Page 169 of How to Score Off Field

I cannot.

I have no chill, not anymore, not with him.

I’ve literally spent countless hours writing about this man in my diary as a child—and as a teenager, there is no chill with him!

The truck hums along, the quiet moments between our banter filled with a comfortable silence. But soon enough, his fingers start tapping on the steering wheel to a rhythm only he can hear.

“What’s going on in that head of yours?” I ask, a playful grin tugging at my lips.

He glances at me and grins. “Just thinking about how lucky I am to spend this evening with such amazing company.”

My insides melt a little. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”

He chuckles, his gaze returning to the road. “Good to know.”

As we approach a stoplight, he reaches over and tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his touch sending a shiver down my spine. Ugh, I wish it wasn’t so easy for him to give me goose bumps. Shouldn’t I be playing hard to get or at least make myself less available?

Too late for that, Tess. You’ve been to hell and back with this guy. There’s no backpedaling and giving him more of a challenge.

You will lose.

Every time, your diary says so.

Dear Diary, I think I love Drew Colter and he doesn’t know I exist…

Me, aged 11.

Age 13, age 17.

Well, he knows now. I just don’t know how he feels about me.

Drew meets my gaze, a playful grin tugging at his lips. “We’re doing something romantic.” He pauses. “At least, I think it’s romantic. Daisy helped me out a bit. I got some things from the diner where she works.”

Daisy.

I wonder what she thinks of me and Drew and our situation.

It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.All that matters is us and what we think. It’s hard to think that way when I want to be included in their family dynamic and have them like me. Accept me. I want them to know I only want what’s best for Drew because I care so much about him.

I’ve spent my life worshipping this guy, and I think…

He’s at the point where he worships me, too.

“Are we driving to the middle of nowhere?” ’Cause that’s what it looks like. The city lights disappear behind us, buildings getting farther and farther apart until the streets fade away in the rearview mirror.

“Seems like it, yeah?”

Hmm. We can’t be going on a picnic. It’s in the middle of the evening!

Could we?

“Are we going on a picnic?” He mentioned food from Daisy’s diner, and we are in a truck.

My wheels turn at the same speed as the wheels of this truck are turning, barreling down this long country road.

“Yes, ma’am.”

A picnic? In the middle of the night?

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