Page 5 of Quarterback Crush
I blinked rapidly, comprehension slow as my brain registered that Oliver Blackwell had plonked himself on the seat.
“Hey, Maya,” he said breathlessly, “how’s it going?”
He said my name right!
That was the only thought stirring in my mind, the only important thing in the history of the world—that Oliver knew my name! Stunned, I sat mute, not answering his question, basking in this momentous occasion.
“Hey, thanks for the support at the game,” Oliver said.
My heartbeat was deafening, pounding in my ears like thunder, not quite believing what was happening. Oliver Blackwell was having a conversation with me! Well, that wasn’t entirely true because I’d yet to utter a single word, or even a syllable, meaning he was engaged in a monologue. What a time for my brain and voice to desert me!
“Can I ask a favor?” Oliver had turned to me, his warm brown eyes so close that I was seeing flecks of gold and yellow, and though his face had possessed my dreams for most of my life,only now did I notice how defined the cupid’s bow of his upper lip was. And how rosy they were. Were boys’ lips usually so pink and rosy?
The library was becoming noisier, and I was all too aware that in my dumbfounded state I’d yet to answer Oliver.
“Just go with it...” Oliver’s head dipped even closer to mine, “please?”
And before I knew what was happening, Oliver pressed his lips against mine. Yes, in what I could only describe as a literally breathtaking moment, I was being kissed by Oliver Blackwell.
Now, I may have been in shock, but that did not stop me from enjoying the totally spontaneous moment. Oh no, all my senses sprung to life and I savored every delicious second of Oliver Blackwell’s kiss, intentional or not. I responded to the softness of his mouth, the minty gum taste and the rich warm scent that I found myself immersed in, knowing that any second now the fairytale was about to end.
Yep, Oliver was going to pull away realizing he’d confused me with Savannah, though considering she was blonde and my hair was plain and ordinary brown, that was a bit of a stretch. But a sudden madness hit me—maybe Oliver was in the process of losing his eyesight, going blind, meaning he was kissing me mistakenly...yet that wouldn’t explain him calling me by my name.
A sharp gasp from beyond sounded like someone was on the brink of taking their dying breath and Oliver’s attention was momentarily diverted, his lips pausing against mine, but it was the menacing cough that made him release his lips in an unhurried, almost reluctant manner.
With my senses reeling from the magnificent chaos, I did however recognize that the person with throat problems was, of course, Savannah. My cheer squad captain.
“Ollieeeeeee,” she breathed with a dramatic squeal.
I was too scared to look up—at either Oliver or Savannah or the girls who stood behind her.
“What. On. Earth?”Savannah hissed each word with the toxicity of a black mamba’s bite. That is, deadly. Meaning I was the one about to take my last breath. Strangely, I focused on my open notebook on the table, the last thing I’d written:y = mx + b
Was that going to be my last memory, the last thing I remembered, a math equation?
“We’re over, Sav.” There was a crisp, authoritative tone to Oliver’s voice, commanding yet not arrogant. “I’m moving on. You need to, too. Though I think you already did.”
A tingle radiated down my spine and I realized that Oliver’s hand rested on my shoulder, strands of my hair caught between his fingers. I daren’t move, the flutters beneath my skin causing my heart rate to increase substantially.
Savannah snorted. “Sure. Moving on. Good luck with that,” she said with a scathing laugh, her laser-focused glare burning deep into my retinas. I was sure I was going to see a light explosion but my head was suddenly tilted so that I was staring into the perfection that was Oliver Blackwell’s face.
“Yeah, thanks,” he quipped back at Savannah. “See ya round.”
And with a thumb sliding down my cheekbone, he gently steadied my chin and his lips smothered mine again. I was no more prepared for it than the first time, but I quickly relaxed, keen to repeat the experience. With the sound of an outraged exhale and fading footsteps, I expected Oliver to pull away but as his fingers feathered my hair, every cell in my body melted against him, my wildest dreams coming true.
What had I done to deserve this? Was it because I’d stacked my breakfast bowl in the dishwasher this morning before Mom had asked me to? Was it because I’d shared my bag of Oreos withPaige? Whatever, luck was on my side and I would cherish the moment before Oliver Blackwell came to his senses.
Because it was obvious that he would, sooner rather than later. He’d realize I was Maya Shelton, junior, and not some other Maya that he’d accidentally confused me for.
Even though Savannah had clearly left, Oliver took his time in releasing his lips, followed by his arm, leaving us as two separate entities again. I missed his touch terribly, sad that the warm fuzzy feeling, the best moments of my life would now be a fading memory.
Oliver smiled as he straightened in his own chair, shifting back a little.
“Sorry about that,” he said.
My eyebrows lifted, unsure of how to respond.He was sorry?Why? Because he’d kissed me, or that I’d kissed him back?
When I didn’t answer, Oliver’s eyes narrowed in concern. “Are you okay? Honest, I didn’t mean to just jump in like that, but—”
