Page 28 of Quarterback Crush
He grabbed my hand. “Hey, what’s wrong?” His brow furrowed as he leaned down, bringing his forehead close to mine.
“Nothing. I just didn’t hear you.” I manifested brightness, frantically trying to slow my breathing which was fast and furious. It was silly to be affected by Savannah, especially whenthe whole arrangement with Oliver was fake. And yet, her words hit hard. I mean, according to her I smelled like an old lady and my hair was a mess. And was her so-called compliment an attempt to make me look stupid or just plain nastiness?
Oliver squeezed my hand and a calm descended over me, surrendering to his gentle touch—but only for a second as I remembered I supposedly stunk.
“How was training?”
“Good,” I said, not a lie. The training part had been fun, adapting chants for the semifinal and learning a new stunt in anticipation of victory. “How about you?”
“Awesome,” Oliver said, leading me by the hand, a gesture that should’ve had me swooning, but I released from his grip, full of insecurity. Just in case the lotion was bad. But Oliver didn’t seem to mind, reclaiming my hand and leaning down to whisper, “Savannah’s over there, she’s watching us. Let’s go.”
Oliver’s breath against my ear sent an unexpected tingle up and down my spine, so much that I wondered if ears had other purposes than hearing and holding glasses on one’s face. Remembering our charade, I walked alongside him to the locker room, cocooned in a dreaminess that didn’t deserve to be fake. Reacting to Oliver’s touch required no acting whatsoever.
Oliver continued to hold my hand when we walked to the parking lot, even though Savannah was no longer around. I didn’t query it because it was the best feeling in the world, and if I was going to suffer through Savannah’s mean-girl jibes, I should at least get some perks. Like kissing practice, if Oliver thought it was required.
“Did you see Savannah’s face?” Oliver asked as he started the car. He was glancing around the remaining cars but Savannah’s truck was nowhere to be seen.
Shaking my head, I debated whether I should say anything about Savannah’s snarky comments, but Oliver carried on, “I think she’s getting the message.”
I pressed my lips together and nodded grimly. If Savannah was getting the message, my job would be done. I’d be obsolete and Oliver would end it. “Mmm,” I said. “Mission accomplished, I guess?”
Oliver turned out of the school gates, his attention on the road for several blocks before he lowered the volume of the radio. “Actually, I think we should keep this going for a bit longer.” He gestured his hand between us. “Would you mind?”
I frowned, though my heart beat had risen rapidly and I wasn’t sure I’d heard right. “Keep this going?” I parroted.
“Sav will hold out hope that we’ll get back together if we...”—he waved his hand again to indicate that ‘we’meant me and him—“...break up too soon. Would you be okay with it?”
I could hardly hold my smile in. Oliver wanted to prolong this fake relationship! “I’m in,” I said, probably with too much exuberance. Toning it down, I added in a mumble, “You know, because you need me.”
Oliver’s face was serious, but his words sent my pulse racing. “I do,” he said. “I do need you.”
Oliver stopped his car outside his old house. At first I thought it was to get a good look at the place which the O’Connell’s had repainted since he’d lived there. But when he leaned across the console to kiss me, I wondered if it was so Mom and Dad wouldn’t be able to see us kissing. The adage of ‘practice makes perfect’ crossed my mind as our lips danced together. Oliver seemed to have time to devote more than just a fleeting peck, indicating that he was either a dedicated tutor or I was an inexperienced kisser. Whatever, I didn’t mind. He wanted to carry on with this and I was happy to oblige, even if Savannah was going to make it uncomfortable.
To avoid going over the details of training and my ride home with Oliver, I spouted on to Mom about all my homework and escaped to my room where I was on speed dial to Sammy.
“Savannah was mean to me at cheer, but Oliver wants to keep fake dating,” I gushed as soon as she appeared on the screen. “He doesn’t want to quit yet because he thinks Savannah will try to get back together.”
“Wait,what?” Sammy screeched. “What do you mean, Savannah was mean to you?”
“She just said something embarrassing,” I said, glossing over her circle comment, “didn’t you hear me? Oliver wants to keeps dating!”
“I’m worried for you, Maya,” Sammy said.
“You don’t need to be,” I said, “You know, he’s such a good kisser.”
Bringing me down to earth with a thud, she asked, “Compared to who? Jayden in sixth grade?”
I wrinkled my nose and sneered. “Did you notice I said kisses? More than one?”
But Sammy didn’t sound impressed. “Didn’t I warn you about Savannah. You should be careful, Maya.”
“I think it’s fine,” I said with a shrug. “I’m sure it’s natural for her to be a bit upset, yeah?”
“You mean when her boyfriend started to date someone the very next week after they broke up?” Sammy stated with a sarcasm that stung. “Yeah, I kinda think that would be upsetting.”
“She flirted with a Lions player,” I defended Oliver’s action wholeheartedly. “And anyway, it’sfakedating.”
“So, is it fake kissing, then?” Sammy said.
