Page 60 of Catching Feeling

“I’ll admit, this was actually more fun than I thought it would be. Definitely more exciting.”

Hallie laughs and wiggles her eyebrows suggestively. “Gasp. Does this mean the Hellcats have a new fan?”

I laugh. “Maybe so. But as much fun as I’ve had, I’m anxious to head home. I think I’ve finally, freaking finally, figured out the problem with chapter 27, so I’m ready to go work on it.”

I’m anxious to try and make some progress in my manuscript.

“When can I read? I’m dying to read. I feel like I already know the two of them, and I want to know the conflict. I think I’m more excited for your book, Viv, than Rebecca Yarros’s new book.”

When she mentions our favorite author, it reminds me of my conversation with Rosie.

“I forgot to tell you. I met Reese’s sister. Sort of?” I interject.

Her head whips toward me as her eyes widen. “Ooooh, tell me more. Meeting the family already? Seems kind of… serious? I mean, for… just friends.” She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively.

“Shut up. She just wanted to meet me because I’m Reese’s roommate and because they’re really close. That’s all. But she’s a reader, and of course, we immediately bonded over our love for romance books. I actually really like her. Clearly, Reese is the only Landry with the annoying gene.” My phone goes off in my back pocket, and when I pull it out, I see it’s a text from Reese.

Gotta meet with coach after press. See you at home.

“Okay, I’m going to head home and work on Haunted for a while. Thanks for asking me to come today. I had fun. Surprisingly,” I tease.

She nods, bouncing on her feet. “Yes, and so I can finally read. I’ll see you this week?”

I agree, giving her a quick hug before heading back to the house.

Hours later, I’m sitting on the couch in a pair of old sweats, my favorite ratty Nirvana T-shirt, with my hair on the top of my head in a ghostie scrunchie and my laptop in my lap, surrounded by notecards, notebooks, and thesauruses when Reese walks into the living room.

It’s only been a few hours since the game, but I’ve spent the entire time glued to my computer, letting my fingers fly. Now that I’ve broken past whatever invisible wall there was in my manuscript, I feel like I can’t get the words out fast enough, and it has me in the best mood.

I pull my earphones out of my ears as he sets his wallet and keys on the table and turns to me.

“Good game today. I guess now I can see why you’re the all-star,” I tease.

The corner of his lips tugs up slightly, definitely not his normal cocky grin. He seems more broody, a little quiet, which is very unlike him.

“Thanks for coming.” Flopping down in the armchair next to me, he stares at the TV screen. I shut my laptop and put it on the couch next to me, my eyebrows arching.

“Everything good?”

He nods. “Yep. Everything’s super.” There’s a hint of sarcasm in his voice as he speaks.

Clearly, everything is not super. “Are you upset about something?”

For a second, he’s quiet, his jaw tense, and he shrugs. Then, a beat later, he turns to me, and his eyes are so dark they’re almost black.

He pulls out his phone and scrolls as my brows tug together in confusion, and then he turns the screen around to face me.

“Saw this on Insta in the locker room after the game.” It’s the photo of me and Hallie at the game in our jerseys. Oh shit. So he did see it.

Excitement flutters in my stomach when his jaw works, and he laughs humorlessly.

I’ll admit that I was poking the bear by posting that photo.

Maybe just a little.

“Wearing Grant’s jersey,” he adds before dropping his phone in his lap.

I rake my teeth over my lips. “Grant’s my friend…”

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