Page 156 of Saving the Halfback

Nolan:What’d she say?

Lachlan sent the shoulders shrugging emoji.

Nolan:Why haven’t you guys asked her yet?

Lachlan:Not sure which one of us will be the spokesperson. Maybe we should rock, paper, scissors. Competition is ramping up, though…

I looked at the time, school would be letting out soon. This video was from lunch.

Nolan:I’m on my way.

I stood up and limped down the rest of the stairs and into the kitchen, where Dad was preparing a snack. “Nolan,” he said, and I froze for a moment, just from hearing him say my actual name. “Your mom’s on the phone.” Dad put her on speakerphone. “You’re on speaker, love.” The pet name seemed to slip out of his mouth.

“Hey, Nolan!” Mom said, not mentioning what Dad had just said.

I just shook my head. “I need to go to school,” I said quickly.

“What?” Dad looked up at the clock. “It’s nearly finished. What about your leg?”

“My leg is fine, Dad. I need to see Bailey.” I turned around, grabbing my jacket and slipping it on, checking the pockets for the keys to my motorcycle. Dad followed me into the garage.

“She will be back soon. She can come here.”

“You don’t get it!” I didn’t even get it. “I have to see her now!” I grabbed my helmet and Nick’s, which now wasn’t Nick’s…was it? It was Bailey’s helmet. “Other guys are asking her to homecoming, and I have to get there now to, to, to ask her. Ithought I couldn’t do it. I thought we were just rushing into it all. I didn’t want everything going on around us to force my choice, but if I don’t make the choice now, I can’t stand not having her.”

Dad just stood there, staring at me, completely confused.

“Rob, honey, he’s in love,” my mom said from the speaker.

I took a deep breath because that was it. I was in love with the girl that broke my nose and stole my heart. “I have to—”

Dad hit the button on the garage door, opening it up. “Go get her, son.”

I didn’t wait any longer. I slipped onto my motorcycle, pulled my helmet on, and took off.

One stop at the side of the road, and it wasn’t long before I was pulling into the empty school parking lot. Bailey sat on the tailgate of her truck, eating chocolates with Chase and Lachlan while Ethan leaned against the bed.

Her head snapped up the moment she heard the motorcycle engine, and she smiled. Would this always be my thing? Every time she heard the roar of an engine, would she think about me? I sure hoped so.

I pulled up to them, cutting the engine, kicking the stand into place, and slipping off. I pulled my helmet off, and her eyes went to my hair. I knew it was a disheveled mess, the way she liked it.

I took a step toward the tailgate, and when I caught the grins on the faces of those dirty bastards, I got the message loud and clear. “How’s your leg?” she asked. “Are you okay?”

“Please tell me you said no to Hersey.”

She frowned. “What?”

“Please. Tell me. You said no to Hersey.” Bailey raised an eyebrow. I took a step toward her. Damn, she was hot as fuck, her amber eyes shining as she watched me with a grin. This girl lit up everything inside of me, and I knew I couldn’t let her go. “Go to homecoming with me.”

She crossed her arms. “I’m not sure if I’m going. I have a thing against parties.”

“I won’t let you out of my sight.” I took another step toward her.

She shrugged. “I’m not a good dancer.”

“Neither am I.”

“I kind of have these three following me around everywhere.” She nodded to Lachlan, Chase, and Ethan. “That can be a big deal breaker for some.”

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