Page 16 of The Sky Between Us

“Are we playing?” Sky asked, from behind. “Okay, you and Elliot, against me and Hazel.”

“Cool,” he grinned and looked at my friend. “We will beat them!”

“Sure thing,” Elliot smiled, but his eyes were still dancing between Hazel and me.

“Ugh, you are doing all the shooting and stuff,” Hazel said. “I can only run after the ball.”

“You seemed to hold yourself pretty well,” I teased her quietly, when we broke off to start the game. “You know more than you let on.”

“Don’t we all?” she shot back with a grin before she sprinted towards Elliot and the ball.

I let my mouth hang open for a few seconds before I went after her to help out.

We played for hours.

Hazel wasn’t scared of getting herself dirty. She slid on the grass and threw herself in front of the ball to stop it from making it into the net. I was convinced she would have pretty little bruises on her skin the next day, but she never once complained. Sky neither. He enjoyed being competitive and his mission was to beat us. He found the perfect partner in crime for that as Elliot was all about winning and making sure he was the best. The two of them seemed to create an unstoppable match. Me, on the other hand, struggled to keep my eyes on the ball instead of Hazel’s butt. Honestly, this was the hardest game I ever had to play. Pretending I didn’t notice how nicely the leggings hugged her body. She had long legs for days and my imagination was going wild, and of course my best friend wasn’t that competitive to not notice my lingering gaze. I was sure I’d never hear the end of his teasing.

“When are we playing again?” Sky demanded the answer after he announced that they won.

“Whenever you want, buddy,” my friend offered. “How old are you? You are too good.”

Too good, he was. Soccer must have been in his blood.

“Five.” He held up his hand with all five fingers spread out. “But LA Galaxy Academy is only taking kids from 12.”

My eyes bolted at her, brows arched, as usual. I knew she danced, but there was a lot more I didn’t know about her. Elliot also glanced at her curiously.

“Seven, but dancing isn’t just kicking a ball,” she rolled her eyes, cheeks flushed for the sudden attention. I knew she didn’t like attention, but she must have liked it at some point if she competed and danced like I saw dance.

“Just kicking a ball?” I echoed together with Sky and Elliot. All three of us crocked a brow at her statement and exchanged looks. Hazel was in big trouble. “I’m sure you don’t mean that, sweetie.”

“Ugh, don’t sweetie me... you slept with my friend,” she made a disgusted face at Elliot.

“I did way more than that, honey.”

“Stop with these nicknames, it’s annoying,” she shot him a dark look which made me chuckle, but at the same time I had to ignore the weird feeling within my stomach. I wasn’t jealous, but I’d prefer Elliot didn’t flirt with her.

“Do something!” Sky was looking up at me, earnestly.

“What do you want me to do?” I looked down at him.

“Tell a joke.” I shook my head. I didn’t really tell jokes. I only tried them when I was sure the girl would giggle. Most chicks laughed at whatever I said. Hazel, on the other hand, was different. My eyes drifted to her, and her dark gaze locked with mine. Her head nodded in agreement listening to Elliot, but her eyes didn't leave mine. The deep color of brown glistening in her eyes was compelling, especially with the hint of green mixed in. I never thought someone’s eyes could imprison me with just a gaze. Almost everyone had brown eyes, but Hazel’s were more like magic, changing with the light and her mood. Only by staring at them for a long time did I see them soften and turn into the color of melted mint chocolate. It was enchanting.

I saw her mouth move and Elliot turned towards me as well. Both of them stared at me curiously, but I had no idea what she said. Sky punched me again, this time a little harder.

“Sorry, I got lost in your eyes. What did you say?” I dropped my lamest pick-up line which was also the whole truth.

Hazel’s eyes widened, and I could see the corner of her lips kick up. Was that an almost smile?

“That sucked,” Sky commented and lifted his hand to punch me again. I caught his tiny wrist and lifted him easily.

“Now you are in trouble, buddy,” I secured my arm around him and started tickling him.

Sky screamed, shouted and giggled at the same time.

“S-t-o-p,” he tried to say the word, twisting his little body out of my grasp.

“No way,” I grinned at him, but gave him mercy. His tiny arms circled my neck and a wide smile stretched on his face. His dark eyes were just like Hazel’s minus the green mixed in them and they were staring into mine.

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