Page 47 of Summer Breakdown
“Hill.”
“Is he taller than Kai?”
“Yeah. Kai’s a short-arse.” Kai is not short. He’s a good foot taller than Frankie, who seems to think she’s not pocket-sized.
Jasmine smiles. “So, you’re clearly Kai in this scenario.”
Frankie laughs brightly, and Jasmine adds it to her list of rules.
“I’m not short.”
“You’re two apples tall. Take it up with Lani.”
Frankie’s laugh sounds too much like a giggle, and Jasmine almost gets a whiteboard out to write down these rules.
“What’s that mean?”
Jasmine shrugs. “You’re short and you’re cute.”
Frankie’s mouth falls open, and Jasmine isn’t flirting with her. She’d tell Mali she’s cute, and Mali’s her friend. Not flirting.
Jasmine steps closer. “Why aren’t you trying to get the ball from me?”
“You don’t have a ball.”
“I do.”
“Jasmine.”
Saying her name like that is going on the list as soon as she can tear herself away from looking at Frankie. Jasmine steps closer again, until Frankie looks up at her from under her lashes. “I have the ball,” she whispers. “What’s the move?”
Frankie blinks, her jaw dropping slightly. “I…”
“Too late,” Jasmine says. “I scored.”
Frankie rests her forehead against Jasmine’s shoulder as she laughs.
“I can’t believe you want to lose to the Groundhogs.”
“Shh.”
“Do you not remember how we lost to Durham?”
“Jasmine,” Frankie whines, and Jasmine feels it so deep in her chest that her knees almost buckle. She’s about to step back because this isn’t working, and she can feel herself getting wet as Frankie does nothing at all. Then, Frankie’s hand rests against her waist.
“I want Kai to tackle,” she says, “instead of spinning away.”
“Why?”
“Kai always spins because he can toss the ball,” she says, her voice low. “It’s fine because Ezra is usually there, butthe Groundhogs have like four players specifically for him because M’Baku is out.”
“M’Baku is massive.” Marcel says he’s a beast, but he’s not as good technically as Ezra is. Either way, Groundhogs are coming prepared.
“At least six apples tall,” Frankie jokes.
“You want him, right?”
“Stalker,” Frankie mutters, with a smile.
