Page 58 of Adorkable

I sent Hooker home with Will about an hour later when the game ended. I could tell my pacing was getting to her, but I couldn’t help myself. I pretended like my dad wasn’t there, and he did the same. We didn’t speak again. The fans ambled past, some throwing me pitying looks. One even told me Boulder had come back strong in the second half, but because of Becks we’d still outscored them by a goal, and wasn’t I happy my boyfriend had at least taken them to the first round of sectionals undefeated?

That person was lucky I was so focused on Becks. Otherwise, I’d have coldcocked him and directed my next round of paces over his stupid, too-happy face.

What was taking so long? Was Becks really that hurt? I didn’t know what I’d do if he was.

I watched as player after player exited the dressing room until the last one left.

Still no Becks. No Clayton either, I noticed.

God, what were they doing to him in there?

“Waiting on your boyfriend?” I stopped as Ash joined me. “He and his dad left about thirty minutes ago.”

“What?” I said, confused.

“Becks,” he said, hefting a large duffle bag onto his shoulder. “He left. Weren’t you waiting for him?”

That made absolutely no sense. “But I’ve been standing here the whole time,” I said. “I didn’t see him leave.”

“They went out the side door around back.” Ash pointed to my face. “There’s no need for that. It was just a sprain, wouldn’t have even happened if you hadn’t distracted him. He’ll be alright.”

“What?” I reached up. He was right; my cheeks were damp. I must’ve been crying the whole time, but I hadn’t felt a thing. “Did you say a sprain? That’s it?”

Ash nodded, and I sighed in relief. A sprain was nothing. Becks had had so many of those he’d probably be back on the field in a week. Then something else struck me.

“Wait, what do you meanIdistracted him?” Becks was going to be fine. He was okay, so what was Ash talking about? “How could I do that? We were in the top row; he could barely even see me.”

“Trust me, he saw,” Ash said. “He saw you and that blond guy getting friendly, and it messed with his head. I was standing right there when a player from the other team blindsided him. He wasn’t even paying attention.”

“You mean, Austin?” I scoffed. “He’s just a friend.”

“Yeah, didn’t look that way.”

I stared but got distracted when Clayton stepped out of the dressing room. He didn’t look any better than I felt. Guess he’d been worried about his baby brother, too.

“Well, Sally,” he said, stopping in front of me. “I think our boy’s going to make it through just fine, but you think you could tone down the flirting? Becks’ll be useless to us if you distract him like that in the finals.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“Told you,” Ash said.

My mouth opened and closed a few times, no sound coming out.

“You ready to go?” Clayton asked. “Your Mom called to make sure you had a ride home.”

Drawing in some air, trying to sound firm and not snippy, I said, “Sure, Clayton, I’m ready. And by the way you’re both wrong.” I looked at them coolly. “Becks doesn’t get distracted, especially not by something like that.”

Ash and Clayton exchanged a look, and though they didn’t say it, I knew they were making fun of me. I stalked to Clayton’s truck in a huff and refused to speak to him the entire ride—which seemed fine by him. We both had a lot to think over.

Later on, I dialed Becks to give him a piece of my mind. I’d been waiting and waiting for him to call, but he never did. One sprained ankle didn’t mean he couldn’t pick up the phone.

He answered on the fourth ring. “Hey, Sal.”

Hey, Sal? I’d reached my limit. “Hey, Sal,” I repeated, “that’s all you have to say? No, ‘I’m sorry I didn’t call. I feel just horrible about it. I’m a complete jerk off for making you worry.’“

“You were worried?” He sounded far too pleased.

“Only a little,” I lied.

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