Page 64 of Sporty Girls Don't Fall For Loners

“What sort of stuff?”

His brows furrow. “Weren’t you talking about romance?”

I blink and laugh lightly. “Right. Yeah. I mean, no. I’m not really into romance. I mean, I don’t hate it. I just don’t think it’s worth all the stress and heartache, especially in high school. We’re under enough pressure without it, right?”

He’s quiet as he mulls it over. Why do I have this need to know what he’s thinking right now?

“Do you need help with that?” I nod to the container. “That lid is tricky.”

“Sure, thanks.” He passes it to me.

I yank off the lid and hand it back to him. “There you go.”

“Thanks for rescuing the dude in distress,” he jokes with a small smile. Why does the fact that I got him to smile make my stomach muscles squeeze together? “Do you want one?” he asks, offering me the container.

“Thanks. I think Ally was experimenting with another one of Liam’s recipes.” I take a cookie and bite into it. “Mmm! This is actually really good.”

“Yeah,” he agrees as he munches on his. We both chew in silence for a short while and then he says, “My parents were really in love, too.”

I just stare at him. I was not expecting him to share something so personal with me. “Ohh, um…”

“Yeah, sorry for being random.”

“It wasn’t really random. I mean, we were talking about Aunt Ally and Uncle Zack being in love, so…”

He nods as he absentmindedly bites into another cookie.

There are so many questions bursting to come out of me. Are his parents still alive? How did he end up in foster care? Does he want a girlfriend or would he rather be alone?

I mentally smack myself. Why would I care if he’s looking for a girlfriend?

We’re both quiet again. The only sound is from the ticking clock on the wall.

Then my phone jingles with a notification, and I nearly jump out of my skin. “Right,” I say with a light laugh. “I forgot I was playing around with my notification sound. This one is horrible.”

Kade nods slowly, but his eyes are far away. Is he thinking about his parents? His past? His current situation? Does he constantly worry about his future because it’s filled with so many unknowns?

My phone jingles again. “Okay, okay,” I mutter as I fish it out of the front pocket of my jeans and scan the screen. They’re texts from my friends.

Mia: Lorenzo and his boss have left the building. Prepare to be picked up shortly.

Rylee: Mason’s over at my house now, so there’s no need to stop by his place. And Zoey? Don’t wear your sweatshirts and jeans to the party.

With a chuckle, I text them back.

Zoey: That ship has sailed and already docked.

Mia: Total BS! The ship will dock at Elena’s house. You still have time to change.

Zoey: Why do you care what I wear?

Mia: What if you meet a cute guy there?

Zoey: Won’t happen. Don’t want it to happen.

Mia: But what if you do?

Zoey: Then he’ll see me dressed the way I always am, in all my tomboy glory, and if he’s the right guy for me, he’ll love that about me.

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