Page 82 of How to Score Off Field

“I don’t know how to put this without soundin’ like a complete douche, but you know.” He looks uncomfortable as he struggles to find the words. “I’m sorry I didn’t see you for you, and that I was seein’ you as Grady’s sister. And not as a woman.”

A woman.

Literally no one has ever called me a woman.

Young lady, sure, but that’s strange too.

Woman?

That’s a term I would categorize to my mother, but I understand what he’s trying to tell me. He’s telling me that he sees me as my own person—someone sexual, with her own mind and own opinions and not just a girl who’s in the background to be ignored and passed over.

He sees me.

“I don’t blame you.” Everyone my brother hangs around used to look through me, and it didn’t help that my mother would say things like, “Tess, leave your brother and his friends alone,” as if I were a pest and not around their same age. “My brother always acted like I was in the way.” I snort. “He’s only three years older, not thirty.”

There is no reason I couldn’t have hung out with them as friends. Other girls were around, so why wasn’t I good enough to be among them?

“Well, anyway. I’m sorry and…I’m glad I got to know you over the weekend.”

“Got to know me?” I giggle. “I’d say you more than got to know me.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Are you blushin’?” I pull the phone closer to my face as if I’d be able to see him closer. “Drew Colter. Are you blushin’?”

“I don’t know. My face feels hot. Does that count?”

“Oh my god, you are too cute.”

“Cute.” He scoffs. “No one has ever called me that.”

“Um. Pretty sure I have.”

“Speakin’ of pretty, did I tell you how pretty I think you are?”

I…

Um…

He thinks I’m pretty?

“Stop. Now you’re going to makemeblush.”

“I’ve already seen you blush.”

He has?

“When?”

“When you got naked and came into the bedroom. You had a red rash on your chest right here.” He swipes his hand over his pec muscles, indicating the spot on my body where I’d been blushing.

“Yes, I tend to get a rash across my chest when I’m dying of embarrassment.”

“You were embarrassed?” He looks surprised. “Couldn’t tell.”

“Do you think I seduce guys on a regular basis? Please, give me some credit. I wanted to pee my pants I was so nervous.” Pee my pants, throw up, toss my cookies. Barf.

You name it.

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