Page 129 of Stealing for Keeps
Austin is taping a flyer on the door going out to the breezeway.
“More tape?” he asks, eyeing me carefully with a look on his face I can’t quite decipher.
I tear off another strip and hand it to him. “What?”
“I don’t know. You look…off or something. Is everything okay?” He grins. “A cheerleading emergency?”
Despite the weird mood I’ve been in all day, I laugh. “No. Cheerleading is great.”
He finishes taping the flyer and smiles at me, then we slowly walk through the hall to find another good spot to hang up our last show announcement.
“How’s everything with you?” I ask him. “Ready for the big game tomorrow?”
He blows out a breath and plays it off with his smile still intact, but I can see the flash of worry that crosses his face. “It’s gonna be tough, but the whole team is looking for redemption.”
Redemption because he had to sit out the last time they met. I know that wasn’t my fault, but I still feel bad about it. He wants to win so badly.
“Are you coming?” he asks, and I think there’s a hint of hopefulness in the question.
“Of course. Me, Lacey, Andie, both cheer squads.”
“Are you bringing your pom-poms?” That glint of amusement is back in his eyes.
“No,” I say, trying not to laugh.
“Too bad.”
We head back to class shortly after, then the bell rings, and we go our separate ways again. That feeling of missing him so much it hurts creeps back in. I forgot how good it feels to have Austin’s support. Even when he’s teasing me, I can feel how much he cares about me.
I’m still thinking about it when I open my locker aftermy last class. Austin’s sketchbook catches my eye, and for a moment, I think maybe he left it in here weeks ago or I accidentally picked it up in class, but for some reason, I flip to the last page just out of habit.
And there I am. Well, not me, but a sketch of me in skates with pom-poms. I’m smiling in the sketch, and I look happy and carefree. My heart flutters, and my smile is bigger than it’s been in days.
I like the way he sees me. The way he draws me. The way he always seems to know exactly what I need.
I glance around for him, but he must have dropped this in my locker before he went to practice.
I grab a pencil and quickly add to the sketch. My pulse is racing by the time I’m done. Blake is walking down the hall, and I hurry to him.
“Hey,” I say, falling into step beside him. I hold out the sketch pad. “Can you give this to Austin?”
He glances at it, then shrugs. “Sure.”
I hope it’s not too late to be exactly what he needs too.
Chapter Forty
Austin
My stomach is in knots the second my feet hit the floor. It’s game day. We play at home, so I hurry to get ready and head downstairs. I come up short when I spot Dad at the kitchen table.
“Morning,” he says as he brings a cup of coffee to his lips. He’s in sweats and a T-shirt like he slept here last night, but he was not here when I went to bed.
“Morning.” My steps slow as I head to the pantry for cereal. “When did you get in?”
“Late last night, early this morning.” His voice is deep like he just woke up.
I’m shocked to see him and hesitant to be excited. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
