Page 30 of Shutout
Meyer waves a hand. “Credit where it’s due. If y’all keep playing like tonight, you’ll crush the season.”
Oh, this is an opening.
“It depends.” I slowly face Liv again. “Will you come watch my games again?”
“How does that even relate?”
I grin. “I play better when you’re rooting for me.”
Her long eyelashes swoop up and down with rapid blinks. “Um. You’ll have to pay me, Brooke.”
A rush travels up my spine. Brooke. Not Brooklyn. This is an improvement.
“Name your currency.” One of the other girls clears her throat and once again I’m reminded that we’re not alone. Time to shift gears. “Anyway, are you all coming to the after game party?”
“No—” Liv starts to say and is cut off by the non Strike.
“Yes! Where?”
“Bolt House,” I respond.
“No.” Liv frowns. “Definitely not. That place is the source of all my traumas. What if something terrible happens again tonight?”
“Or…” I drag the word in a way I know irritates her. Sure enough, her expression darkens even more. “You could go, have a good time with your friends—” Here I motion at the other girls and myself. “And conquer your fears like the badass we all know you are.”
The non Strike nods sagely. “Your former best friend has a good point.” She gives me a sly look. “I’m her bestie now, bud. Sorry.”
Meyer rolls her eyes. “No,Iam Liv’s best friend.”
I smile. “I’m extremely competitive, in case you didn’t notice.”
Liv rubs the bridge of her nose. “Can’t I just go home and wallow in my misery?”
Misery? Is she still pining after her asshole ex?
I grit my teeth. Rather than showing how annoyed that makes me, I hook my arm around Liv’s neck and pull her to me. She knows what’s coming.
In a lethal voice, she says, “Don’t you freaking dare, Body Odor.”
I sure must be reeking right now, which will make this more effective. Dropping my free glove on the floor, I dig my fingers in her hair and mess it up, making sure she’s trapped between my arm and my side. The angry squeaks make me laugh. My veins thrum back to life, as if I was starting a new game shift.
“Say you’ll come and I’ll stop.”
“No! Stop!”
Her hair is so soft I may not stop anyway.
“I’ll tickle you next.”
“Fine, we’re coming.” Her voice comes out distorted and I finally let her go. Liv takes large gulps of air, her face as red as a tomato. “Oh. My. Word. You stink so freaking bad, I almost died.” And for effect, she dry heaves.
Same as usual.
I bend down to pick up my glove. “See you there.” I glance at the other girls. “You too, of course.” And with that, I basically skip back to the locker, where Coach Green will blow my eardrums up for disappearing for a few minutes.
CHAPTER 12
OLIVIA
