Page 40 of XOXO

“Oh, that’s right,” she said with a smile. “You know, he might need a friend—outside of his teammates.”

“Everybody needs friends!” Star said, and I was glad for the diversion. I had no idea what Mom was thinking, but she had a soft spot for people going through difficult times—like giving the homeless man near the diner day-old muffins or doughnuts.

“Well,” I told Star, “you have plenty of them. Can you send some my way?”

Star snickered as she spooned the last of the eggs in her mouth.

“Before I forget, the fall recital is next month. At Centennial Hall. You’ll need tickets.”

“Let me pull up my calendar so I can call off.” She opened the app.

Once we got that sorted, I stood and rinsed my bowl in the sink.

“Okay, gotta go.” I lifted my backpack to my shoulder. “See you later.”

* * *

Once I was off the bus and heading toward the main building, my phone buzzed with a text. It was from H.

My stomach went crazy as I read his one-word text.Hey.

Hey, I replied with shaky fingers.

I hope we’re cool after the other night.

Why wouldn’t we be?

I wanted to make sure you knew I’d be more open if I could.

It’s okay. Nobody is on the same calendar. Take all the time you need to figure yourself out.

Would you still want to hang out sometime?

As friends?My fingers lingered a bit too long as I typed the rest of it:Anything else is not a good idea.God, that’d been hard to write.

Yeah, I know. I just…feel safe with you.

My heart rose to my throat.

I glanced across the yard to find him on the picnic table, surrounded by his teammates but looking at his phone. I wondered how he had me listed in his cell. I could only imagine.

He looked up briefly, met my eyes, and smiled. And then Spencer unknowingly blocked my view by horseplaying with Bones, which was just as well.

“What are you smiling about?” Emil asked as he came to stand beside me.

“Oh, just a text from a friend.” I shifted my cell to my pocket.

“Pete?” he asked, likely because I’d mentioned him a couple of times.

“Uh, yeah.”

“Next time you come up on the weekend, invite him along.”

I smiled. “Maybe I will.”

“Hope you’re feeling better?” he asked with concern in his gaze. He probably felt guilty because of the edible, which was the excuse I’d used when I texted him the other night.

“Absolutely.” I squared my shoulders. “Thanks.”

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