Page 23 of Flame After the Fumble

With zero hesitation, she says, “I love it.”

“Yay!” I smile at my reflection in the mirror. Deciding it’s time for winged eyeliner, I dig in my bag once again to grab my favorite liquid tube. “Any cute boys catch your eye?” I’m officially snooping because anyone with eyes can see how Ryan’s looks at her, and it’s anything but platonic.

This time, she does hesitate. “Not really.”

“Come on, Vi! Getting ready for a night out is prime girl talk time.”

“Umm. . .” Her trailing voice echoes across the bathroom and into the bedroom. “There is one, but you have to promise you won’t say a word to anyone.”

I do a little happy dance and take a few breaths before replying, “I swear. Now spill.”

“Ryan is kind of cute, I mean he’s definitely not interested in a girl like me, but he is cute.”

Sadness passes over me. Violet’s confidence in herself is next to none, and it’s now my mission to change that. “Why wouldn’t he be interested in you?”

“Come on, Liza. He’s him, and I’m me.”

This conversation calls for eye contact, so I get up off the floor and walk into the bathroom to meet her by the mirror. “Okay. . . I need more details.”

She flusters under the intensity of the conversation, placing the straightener down on the heat resistant cover. “He’s a football player who can have anyone he wants.” She blinks a few times. “And I’m a wallflower.”

“Hey.” I grip her shoulders and turn her to face me. “Don’t sell yourself short. You’re smart, funny, and gorgeous. Ryan would be lucky to have a girl like you.”

A soft smile appears as her cheeks heat from the compliments. “We’ll see.”

After close to an hour of makeup and hair, Violet steps out of the bathroom looking so stinkin’ cute in Hartley’s jersey and ripped up jean shorts. She twirls around, but quickly starts tugging on her jersey and looking herself up and down. “Does it look okay? I don’t know. . .”

“You lookhot,”I squeal. “These football boys won’t know what’s hitting them tonight. Especially number nine.” I purse my lips and wink, teasing Violet for her obvious crush on Springs U’s resident brooding running back.

She shakes her head and folds her arms over her chest before darting her eyes to the ceiling. “I don’t need a boyfriend right now.” Her chin juts out right before she rolls her eyes.Not convincing, baby girl.

“Sure,” I drawl out. “Tell yourself whatever you need to hear.”

“Is that Locke’s jersey number?!” Violet grabs the back of my jersey to get a closer look.

Busted. Locke is only ever on my mind when he’s in direct line of sight. He’s never had an effect on me like another golden retriever named Hartley does. Plus, Locke’s in the ‘no commitment’ zone which is just fine with me. “Uh, yeah, it is. He gave it to me last year. I haven’t had a chance to get another one.” I shrug, trying not to make a big deal out of it.

“No way. Let’s switch. You can have Hartley’s for the night, and I’ll wear Locke’s. I barely know him, so it’s fine.” My bodyfreezes, but I know I can’t let Violet see the effect Hartley’s name has on me, so I launch into her arms.

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.”

There’s no way Hartley will let me live this one down. The scarier thought is that I like the feeling of his name and number plastered on my back for a whole stadium of Viper fans to see.

16

Hartley

We won the home opener, and there’s only one appropriate way to celebrate a win. Buzzing from the adrenaline, I step out of the steaming shower and throw on my signature look. Khakis, SU Football Henley, and red Air Jordans. I top off the look with my backwards hat.

“Let’s go,” Ryan grunts out next to me.

“Woah there, party animal. I thought you didn’t want to run around with us losers tonight. Isn’t that what you said?” Giving Ryan a hard time is one of my favorite pastimes, and I manage to live under the layer of his skin closest to the bone.

“Yeah, well, I changed my mind.”

“That’s enough explanation for me.” I smack his back, and we sling our gear bags over our shoulders as we make our way to his car.

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