Page 68 of Fragile

“It’s okay, I’m glad you called me.”

A rush of air brushes against the speaker, and I imagine him tugging at his hair. “I’ve gotta go warm up in a sec. I just wanted to talk to you. Tell me something. Anything.”

My mind stutters on what to say, and I find myself blurting out, “I have on my lucky underwear today.”

He laughs, and I think I want the ground to swallow me whole. Why did I say that?

“The ones with the strawberries?”

My embarrassment disappears slightly at his response. “It’s disturbing that you know that, and until recently had no intention of getting into my pants.”

“I know a lot about you, Queenie. Like how you love to eat fries and dip them into vanilla milkshakes, which, by the way, is illegal. How you always find a song for every occasion, and howyou organize your playlists by friendships. Or how you always wear those strawberry panties when it’s game day.”

Closing my eyes, I cringe. “Did I…show you? Is that how you know?”

He chuckles. “I wish. No, you told me once when you were drunk in freshman year.”

I scoff a laugh, half impressed and a whole lot freaked out that he remembers and banks away so much information about me. “Well, there is something you don’t know about me,” I say suggestively.

“I’m listening,” he says with a deepness to his voice that gives me goosebumps.

“I’ll make you a deal, Miles Cooper. If you win tonight, score a touchdown, play your heart out on that field, then I’ll surprise you after the game.”

“Surprise me?” His voice takes on a new edge, excitement mixed with something more intense. Something I’m becoming addicted to.

“Now, chop chop, Cooper. You’ve got a game to win if you want to score tonight.”

He chuckles, and the adrenaline from that noise hits my heart like a shot. “Jesus, where did you come from?”

“Your dreams,” I say boldly, the words slipping out before I can second-guess them, but I don’t back down. It’s out there now.

“You got that right, Queenie,” he says with conviction, and it has my stomach flipping. “You’ve given me the best kind of motivation.”

I laugh, but inside, I’m a mess. A jumbled, in-love-with-my-best-friend kind of mess. “And here I thought you might need a picture, so you knew I was serious. I guess I’m more convincing than I thought.”

“Woah woah, wait a second, a picture?” he asks, his voice breaking. “I want that. I’m not convinced. I’m not at all. In fact, I was thinking about throwing the game because I’m nervous, sooooo nervous. You know what would make me feel better? A picture from you.”

I can’t hold back my giggle. “Go play your game, Cooper. And win. First down.”

“All the way.”

Hanging up while feeling victorious, a full-blown smile warms my face. And just to mess with him a little more, I take a selfie with my tongue poking out and send it to him with the caption, ‘Find me later, but only if you’re ready for some fun.’

His reply comes through immediately.

Miles

Challenge accepted, hope you’re ready Queenie xo

And what does me in the most? Is the little kiss and hug at the end of his message.

R.I.P to my heart.

Chapter thirty-two

Miles

The roar of thecrowd echoes through our Cedar Lakes Stadium, vibrating in my chest as I stand on the sidelines, watching our defense force yet another punt. It’s the biggest game of the year, the one that means everything to this town. The rivalry game against Washington. The score sits at 21-14 in our favor, but the nagging thought in the back of my mind keeps whispering that it won’t be enough.Iwon’t be enough. I’ve managed to push it aside, but nothing has been easy so far.

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