Page 85 of Left on Base

“Ya wanna take a walk with me?”

“People will see us together,” I point out, raising an eyebrow.

He doesn’t even hesitate. “I don’t care.”

“You used to.” He cares what people think—he can’t help it.

“Well,” he shrugs, hands in his hoodie, “I don’t now.”

Part of me wants to ask why, but I already know. He wants Nathan to see us leave together. And Nathan absolutely does—he watches us the whole way to the door.

“Let the rumors begin, right?” Jaxon jokes.

That flutter in my chest is back. I nod at his teammates staring. “Oh, I’m sure they’ve already started.”

He drapes his arm over my shoulder and opens the door. He smiles but doesn’t say anything. I glance up as he drops his arm around me. His hat’s backward, hair poking out in messy bits. He throws his hood up when the wind kicks up.

Outside, the spring night wraps around us like a blanket. Streetlamps cast pools of golden light on the sidewalk, and music from random house parties drifts through open windows. Groups of students weave past us, their laughter echoing off brick buildings.

I hate that memories of us always bombard me when I’m with him. Us as kids, sitting in the bleachers long after games ended, stadium lights out. My head on his shoulder, his hand in mine. We dreamed of being here, at this school, together, but I never pictured it like this.

We walk in silence. I want to ask about Inez, about why she was with him at the party, but I keep my mouth shut.

“I might be lost,” he says, glancing around the corner. Jaxon walks close enough our shoulders brush with every step. The contact sends sparks through my jacket. Rows of parked cars line the street, metal reflecting city lights.

“What? Are we?”

He laughs. “Yeah, I wasn’t paying attention when we walked over.”

I motion the other way. “We go that way.”

“All right.”

We start walking up the street, streetlights bouncing off the cars. He stops, turns to face me. We’re standing between two lamps, shadows making it feel more intimate. I think he’s going to say something, but he doesn’t.

My phone lights up. “Oh.” I look down. “Sorry.”

Text:

Nathan

heyyyyy

He stares at me. I swallow, nervous. “What?”

Jaxon stops, turns, stares at my phone. “Who the fuck is that?”

“Nathan.”

Jaxon laughs, like he finds it funny. “Of course he texted you.” He grabs my phone and shoves it into his back pocket. “You’re busy.”

I fight a smile. “I am?”

He closes his eyes, nods with a smirk, starts walking again. “Yep.”

My heart aches. I don’t want to ask, but my brain wins. “Are you and Inez still a thing?”

He pauses. “Nah.” He looks at me, moonlight in his eyes. Drops his gaze, hands in his pockets. “It’s different, you know.”

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