Page 36 of Offsides

Sighing, I relax. “You don’t think her mysterious ‘stuff’ is quizzing Dani about what’s going on with the two of us?”

Another relaxed shrug from Jackson. “Could be. If it is, I’m sure you’ll find out eventually, either because Autumn will be using the info to adjust her advice to you or because Dani will tell you herself.” Standing, he crosses to the sink and fills a glass with water, downing half of it before resuming his seat. “How are things going with you two anyway? Since she’s not here, I’m assuming less well than you’d like but …” He gestures for me to fill in the blanks.

I pick up my pen and fidget with the cap, figuring out the best answer to his question. “I think things are going okay. I mean, yeah, I’d love it if I could just magically make everything exactly how I want, but that’s not how anything works, so …” I shrug. “We had a good time shopping day before yesterday.”

Jackson laughs. “I still can’t believe you went to a mecca of all things feminine. And with Dani, no less.”

With a disgruntled glare, I toss my pen at him. He laughs and bats it away. “What’s that supposed to mean, asshole?”

He laughs again, completely unfazed. “It’s just funny. The whole thing. You. Her. The two of you there together. She’s the least girly girl I know. And you only have a brother and have never had a serious girlfriend for as long as I’ve known you, so you’re not exactly an expert in that kind of thing either.”

“Look—”

Jackson interrupts me by holding up his hands and cutting me off. “Dude. Relax. I know a lot of what this is about. I know why that’s where you got the gift card and why you offered to take her. I was here for the entire conversation about it, remember? I’m not criticizing. But you have to admit, it’s kinda funny.”

After staring at him blankly a moment, a grudging smile tugs at my lips. “Fine. It is. Still, though. Don’t fucking say that to Dani. Or in front of Dani. Ever. Got it?”

He holds up his hands again, his smile undimmed. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” He drops his hands, his smile fading. “Trust me, man. No one knows what it’s like to be embarrassed by having all your quirks and oddities pointed out better than me.”

I grunt. He’s got a point.

He taps his fingers on the table. “But for real, how are things going with Dani? You took her shopping. It went well … anything else on the agenda?”

Sighing, I sit back in my chair and fold my hands on top of my head. “I’m not sure. I was hoping she might reach out and invite me to study with her or something like we normally do but …” I shake my head. “So far, no luck.”

“And the reason you haven’t is …?” Jackson rolls his hand, an expectant look on his face.

I shake my head again. “I don’t want to be the only one trying.”

“Right. But you’re the one who messed up. So if you want to fix it, you’re the one who has to make the effort, right?”

“I guess you’ve got a point,” I grumble.

“So.” He raps his knuckles on the table. “If you want to see her, make the effort. Or”—he spreads his hands—“go ahead and give up. Because expecting her to make more effort than you after you were a dick …” He tilts his head and presses his lips together. “You’re gonna be waiting a looooong time.”

Before I can formulate a response, he takes his glass to the sink and disappears into his room.

Dammit. He’s right.

I look at how far I’ve gotten on my biochem homework. I still have the rest of this plus reading to do for western civ. Pulling my phone out from under the edge of my notebook, I stare at it a moment before typing out a quick text telling Dani I’ll be at the library in twenty minutes if she wants to come study with me.

Which means, of course, that I have to get my shit together and get to the library. Hopefully there’s a study room available.

* * *

Because I have shit luck, the study rooms are all full. I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised. By this point in the semester, you have to book those in advance if you want one. Between people who just prefer them for the isolation and groups working on projects together, they fill up fast.

Fortunately, I grab an empty table on the second floor near the windows. Dani hasn’t responded by the time I get here, but I text her where I am anyway. Then I stare at my textbook, but the words don’t penetrate my brain. I can’t focus because I keep hoping that Dani will either show up or text me back and put me out of my misery—honestly a no would even be welcome at this point just so I know she’s not coming and I can relax and finish studying.

After ten minutes—and checking my phone a thousand times—I’m ready to call it a day. I don’t know if Dani is busy or just ignoring me, but it’s clear she’s not coming. Maybe this was a mistake. I should’ve stayed home and kept studying there. I could’ve texted Dani and invited her to my house, but I worried that might seem too intimate. We’re just starting to find our footing again. I didn’t want a premature invite to my house to ruin everything. Because we all know that going over to someone’s house to “study” is all too often a euphemism for sex.

While I certainly wouldn’t object to that kind of studying with Dani, we are nowhere near there yet. The library seemed like the best choice. Except all I seem to have done is wasted the last hour and gotten no further with my homework.

As I’m packing up my books, laptop, and notebooks, I happen to glance up in time to see Dani at the top of the staircase. She looks … different.

It takes me a second to put my finger on what exactly is different. She’s still Dani. But she looks more… polished? Yeah, polished.

She has her hair in a ponytail like normal, but it’s less frizzy, less bushy. Instead it flows in soft waves. She’s missing her usual hoodie, and instead has on a gray sweater over a pair of black leggings, fur-lined snow boots on her feet. Her white puffy coat is draped over one arm, her usual backpack slung over one shoulder, and she carries two coffee cups.

---