Page 42 of Secret Puck
“That you think I know what color cerise is.”
She reaches over, catching me by surprise, and runs a thumb along my chin. “Did you get this scar from hockey?”
She’s barely touching me, but I like it, so I lean in a bit and tilt my chin up so she can see it better. “No, I had a confrontation with a coffee table. It won.”
Her hand falls away. “Ouch.”
“Time,” Adam calls, breaking the moment. He holds up his phone. “One-hour time limit.”
“One hour?” Ginny squeaks.
“We’re really good hiders,” Rauthruss says before Reagan climbs on his back and he jogs off. Dude is super competitive.
Ginny and I move at a much slower pace. I manage to get her on my back, the feel of her pressing up against me is way too nice, but my legs aren’t cooperating.
“Maybe I should carry you?”
“I got this,” I say but then stumble a few feet.
“Which way, ya think?” she asks when we get to the first turning point.
Everyone else is going right, so I head left.
“I heard you got a job.” I slow my pace. I’m not all that interested in searching for Maverick and Dakota, or generally being around anyone, but Ginny.
She smells like gummy bears which makes me think about kissing her again.
“I did. Dakota hooked me up with it actually. I start next week. I’ll be leading tours of the Hall of Fame and athletic facilities, even doing recruitment tours once I get the hang of it.”
“That’s cool. I still remember mine.”
“You do?” I pause when we come to another spot where we need to decide which way to go. “You decide.”
She waves to the left, which really doesn’t go anywhere and we’re real close to being out of the borders of the game, but I keep that to myself. “Yeah, I had this guy named Clint. Wasn’t nearly as cute as you.”
Her light laughter tickles my ear. “You’re incorrigible.”
I’ll be honest that I’m not really looking for Mav. I just want to keep talking, so I’m especially surprised when Ginny yells, “There they are!”
Dakota and Maverick are crouched down inside a fancy looking rectangular water fountain that’s currently empty. It’s a good spot and I don’t see them myself until we’re basically on top of them.
“How did you find us?” Dakota asks. “This spot is amazing. I’ve been waiting for weeks to use it.”
“Maverick’s shoes were reflecting in the light.” Ginny points to his shoes.
Dakota throws her hands up.
Reluctantly, I set Ginny down.
“Now what?” Ginny asks, dropping off my back.
“We get in and wait for the others.”
I hop down, not so gracefully, and then help Ginny down beside me. It’s dark but not total blackout due to the lights around campus.
The space is really only big enough for us to sit side by side, but the more we spread out, the easier we are to see. Dakota and Maverick are sitting facing one another legs stretched out in front of them. I sit and pull Ginny down in front of me so her back is at my chest.
Maverick passes me the half-empty bottle of Mad Dog. Do I need another drink? Definitely not. However, we might be here for a while.
