Page 5 of The Transfer
Can I just say that Riggs Hart gets better-looking every time I see him? Right now, his athleisure vibe is a panty-melting level of hot. My staring is interrupted by my twin, who questions me like he’s my dad.
“How was your ride home with Lindsey?” Jordan says, but his voice falters as he sees my face. “What happened?”
He walks to me, putting his hands on my shoulders and looking into my eyes like they’ll magically become a crystal ball and he’ll be able to see everything.
“Nothing. We got milkshakes and decided to stay for a while. I’m just exhausted.” I’m a horrible liar, and Jordan sees right through me. Before he can say anything, his phone beeps with a few alerts, and he grabs it.
A scowl forms on his face, and he clenches one of his hands into a fist while the other hand that holds his phone tightens to the point it looks like it might break. It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask what he’s mad about, but he shoves the screen in my face. He’s been tagged in a few photos and videos on social media of Drew and me. They’re of him hugging me and leaning in. None of me pushing him off or bolting away as fast as I could. We look like two people in love instead of what it really was: a sad reminder of him breaking my heart.
“Why was Drew Cole there? And better yet, what are you doing hugging him?” My brother, my greatest protector, knows the story of high school Reagan and Drew. He held me through my tears, and along with Mackenzie, he put me back together. His friendship with Drew fractured that day and was only exacerbated by the fact that Drew plays for our cross-town rival, the Durham Wolves.
“He snuck up behind me. It’s not what it looks like. He took me by surprise, but it wasn’t anything.” My eyes glaze over with a few tears. I’m so mad at myself for holding on to this for so long. I know deep down it’s because there’s a sliver of hope that things could change still. That sliver is an idiot, though.
Jordan relaxes at that and gives me a hug, realizing he’s directing his anger at the wrong person. “I’m sorry. I know how hard that must have been for you. I’ll make sure all of these are taken down. You want me to talk to Drew again?”
“No. I can handle it.” The last time my brother “talked” to Drew about me, it ended in a fist fight broken up by my dad.
Walking to grab a bottle of water from the fridge, I remember that Riggs is sitting at the table and has just witnessed all that go down.Awesome.
“Hey, Riggs.” I don’t know how to make it any less awkward, so I’m just going with it.
“Hi, Sunshine.” He uses the nickname he threw out the first time we met, and it surprises me.Drew gave you a nickname too.That sends a jolt of reality through me. I am not getting involved with another basketball player.
Instead of responding, I take my water and walk up the stairs. After closing the door to my room, I take my time getting ready for bed and climbing under the covers.
My phone beeps, but I ignore it. Anytime I see Drew Cole, I can count on a text from him shortly after. I think about what Lindsey said to me about closure, and for the first time, I think it might be the right thing to do.
Right at this moment, I’m not ready to think about it anymore, so I allow my latest fictional world to consume me until I fall into a deep sleep.
FOUR
REAGAN
It’s been a couple of weeks since school started, and I've established a good routine. My morning usually starts with a run. It’s raining today, so I came to the basketball facility. Coach gave me access, and it is so much easier than fighting people for a machine at the student rec center.
I think what I love most about running is that it clears my mind. I have my music and the rhythm of my feet, and that’s it. No stress, no worries, just me. It hits the reset button, and I need that sometimes.
I hit stop on the treadmill when I reach three miles and accept the call on my phone with a huge smile.
“Big Mack! It’s been too long.”
“Oh my goodness, she is alive!” Mack says, and we both start laughing.
Mackenzie Banks is my bestie. We didn’t attend the same high school, but we met at summer camp when we were in middle school and just clicked. Her family lives a few towns over, so we spent a lot of time together growing up.
“I’m so sorry. Things have been hectic with school starting and preparing for the season. How are you? How is Trey?”
Mack followed her hockey-playing boyfriend, Trey, to the West Coast for college, so we don’t see each other much. I miss her something fierce and was a little surprised when she went so far away for school. She’s happy, though, and that’s all I care about.
“I get it. Things are crazy here too. I’m starting student teaching this week, and I’m a nervous wreck. Who would have thought twenty-five first graders would terrify me? It’s insane how fast these four years have gone, you know? I’m not ready for the real world.”
“You are going to be amazing! Those kids are lucky to have you. Miss Banks is going to be the talk of the school. Truly, you’re an incredible teacher.”
“Thank you, bestie.” A short silence follows.
“And how is Trey?” I ask her again.
“Oh, um, yeah, we’re good. Mostly. He’s busy with hockey and all that comes along with it. We haven’t had a lot of time together lately. But we’re okay.”
