Page 89 of Love at Second Down

Can’t sleep.

ME: Me neither.

AVERY:

Anything on your mind?

ME:

Just tomorrow. My dad flew in from Pittsburgh and is staying at a nearby hotel.

AVERY:

That’s amazing. I’m glad he made it.

ME:

Yeah. He’s already made me promise to go out after to celebrate. Victory drinks, he called it. It’s just a lot of pressure, you know?

AVERY:

Are you afraid of disappointing him?

I swallow, thinking of the man who raised me. How much he sacrificed to get me here, how badly he wants this for me.

ME:

Maybe a little.

AVERY:

Don’t be. You couldn’t if you tried.

Her words wrap around my heart, a Band-Aid to my fears.

ME:

Enough about me. What’s keeping you awake?

AVERY:

You.

My stomach does a backflip as I stare at the single word.You.It stares at me, like it’s a sign.

With my heart pounding in my chest, I hover over the screen, knowing what I want even if it’s a bad idea.

ME:

Wanna sneak out? Meet at the pool?

I wait for her response, pushing myself up to a seated position. I’m afraid she might say no, and I try to convince myself it’s not a big deal if she does.

AVERY:

I have a better idea.

ME:

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