Page 71 of Little Do You Know

“Don’t be such a baby.”

I have to give her credit; she has balls. Maybe it’s because she broke up with Thomas, but I think she had them all along. “Well, I wouldn’t be a baby if I didn’t have to come.”

“No, you’d still be miserable and pissed off. You are taking it out on everyone, and I’m personally tired of being your verbal punching bag,” Blake snaps back. I cross my arms stubbornly, falling silent while we wait for the team to come out.

She’s not wrong.

I’ve been a bitch.

“I’m really sorry,” I say, looking at Blake apologetically. I have been awful.

She sighs and smiles. “It’s okay. I know it all majorly sucks. I know I wasn’t a peach when I broke up with Thomas, but I do know that you need sleep. I bet I could see your puffy eyes from space, Lia.”

I snort because I obviously know I need to sleep. If I could sleep, then I would! “I’ll be fine. I’ll try harder to not be such a bitch to you and Owen.”

Blake loops her arm with me, resting her head on my shoulder. “That would be nice. I’ve got your brother breathing down my neck, trying to figure out what’s happening with you.”

“How is that going?” I ask carefully. I’ve been stuck in my revolving world and have no idea where they stand together. “He’s liked you since you first came to the apartment. I didn’t know if you knew that.”

“Of course I knew. I’m irresistible.” She laughs jokingly, and I cling to the warmth her body provides. “So far, nothing’s happened. I don’t think I’m ready for anything yet. I want to stay friends for now and see where it takes us,” she admits slowly. I understand that.

Our conversation is interrupted as the team runs onto the field. I lift my camera to capture at least a few pictures so it looks like I’m here for a reason other than that Blake made me.

“Friends is good. I don’t think rushing anything is good for either of you,” I say, my heart stopping in my chest when I spot Sebastian. His presence outside of football is magnetic, but on the field, it’s irresistible. No matter how hard I try, I can’t look away from him. I don’t know what it is, but I think part of the reason is the respect his teammates give him. And why wouldn’t they respect Sebastian? He’s their captain.

Oh, Captain, my captain.

Blake catches me staring at him. I don’t bother trying to hide it. “Are you going to forgive him?”

I sigh, looking down at the little screen on my camera. “No idea. I do think I’m going to kick Vera’s ass one of these days, though.”

“Just let me know where and when,” Blake says, lifting her head to show me her grin. She’s a really good friend. I need to start being a better one to her.

~

I’m doubled over, laughing on my end of the couch while Blake giggles hysterically from her side. “And then—” I gasp for air, trying to finish telling my story, but I can’t get the words out.

Blake beams at me, pointing at the ceiling. “Thalia, are we flying?”

I shake my head, laughing so hard I can’t breathe. “No.”

She jumps off the couch, sticking her arms out. “I’m on a plane!”

I try to reach for her, but I fall off the couch. I land hard on the floor. “I fell off the plane!”

Now Blake is laughing just as hard as I am, walking down the hall only to turn around to run into the living room. “I’m flying a plane! I think I could be a pilot!”

I feel lighter than I have in days. Exactly like if I were flying. I should get on a plane right now. I flop back on the ground, staring at the ceiling. It does look like clouds if I squint my eyes the right way. The floor echoes from Blake stomping, and I lift my head to see her wearing sunglasses now. “Bro, I think these are X-ray vision.”

I lie back, closing my eyes to focus on the squiggles that appear. “Do you see these little lines when you close your eyes? It’s like worms of color in darkness.”

“I think we’re high,” Blake says, giggling. “And I don’t mean because we’re flying.”

“You’re flying. I’m falling. I do think you’re right that we’re high. You said we should only eat half, but I’m so glad we ate a whole one.”

“Can we do an outfit change? I want to feel like a movie star in first class. Do you have any outfits a pilot would wear? What exactly does a pilot wear?”

“No idea. I’m not a pilot. You know where my closet is, so go wild.”

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