Page 55 of One Sweet Match Up

It wasn’t a laugh, but she did crack a smile. “Not Will?”

“No. He had the hots for her, but he was only a sophomore our senior year. She never gave him the time of day.” He chuckled, adding, “Didn’t mean he didn’t try. Right before a homecoming football game he’d marched right up to her, ready to ask her out.”

Zoe’s eyes widened. “Did he?”

“Nah, he chickened out. She’d asked Adam out that night, and they started dating exclusively shortly after. Broke Will’s heart.”

“Wow. Were you friends with him then?”

“Yeah, Will was on the basketball team and our next-door neighbor growing up. He was always at our house. Mainly to talk to Rachel.”

“Poor, Will. Unrequited love is brutal.”

“Oh, I think he and my sister have recently made up for lost time.” He arched his back, tired of talking about Rachel’s love life. “So, want to give it a try?”

“Give what a try?” she asked, cocking her head.

“Thinking. Just an empty gymnasium and your thoughts. Then you come up with one wish and take a shot.”

“Okay.” Zoe brought up her knees and rested her elbows on them.

Normally, he would have done anything to prevent dead air, but at this very moment with Zoe by his side, the silence was golden.

He wasn’t sure what was on her mind, but his head was racing with thoughts on asking her out. Maybe he could suggest that winery outing he’d mentioned at Rachel’s house, or better yet, maybe he could take her to a quiet Italian restaurant he’d stumbled upon the other day thirty minutes north.

She slapped her hands on her knees. “All right. I’ve got my wish.”

Well, that was fast. “Care to share.”

“Not yet.” She stood, took the ball from him, and headed down the bleachers.

All right, then. He wouldn’t pry. He proceeded down to the court where Zoe began to dribble the ball. Or tried to. She was having a hard time keeping up the momentum. She stopped and held it up high above her head with both hands. “Is this right?”

He grinned. Not quite. He positioned his hands, pretending to hold an imaginary ball. “More like this.”

She adjusted her position, but this time too low. He came over and gently brought her arms in place. Simply touching her sent an electric charge straight through him. “Perfect. Take a deep breath.”

He watched as Zoe inhaled.

“Now close your eyes.”

Zoe turned her head. “Seriously? I won’t be able to see the net.”

“Just do it.” He closed his eyes.

“Fine.”

He opened his and took a second to take in how adorable she looked in her pink hat holding his basketball with her eyes closed, pale lavender shadow dusting her lids. “Now envision taking the shot.”

“Envision . . .”

“Yeah, swoosh, nothing but net.”

“Is that what you’re doing? Thinking about taking the shot?” she asked, eyes still closed.

“Yep.” He sure was, but it had nothing to do with a ball and a net. “Open your eyes and shoot through your arms just like you envisioned.”

She did, and the ball sailed through the air, circling the rim before sliding in.

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