Page 16 of The First Play

“I’m sorry you don’t find it fun, though.”

“I do,” I quickly correct her. “I guess fun just makes it sound like we’re playing a game, you know. But football’s serious business.”

She laughs. “I hate to break it to you, but youareplaying a game. Thegameof football that youplayevery Friday night.” She lets out a soft snort, then covers her nose, laughing quietly into her hand, while I shake my head with what has to be a blush.

“You got me.” I bob my head and laugh.

Glancing at her, I enjoy the beam of the streetlights hitting her face just before I look back to the road.

“It’s right at the next intersection,” she murmurs. “I think.” Her expression bunches. “I know I’ve been living here since like July, but I’m still learning this town.”

“What street do you live on?”

“Chesterfield.”

“Oh, that’s just around the block from me.”

“Really?” She perks up.

The edge of my mouth curls up on the right. “You didn’t find out where I live?”

Her cheeks flare to a neon red as she bites her lower lip and winces. “As tempting as that was, I felt like it was way too stalkerish, so I wouldn’t let Olivia show me, even when she offered. I instead stuck to only public stalking… like your football practices and scanning any public venue I was ever in.”

My laughter comes out soft and husky. She’s adorable.

“So, are we going the right way? To Chesterfield?”

Hitching my shoulder, I glance at her. “Well, we’re goingaway. A pretty long way, but…” Pausing at the lights, I turn and smile at her. “I don’t mind so much.”

Her teeth skim over her bottom lip as she grins at me.

So damn beautiful.

“Tell me something about yourself,” I murmur. “Anything.”

“Anything?” She tips her head, fighting a smile as she narrows her eyes in thought. “Um… well… I love spicy food.”

“What kind of spicy?”

“Thai spicy. I spent six months living in Thailand when I was seven, and I really loved the food.”

“You lived in Thailand?” My voice pitches. I’ve never even left the States.

“I’ve lived all over.” Her smile grows, and there goes the rest of my night, driving the streets of Everett, listening to Sienna’s travel stories and picturing her in places all over the world.

She’s seen so much, experienced so many cultures. I sit there feeling out of my depth, like how can I ever be enough for this girl?

But when we finally pull up outside her house, she runs her hand down my arm. “To be honest, though, I really love being in the States. Traveling is fun, it really is, but after a while, you just want somewhere to call home, you know?” Her expression crumples. “I mean, my family is my home, but I’m talking about a house that’s yours. There’s something very comforting about having my own room that I can decorate. I used to sometimes wish we lived in just one place so I could carve my initials into a tree trunk or chart my height in a doorway, you know?”

“I’ve done both those things,” I rasp. “It is pretty cool, but man… you’ve seen so much. That’s epic.”

Her blushing smile makes my chest warm.

“You’re epic,” she whispers. “Meeting you is epic.”

I shake my head with an abashed smile. She can’t go comparing me to the Eiffel Tower or Colosseum. No way am I as cool as Angkor Wat.

“It’s true. Being here, starting this school… it’s been the best year so far. And you’re a big part of that. I didn’t want to move to Everett, but then we got here, and I saw you… and I was suddenly cool with it. If anything, I was practically forcing my parents to sign some kind of declaration stating that we wouldn’t be moving again until after I graduate.” Her cheeks flush, and she covers them with shaking fingers. “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I just said all that. I’m not even drunk and I can’t hold my tongue.”

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