Page 84 of Sporty Girls Don't Fall For Loners

“Halmeoni was so happy with the apples,” Mia tells Rylee and me as we wait in the lunch line. “She’s adding special dishes to Ji-Ho’s menu for this week. Dad and I spent hours last night announcing it over social media so people could stop by and try them out. If it’s a success, maybe they’ll stay on the menu.”

“My mom wrote an article about it for The Edenbury Press, too,” Rylee says. “Hopefully it’ll be a major success and Ji-Ho’s will be even more amazing than it already is.”

“Thanks.”

My friends continue talking about various topics, and I try to add in here and there, but I can’t stop thinking about Kade. About our day yesterday. How it felt when he saved me from falling flat on my face and when he lifted me to reach that apple. And I keep replaying the conversation we had on the bus ride home.

“Today wouldn’t have been enjoyable if not for you.”

Why does that make this tingly feeling nestle in my stomach?

And I loved listening to music with him. I don’t know, there was something…sweet about it? Comforting?

And of course I can’t forget when the bus rode over a bump and he caught me before I slammed into the window. I love being strong and independent, but it feels good to have someone watch my back, too. To have someone I can rely on if I need to.

“As long as I’m with you, I won’t let you fall.”

Geez, why is my brain being hijacked by all these thoughts and memories?

“Zoey?”

I blink and look at my friends, who are staring at me.

“Did you say something?” I ask.

“There are two pasta dishes,” Mia says. “Which are you choosing? I’m going with penne alla vodka and Rylee’s choosing baked ziti.”

“Oh, um…I guess I’ll go with the penne alla vodka.”

After we get our dishes, Jello for dessert, and drinks, we sit down at our table and dig in. Mia and Rylee discuss the next book we’ll read for book club, and I’m once again consumed by my thoughts. I’ve never obsessed over anything before, other than football and books.

I glance around the cafeteria, searching for a specific person with long light brown hair. But I don’t see him anywhere. My gaze travels to the entrance every so often.

“What do you think, Zoey?” Rylee asks.

“Hmm?”

“Are you okay?” Mia asks. “You’ve been spacing out all morning.”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“I vote for historical romance while Mia wants sci-fi with no romance.”

“To shake things up,” Mia explains. “And I wouldn’t mind taking a break from romance. It just reminds me how single I am.”

They’re both quiet, waiting for my response.

“Um…” I shrug. “I really don’t care. Both sound fine.”

“Well, we’d better decide something right now so we can start reading tonight and discuss it tomorrow at book club,” Rylee says.

Mia searches on her phone for possible book options, reading the blurbs out loud so we can decide which sounds most interesting. After the fifth book, she sighs and falls back in her seat. “They all sound so good.”

“Right? I wish we could pause time so we could read every single book on the planet,” Rylee says. “What about a sci-fi historical romance?”

“Ooh, that should be good.” Mia and Rylee bend over Mia’s phone and scroll through the options. After about a minute, they point to the screen and say, “This one!”

Rylee laughs. “Great minds think alike!”

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