Page 91 of The Quarterback Sneak

When her amber eyes meet mine, my feet start walking toward her without my mind’s consent. I have no idea what to say to her, especially in the hallway with so many witnesses.

Her cheeks flare, and she drops her gaze to the floor, looking all kinds of awkward. She scuffs her shoes against the floor, and I’m surprised. No red-bottom soled heels today, just a pair of regular mary janes. How is her mother coping with that rebellion?

She raises her head sharply when I shut her locker, forcing all her attention on me. “Zach,” she says my name in her usual lusty tone, and I pin her against the locker. With both my handsresting against the metal, I can’t help but notice how short she is in these shoes.

“Honey,” I reply with similar lusty tones. Her eyes track my muscles before she meets my gaze.

“Wh-what are you doing?” She’s wide-eyed and breathless, and funnily enough, I’m asking myself the same question. I didn’t think before making my way to her, and she’s, no doubt, pissed that I haven’t contacted her, but she’s like a magnet; I can’t stay away, even though I know it’s wrong.

I drop my forehead against hers, not ready to leave but knowing I have to. “Couldn’t leave today without seeing you.”

She draws a breath in, and the tiniest of smiles plays on her lips. It will probably be too late, but I can’t wait to tell her everything when this is all over.

I drop a hand to her cheek, rubbing the soft skin with my thumb.

“Thanks for the bike, Honeycomb. I love it.” I kiss the spot where her brows crinkle, then her nose before capturing her lips against mine. I kiss her hard, trying to tell her how I feel the only way I can in the halls.

Her fingers grasp at my leather jacket as she desperately tries to keep me in place. As if I’d go anywhere.

This is where I belong.

Pulling away, I rest my forehead back against hers. “Honeycomb,” I whisper against her lips. “I’ve got to go, but once I’ve finished sorting out this mess, I’ll come find you and explain everything.” She can’t hide her disappointment, so I try to kiss it away. “Wait for me?”

She nods as she sucks her lips into her mouth and stares at the ground.

My heart plummets to my stomach because all I want to do is tell her everything. But doing that now wouldn’t be fair to Tiffor Ella, and the metaphorical heaviness of my bag is starting to weigh on me.

“See you soon, Honeycomb.” I drag myself away from her and stride down the hall, looking forward to the day I can put all this shit behind me.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Honey

“Touchdown South Point!” The announcer’s voice booms through the speakers, and goose bumps freckle my skin because Zach is one step closer to becoming a three-time state championship quarterback. I blow into my hands and rub them together as I stand in the stadium cheering the team on.

“Come on, Mike!” Olivia screams from beside me. Decked in a hat, gloves, Mike’s jersey, and his number painted on her cheeks, you wouldn’t be blamed for mistaking her as a gift store associate for South Point.

On the other hand, you can hardly tell which team I’m rooting for with my plain green sweatshirt. After my mother caught sight of those pictures of Jamie kissing me on New Year’s, she insisted I wear his old practice jersey. She’s hoping for some epic reconciliation. Her hopes were dashed when I explained that I would rather eat a bowl full of live crickets.

Wearing Zach’s jersey didn’t fill me with confidence either. After kissing me like he was going to war, he hasn’t been back since. He told me to wait for him, but how long am I supposedto sit in limbo waiting for my fake boyfriend to get himself together?

What he’s getting himself together for is another mystery. One I’m not sure I’ll solve at this rate.

A chorus of boos fills the stadium, drawing my attention back to the field. The opposing team has scored, and now we’re only a touchdown ahead with four minutes on the clock. Plenty of time for them to come back.

Zach jogs back onto the field, and I hold a breath. Sparks of electricity ricochet through my heart as I try to swallow down those feelings. He hasn’t bothered to look up here to see me, yet I’ve spent the whole game staring at him.

“Come on, guys. You only need to stay ahead for five more minutes,” Olivia says, her hands on her cheeks. Zach’s center field now, talking to the rest of the team and deciding their next play. “Oh. Are those Zach’s parents?”

My eyes dart in the direction Olivia’s pointing, and I swallow. There is no denying that is Zach’s dad talking to one of the coaches. With the same blond hair, he’s the spitting image of Zach, and the gorgeous woman next to him has Zach’s green eyes.

They finally came. A leap of happiness surges through my bones because them being here at his final high school game means everything to him, I’m sure of it.

“I think so.” I can’t stop watching them. How his dad looks at his mom reminds me so much of how Zach used to look at me, and a tiny ember of false hope starts to burn inside me.

Olivia gasps. “Is that…” She doesn’t finish the sentence but lets my gaze trail to the seats just ahead of his parents.

Just when I thought I had built up enough confidence, my heart breaks into a million pieces, shattering onto the bleachers. All hope from that kiss in the hallway has been tossed out the window.

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