Page 33 of Secret Puck
His words are like a bucket of cold water dumped over my lady parts. “Why not?”
“Because maybe you were right. You’re off men, I’m not capable of being more than your friend without ruining everything else, your brother is my teammate, pick a reason I guess.”
“Those gummy bears are making you do crazy things too.”
He smirks. “Friends?”
Is he serious? He wants to be friends after that kiss? But I did just get out of a relationship and it’s probably not the best idea to jump into something one week into college, so I nod. “Friends.”
12
Heath
September
Ginny takesthe seat across from me with her bowl of ice cream. “I’m ready for fall. My boobs are sweaty just from walking across the street.”
“I totally get it,” Mav says. “My balls—”
“All right. Too much information, man,” I tell him.
“I don’t see how it’s any different than Ginny’s boobs.” Mav shrugs and goes back to his homework laid out on the table in front of him.
“Boobs, Mav. It’s different because boobs.”
Ginny giggles, not the least bit offended by my buddy or me and slides the bowl along the top of the table to me without asking if I want any. The chemistry between Ginny and I is hard to ignore. I thought friend-zoning myself would take away the tension, but even when she says things like sweaty boobs, I find I’m wishing the clock would move a little slower so we could spend more time together.
There are too many complications. For one, I don’t need the team captain having it out for me. And then there’s the fact that I don’t want to stop hanging out with Ginny. If that means being friends instead of kissing her so I don’t screw things up, then so be it. Better friends than nothing at all.
I smile as I stare down at her bowl of ice cream. She never gets gummy bears on top anymore. I don’t know if she really believes it was their fault she admitted I was hot and let me kiss her or not, but the loss of them makes me a little sad. Hard, awful little things.
I take a small bite and push it back.
“That’s all you’re eating?”
“Gotta get the season diet back on track. We’re taking the ice today.”
I can barely keep from jumping out of my skin I want to be out there so badly.
Mav looks up and nods, but then groans. “It’s going to be short-lived for me if I fail this British literature test.” He hits his head on his book several times and then sits up and closes it. He barely scraped by with grades good enough to play last year and Coach is watching him closely. “You still have Tonya’s number? I think she tutors.”
“Uhh… yeah, maybe.” I pull my phone up and find her and hand the phone to Maverick. “I wouldn’t tell her you got her number from me though, she’s not my biggest fan.”
“Did shetutoryou?” Ginny asks.
“No, she did not.” What we had was much more honest—a quickie in a bathroom at a party last year. She wanted to continue the fun and I didn’t.
“Maybe I can help,” Ginny says. “I love literature.”
“Really?” Mav looks hopeful.
“Sure. Tonight?”
While they make plans, I sit back and watch Ginny. She’s nice, interesting, funny, and a little naïve. But naïve in that way that she still believes in the good of people and situations, and being around her makes me believe a little more too. There isn’t anything I don’t like about her. Every little detail. It’s safe to say Ginny Scott’s grown on me just like Neapolitan ice cream.
I look forward to our meals together. She’s never mentioned the gummy bear induced illicit kiss, and neither have I, but we both show up at the same time for breakfast and lunch every day to eat together. Sometimes Maverick and the guys are with us, sometimes not, but the two of us never miss.
Lunch friends. I can think of worse things to be. I can think of better things, too.
