I thought you’d be halfway to the airport by now,” I tease, flicking my shaggy hair, wet from the sweat soaking the dark strands.

“Caught me about fourteen hours too early,” she answers.

“So you decided to ogle the football team instead,” I joke, nudging my helmet in her direction. “Got those priorities in order, I see.”

She rolls her eyes, smiling as she looks away. Her long hair, straightened and looking longer than when she has it curled or crimped, billows against the wind as she lets a light giggle escape through her lips.

“She came tokeep me company,” Yuri answers, linking her arm through Natalia’s. The two share a quick look, one that says more secrets than answers, before they both face me and Tyler.

“Line up!” Coach Burns calls from the field.

“That’s our cue,” Tyler says, raising his helmet over his head. He flashes a quick wink at Yuri before he jogs toward the field.

I look at Natalia, her eyes still twinkling with her grin.

“Make sure to bring back a souvenir for me,” I call, following Tyler.

Before my cleats step onto the field, I turn back one more time. I see Natalia still watching me, still smiling, still beaming. I bring my hand up to wave at her before she waves back. And a feeling starts to bubble in my chest. Something that feels like warmth and sweetness and home.

present

My thumb runs along the slick glass covered in frosty condensation, the tumbler holding my drink growing more and more appetizing as this conversation drags on. I’m on my second glass of whiskey, and the conversation hasn’t grown any more interesting than it was when I first sat down in this dingy bar. It especially doesn’t help when the person I’m having that conversation with refuses to talk about anything else besides rescue kittens orThe VampireDiaries.

“All I’m saying is, if everyone got their pets spayed or neutered, we would have fewer on the streets.”

I nod, unable to disagree.

Her name is Lena. Twenty-seven, born and raised in Jersey, and works in PR. Oh, and has a little bit of a problem with her roommate who’s allergic to cats but should suck it up because it’s “not life or death.” Lena messaged me on Cupid’s Bet. When I responded, she eagerly messaged me back asking if I was free for drinks tonight. And I obliged. My other option to assuage the lingering loneliness that settled over me was to answer the text message I received from Jacky this morning. It was almost as if her ears were burning with smoke signals as she asked me in her message if I had a date to Ashton’s wedding.

Ugh, Ashton’s wedding. Maybe I can ask Lena?

I revert my attention back to Lena, her voice, a little too high-pitched and nasally, droning on and on about her cat’s botched surgery when she had him neutered.

No, never mind.

“So, uh, how many cats do you have?” I ask, attempting to carry on this conversation.

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