Page 72 of The Sky Between Us

When I arrived back to campus, our house was still empty as no one had gotten back yet. After dropping my stuff off, I went over to the gym for a quick workout, infused with sprints to catch up on my speed before the big game. By the time I showered it was time for me to leave for my shift. Traffic wasn’t too bad, but I wanted to get there to spare a few minutes and mentally prepare for it. Being a barista wasn’t the most complex thing. It was only difficult customers who made the job spiteful sometimes. But most of the time my friendly, chatty personality was enough to cover myself.

The day dragged on slowly, with most people still enjoying their family time and not needing Starbucks as an escape or fuel. Days like that drove me crazy as my mind was free to roam and play through thousands of made-up scenarios and their outcome. Like what will happen in our game next week, how will I react seeing Jake, how Hazel is going to handle his presence and ordinary things like that. I was sure most of my friends had similar thoughts. Insert sarcasm.

By the time my shift ended, my mind was going crazy and all I wanted to do was see Hazel. She asked to go to another drive-in movie date and I agreed during the short break I took. Possibly it was another girly movie, but she promised to make cookies and despite her cooking skills not being advanced enough to make cheesecake, she made amazing and healthy chocolate chip cookies.

Half an hour later I was laying on my back, my arms folded behind my head and I watched Hazel’s face as she sucked on a lollipop. She swirled her tongue over and over against the head of the coke flavored candy, making me hard.

“I have a question,” she turned to me, her greenish eyes leaving the screen and scanning my face. She was wearing a grey sweater dress with a small belt to emphasize her slim waist and knee-high boots.

“Shoot,” I flashed her a half-smile admiring pure happiness written all over her face.

It was the little things with her. No girl liked drive-in movies as much as Hazel appreciated them. No one enjoyed candy as my little health freak girl. She didn’t need the moon on a silver plate, she only wanted me.

“Do you think I would be a good teacher?” she asked, concern settling between her eyes.

Surprise flashed across my face and before I could say anything, she launched into her nervous blabbing. “Just because our dance coach said she thinks I would be good and she offered me to help out with the kids. I never considered teaching nor doing anything with dance… I always thought it’s a hobby, but it’s stupid, like you can turn your hobby into a career. Despite people telling us we need to have a traditional job that earns a lot of money…”

A small smile came across on my lips and pulling her down to me, I kissed her.

That was the best way to shut her up.

Confusion on her face became even clearer, but she kissed me back.

“What was that for?”

“I think you would make an amazing teacher. My sister can’t shut up about you,” I said, stroking her back. “Do you want to do that?”

“Maybe,” she shrugged and planted her chin on my chest. “You can be good at something but not be good at teaching it.”

I nodded. “Yes, but you don’t know if it’s true until you try it.”

Hazel contemplated my words, and I knew her answer as soon as a smile lit up her face and made her eyes shine. She wore all her emotions on her face, once her walls broke down. She was like an open book, my favorite read.

“I’ll try.”

I rewarded her decision with another kiss and listened to the soft giggle leaving her.

“Are you nervous for the game?” she asked quietly, skating around the subject that hung above us like a dark cloud.

Thinking, I placed my arms around her and pulled her closer to my body. I needed her presence and heat. “Yes. But not because of what you think. I’m worried I’ll lose it.”

Hazel looked up at me wordlessly, taking in my serious, yet pleading expression. “I don’t want you to lose the game.”

“Me neither,” I laughed dryly.

“You want to tell them.”

Sinking my teeth into my lower lip, I stopped myself from replying too soon. I knew what I was asking. It was her secret, but it was my future that was on the line if I lost my temper on the field.

“Yes.”

Hazel sucked in a long breath and sitting up, she put some distance between us. She barely started trusting me, asking her to share her deepest secret with my team was a dick move. But I needed to put myself first.

With every passing heartbeat, I was kicking myself for bringing it up. Maybe I should have dealt with it in a different way. She did everything in her power to make this easier, but yet… I couldn’t forget the truth I discovered. I couldn’t go on acting like I was always cool and collected. Not when this guy messed with the one, I love.

“Only to Elliot,” she said looking at me with a serious, solemn expression. “He can pull you back and you trust him with your life, and I trust your judgement.”

My eyes closed for a brief second from relief and my lungs filled with air once again.

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