Page 296 of Small Town Firsts

IDK!

Stella

...

Me

No, really. I have no idea what’s happening. Totally lost. It’s weird.

Stella

Good weird or bad weird? I’ll kick his ass if you want.

Me

Good. I think. Maybe.

Stella

Well, y’all look good together, if that counts for anything. Be careful though.

I nod and slip my phone back into my pocket.

Sterling leans all the way into me, pressing his lips to the shell of my ear. “It’s definitely a good weird, little mouse.”

I hate the way his nearness and that stupid nickname make me shiver, but they do.

They so do.

The third quarter passes in a blur of tackles and passes. And while I cheer when it’s appropriate, I still don’t watch the game too closely, thanks to my spinning thoughts.

I will myself to focus on the game, on Gabe and his teammates instead of on Sterling and his personality transplant.

It works for a while, too.

Until a whole new brand of torturous distraction catches my eye.

The cheer squad is now directly in my line of sight, and try as I might to ignore them, my eyes keep drifting toward them.

Their cheers are peppy and their routines are unique, but I can’t help but notice some of their counts are off.

Nope. Not my life anymore.

I tear my eyes away and focus back on the game just in time to see Gabe tackle a member of the opposing team to the ground. Cheers sound as Wildcats fans clap and holler and stomp in support of him, and Stella yanks me up onto my feet to join in.

As I sit back down, Sterling pulls me closer to him, so close our sides are completely melded together. “Why don’t you cheer anymore?” His warm breath tickles my ear, making me squirm against the hard bleachers.

“Why do you care?”

He looks at me quizzically. “You were really good, it’s a shame you quit, that’s all.”

“How would you even know?”

“Oh, Emmalyn.” He grins. “I know all sorts of things about you.”

“Creepy, much?” I ask, and he laughs.

“Okay, maybe this does make me a creeper, but I remember your freshman year you were upset because Rob and Sarah never came to any of the home games or your competitions.”

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