Page 30 of Spring Awakening

Mali frowns. “What are you talking about? People on the pitch!”

Zach hums. “Ezra.”

She nods. “He said you. Well, most people that answered the question said you.”

“Am I allowed to ask questions?” Zach asks, and Mali scrunches up her nose.

“I suppose.”

“Okay. Rapid-fire. I’ll ask and you answer, then you ask and I’ll answer. No explanations.”

Mali laughs. “’Kay.”

Zach thinks.

“Who’s the hottest person on the team?”

Mali rolls her eyes like she knew it was coming. Zach’s not even sure he wants to know the answer. “Wait,” he says, as she opens her mouth to break his heart. If he pretends to be a master in reading people’s lips, he’d say her pretty mouth was shaped to say something starting withZ. “I changed my mind. Do you have any siblings?”

Mali laughs. “No. Do you have any pets?”

“Yes. Buffy,” he says, pulling her cat closer to him. Mali kicks him in the thigh, and he wishes he had a third hand to keep her foot there. “Who’s the next sponsorship?”

“Goliath,” she says, and his jaw drops. “Don’t tell anyone. Why were you stressed out on the phone?”

Zach looks at her, and she looks nervous that she asked. He takes a deep breath.

“My landlord evicted me. Well, I have to be out in four days, but he called and threatened to put all my stuff in the garden if I didn’t go get it. My brother just got out of jail, and he’s supposed to be watching Mum, but he’s refusing. My mum has memory issues, and I should be round there right now making sure she’s had her pills, but I’m a selfish son who is sitting with his friend instead.”

Mali blinks, then frowns. “You’re not selfish.”

“It’s my question.” She pouts but waits for him to continue. “What’s your biggest dream?”

“I want a family,” she says. “Do you like to cook?”

“Yes. Do I have to give this T-shirt back?”

Mali laughs, and he knows he’ll let his stuff be thrown into the road in the rain and photographs of it plastered over the back of a newspaper just to sit here and listen to her laugh. “No. Will you move in with me?”

Zach frowns. “What?”

“Will you move in with me?” she repeats.

“Mali,” he starts, moving his cup to the coaster on the coffee table. Buffy is less than impressed. “You don’t have to do that. I’m fine.”

“Will you move in with me?” she asks again. “It’s rapid-fire, Zach. Yes or no. No explanations.”

“I made you uncomfortable,” he says, stroking Buffy again. “When I was in your house before. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

“I was nervous. I’m not nervous now.”

“Nervous isn’t better.”

“It’s not worse,” she mutters. “Besides, I wasn’t nervous because you’re scary or anything.”

“Why were you nervous?” he asks, as if he wasn’t a large, rude man who had already offended her that day. “Rapid-fire, Mal.”

She kicks him again, but her foot stays closer to him. “You’re really hot. That’s why I was nervous,” she says, playing with her fingers. Zach almost short-circuits.She thinks he’s hot.It might be the greatest thing he’s heard since they decided to do a Spider-Man reboot. “And you’re my favourite player, but right now, you’re moving underneath Toby.”

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