Page 10 of Silent Count
“I know. I’m still annoyed that I have to take it at all.” I sit up in the bed and swing my legs to the side.
“Right. Makes no sense, but you do what you have to. Regardless of where you get drafted, you know we want you to finish your degree,” he says pointedly.
“Yes, I know, and I want to. My football career won’t last forever.” As much as I hate to think it, it’s true.
“No distractions this year, Bo. You hear me?” I can hear him moving papers around. “I have to run. Call your mother later to say hello. She misses you.”
“Will do. Talk to you later, Dad.”
“Love you, son,” he says before he hangs up, not waiting for my response.
That went better than I’d thought it would. I’ve always had good grades, and my parents expect it of me and my sisters. Not doing well in school is just flat-out unacceptable. So, I think that’s why his lack of lecture surprises me.
I stand up from my bed and walk out of my room. Now that the call is done, I’m anxious to hear from Chelsea. Walking into the kitchen, I go into the pantry and grab my secret stash of Twizzlers. I don’t eat a lot of processed sugar, but Twizzlers are something I could never give up.
After pulling off five ropes, I put the bag back in my secret spot and walk back to my room, eating the whole bunch as I go. With my free hand, I grab my bag off the floor and set it on my bed. I need to pull out my practice gear before it stinks up my bag for days.
I finish my Twizzlers, then unzip my bag, taking everything out I need to wash. I set my phone on the bed beside my bag so I can see when Chelsea texts. I’m not usually the kind of guy who waits for a girl to make the first move. When I want to talk to someone, I call or text. But there’s something about Chelsea that makes me want to let her set the pace.
Maybe it’s because she’s not like anyone else. She doesn’t fake laugh at my jokes just to boost my ego. She smirks, thenfires back with one of her own, which is usually sharper than mine. I’ve watched her stop in the middle of a crowded hallway to help a freshman who dropped an armful of books. I’ve seen her turn down a party invite without hesitation because she had a test the next morning. And the way her whole face lights up when she laughs? That’s the kind of thing you don’t forget, no matter how much you try.
Plus, there’s something reserved about her. Like she has a little secret, and I’m intrigued as all hell to learn what it is she hides behind that smile.
I look down at my phone again before I leave my room to go start a load of laundry. If she doesn’t text tonight before my alarm goes off to signal my bedtime, I’ll text her first thing in the morning. Or maybe not first thing because I’m not sure if she’s an early riser, like me, so maybe by, like, nine a.m. Totally reasonable.
CHAPTER
FOUR
CHELSEA
My whole wayhome from dinner last night, I thought about Bo. When he had said he was walking me out, my mind ran through a few different scenarios, one of which was that he was going to ask me out. To my surprise, I was disappointed he hadn’t because, throughout the night, I’d caught him looking at me. But not in a creepy way. In aI like youkind of way.
When I got home, I took my shower and got myself ready for bed. Before turning in, I texted Bo the days and times I blocked for tutoring and waited for a reply to see if they worked with his class and practice schedules. He didn’t reply right away, so I turned in for the night, but when I woke up this morning, there was a text from him, saying he would meet me tomorrow mid-morning at the library, which was my first available time slot. I wasn’t sure if it could work with his schedule between classes and football, but he didn’t ask for a different date, so I assumed the timing worked for him.
I’m on my way to class with a lot on my mind. I still need to finish a few law school applications. However, I’m stillundecided about where I want to apply, aside from Walker and Penn.
My cell phone rings just as I’m pulling into the commuter parking lot. When I put my car in park, I pull my phone out of my bag and see that it’s my aunt calling. My sister’s eighteenth birthday is coming up, and I know they both want me to come home to celebrate it.
“Hello, you’ve reached Chelsea Sullivan. I can’t come to the phone right now, but if you leave me a message, I’ll probably text you back.” I can’t hold in my laugh.
My aunt and I are really close, although it took a little bit of time for that to happen.
“Hello, Chelsea Sullivan. This is your favorite aunt calling.” We both laugh now. “Did I get you at a bad time? I don’t have your new schedule in front of me.”
“No, I’m good for a few minutes. I just pulled into school. I have about ten minutes before class, so you’ll be walking with me.”
I turn off my car, grab my backpack, and get out. I lock the door with my key fob over my shoulder as I walk. I switch my phone to my other hand so I can put the other strap of my backpack over my shoulder.
“Okay, I’ll be quick. Are you going to be able to come home for Torie’s birthday? It would mean a lot to her,” she says quickly. “I love that you took extra classes this summer, but Florida misses you … and so do we.”
I gnaw at my bottom lip. “I know. I’m trying to figure it out. Let me get through the day and double-check my schedule. I just talked to her the other day, and I really want to see her for her big day. She said you’re taking her to the Bahamas with a few friends for graduation?” I ask.
She sighs. “Yes, that’s what she wants to do. I would much prefer a one-on-one trip, like you and I had for your graduation,but you know Tor; she is a social butterfly and wants all herbestiesto come. I just hope Eve’s mom, Julie, doesn’t want to join us. She gets on my nerves.”
“Eww, yeah, she’s not fun. What’s the plan for her birthday? Are we just doing the three of us, or is she having a bunch of people there? I just need to be socially prepared.” I laugh.
“Well, it depends on what day you come in and how long you get to stay. Dinner with the three of us for sure.” I hear her moving around her office.
