Page 12 of Write Me For You
I burst out laughing, as did Emma and Jesse. I wanted to bathe in the sound. It felt just as healing as the pain meds that lessened the aftereffects of treatment.
I liked Chris. And I more than admired the way he was so honest about his depression. It was admirable. I already adored Emma. And as for Jesse…I flicked my gaze up to him. He caught me and said, “You having a good time, Junebug?”
“I am,” I said. I truly was.
We rounded the corner and a playground lay before us. Chris ran straight over to the swings and took a seat. Five other swings made up the set, and we all sat down. Emma was to my right and Jesse to my left. I swung back and forth, looking out at the many acres of longhorn cattle. The air smelled sweet, and the temperature wasn’t too hot.
“So, Chris?” Emma said. Chris was moving back and forward with a bit more vigor than the rest of us. “What were you like at school?”
Chris tipped his head to the side and said, “Hugely popular. The biggest ladies’ man that ever did exist. The best baseball player that the county had ever seen.” He shrugged. “But I try to keep humble about it.”
I giggled, and Emma threw her head back and laughed. Jesse shook his head but chuckled to himself.
“What?” Chris said to Jesse. “You don’t believe me, bro?”
Jesse held up his hands. “I’m not saying anything. I wouldn’t want to doubt the biggest ladies’ man that ever did exist.”
Chris rolled his eyes and smirked. “All right. I was pretty good at baseball, enough to get a scholarship to college. I had a few girlfriends, but every single one dumped me.”
“I knew it!” Emma called out.
Chris scowled at her. “But I liked school. I’m bummed that I won’t see out my senior year alongside my classmates. But I guess you guys will do.” Jesse kicked his foot into the shredded bark that made up the playground’s flooring, spraying Chris with it.
Chris dusted it off, then narrowed his eyes on Emma. “What about you?”
“Normal student. Band nerd. No enemies. It was all good,” Emma said.
“June?” Chris asked, and my stomach flipped.
I held my notebook tighter to my chest and stared at the ground. “Good student. Probably more reserved than you guys. But I liked school.” I felt my cheeks heating, but when I looked up, Chris was nodding.
He then locked eyes on Jesse. “Jesse?” Chris asked, smirking.
“No, I got this,” Emma said, butting in. “Hugely popular. And wasactuallythe biggest ladies’ man that ever did exist. And reallywasthe best football player in the county.”
I laughed at Chris’s expression as he took in Emma’s “betrayal.” But then his expression eased, and he said, “Yeah, that’s probably all true.”
When I glanced to Jesse, it was obvious by the look of embarrassment that it was all true. But instead of agreeing, he said, “I’m a man of mystery. I’ll just keep y’all guessing.” But I could see it. I imagined Jesse was the most popular guy at his school. And if my daddy had heard of him, he was clearly insanely talented at football. And by just the effect he had on me, he no doubt had girls flocking to him.
We couldn’t have been further apart in social status if we’d tried.
“We’re quite the hodgepodge group,” Emma said, but her following smile was blinding. “And I love it!”
I looked to Chris, the humorous one; Emma, the loyal one; I was the book nerd and quieter one; and Jesse, well, he was the all-American boy with the magnetic smile.
“Let’s see what else this place has to offer,” Chris said, and jumped off the swing. Emma followed. I got off my swing, and Jesse fell into step beside me again.
“You like Emma?” he asked, tossing his ball.
“I love her,” I said. “I can’t wait to get to know her more.” I laughed at Chris and Emma walking ahead, Chris trying to trip Emma on the graveled path. “He was definitely the class clown,” I said and pointed to Chris running from Emma as she tried to get him back.
“One hundred percent, not the ladies’ man he wants us all to believe,” Jesse said.
A spark of jealousy rushed through me. “But you were?” I found myself asking.
Jesse turned to me.
“Mr. Popular?”
