Page 29 of Drop Shot
With a sigh, I stand from the table. “As fun as it’s been chatting, I’m headed home. Whim?” I prompt, giving her an out to not be stuck with my insane family any longer than she already has.
“I should go too.” She pushes back her chair and stands.
“All right.” My mom gets up and pulls me into a hug. “We’ll see you at your next match.”
I wrap my arms around her. “Love you, Mom.”
My family might drive me halfway insane on most days, but I love them. They’re good people and I know I’m lucky to have a family that cares as much as mine does. A lot of people aren’t so fortunate.
Whimsy waves goodbye and I reach for her hand as we walk away. I can’t help but wonder why it feels so natural to do so. I’m certainly struggling a lot less with this fake relationship than she is.
As if to confirm my own thoughts, she stares down wide-eyed at our clasped fingers before those big blue eyes dart up to hold mine.
“Don’t look so panicked, Whim.” I give her hand a soft squeeze. “You’re my girlfriend, remember? Holding hands is normal.”
Her eyes quickly dart away. “Sorry.” A moment later she adds, “It’s just weird. I mean, you’re like my boss … or were my boss.”
We turn down a hall and I quickly pull her into a private alcove. We’re close, chest to chest.
“Whimsy, be fucking honest. Are you okay with this? I don’t want you to feel taken advantage of. I don’t want you to feel like there’s an issue with power dynamic here. The kiss? If that upset you, tell me. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. I can tell Jackson to eat shit and that we won’t make public displays like that again or I can tell him to shove it altogether.”
“It didn’t upset me,” she says softly. “I’m sorry I’m not good at this.” Her eyes drop between us and she stares down at our shoes like they’re the most fascinating thing she’s ever seen. “I’ll get better. Promise. Just give me time.”
I can tell she doesn’t want to meet my eyes and that worries me. I don’t want her feeding me pretty words because she’s worried about me being mad or something.
Using my index finger, I guide her chin up until she’s looking at me. “If you ever feel uncomfortable, please tell me so I can remedy the situation. I mean it. I don’t want this to make you feel used or … I don’t know what else. Just speak up. Okay?”
She gives a jerky nod. “I will. It’s just new, that’s all. It’s been a long time since I was with someone, so I’m not used to the touchy-feely stuff.”
I stare down at her, looking for any hint that she’s lying. “If you’re sure.”
“I am. I’m okay. Promise. I know you wouldn’t take advantage of the situation.” She frowns at her own words, and I wonder what that’s about.
“If at any time that changes and you want to end this no questions asked, I’ll deal with the consequences.”
“I really don’t think that’s necessary,” she says on a breath. “It’s not that serious.”
“Still,” I insist. “I think we should have a code word or something. If it gets to be too much and you want out.”
Her pinks lips pout and my eyes zero in on the shape of them. Somehow, I never noticed how pretty her mouth is. “A code word?” she taps her heeled foot. “What are we? Twelve?”
I shrug. “My mom does like to say I never grew up. But come on.” I give her a light nudge. “It’ll make me feel better.”
She frowns, arms crossing over her chest. “It has to be something we’d never normally say in conversation.”
“There’s no we about it. Just you.”
She scrunches her lips, looking out of the alcove. It’s a private corner where no one has walked by so far.
Wetting her lips with her tongue, she says, “I have no idea. You come up with it.”
I rub the back of my neck. “Um…” I look around, but there’s not much to see on the open side of the alcove other than a potted plant. Tapping my chin, I try to come up with something. “I guess you could say strawberry.” It’s the first word that pops in my head because of the color of her lips.
She arches a brow and I can tell from the slight twitch in her lips that she’s trying not to laugh at me. “Strawberry,” she repeats. “Sure, I guess that will work. For the record though, I think this is silly.”
“It makes me feel better.”
She laughs softly. “That’s all that matters. Can we go now?”
