Page 11 of Catch
“How about we egg Renner’s apartment?” Hudson quips.
I shake my head, laughing at my friend’s suggestion.
“I want to forget about him, not make things worse. Renner’s not worth our time.”
I hear a sharp whistle and look over to see Josiah waving at us. Our break is done.
“Let’s get this game wrapped up.”
“Everyone’s going into town for a bite afterwards,” Jackson suggests.
“Ah, I don’t know—” I start.
Is Ethan going to be there? I don’t want to have to face him again.
“No exceptions, and the beer’s on us. After all, we need to celebrate.” Jackson smiles.
“Celebrate?” I scoff. “What exactly?”
“That you dumped that asshole loser.” Hudson claps his hands together. “And the game we’re about to win.”
“Guys, look, I appreciate the support, but I don’t think I’m up to socializing.”
Everyone knows I’ve been cheated on, and worse, that my sex life is shit. Ugh, maybe I can hide out in my room until the winter break arrives.
“A night out is exactly what you need,” Archie insists. “I know you’re hurting, but hanging out with your friends will be therapeutic. Trust me.”
“Therapeutic, huh?” I ask, still not convinced that I want to be around anyone.
Not even my friends.
“Hey, I know big words too,” Archie quips.
I reach up and mess his dark hair with my knuckles.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” I counter.
“I know,” Archie insists with a big smile. He’s the most lighthearted guy in our group, but also the most sensitive. “But I’m still right.”
Another sharp whistle pierces the air, a reminder that there’s a game we need to finish.
“If we win, I’ll hang out.”
Archie throws his arm around my neck and rubs my hair in return.
“That’s more like it.”
We jog back to the field and take our positions. This time it’s the Cougars’ turn for the kick off. I notice that Ethan’s doing the honors, and he’s got an intense expression on his face. With his hands on his hips and his sweaty T-shirt plastered to his broad chest, he stares at me, and it’s unnerving. For a guy whose attention is always flitting around faster than a butterfly, from one person to the next, it’s strange to have it all on me. Or maybe I’m imagining things. It’s possible I’m too stressed to think clearly.
Archie’s right: I need a night out and a beer.
Instead of looking away, I meet Ethan’s gaze head on. He’s as determined as I am, but I know that I want this win more. I’m greedy for it. It’s ridiculous, but I have something to prove, if only to myself. I’m not going to let Renner mess with my head any more than he already has.
And I’m not going to let Ethan distract me either.
As if reading my mind, Ethan unexpectedly blows me a kiss. The hell? What an annoying fucker. Everyone’s staring at us, and I feel my face heat again. I kiss my middle finger and offer it up to him in return. There’s laughter in the air until Ethan winds up and makes a run for the ball.
The kick isn’t perfect, but he hits it hard.
