Page 24 of Shutout
“Oh my gosh, like the singer?”
“No.” Liv’s brow plummets and I almost laugh. The murderous look on her face keeps me serious. “Anyway, what are your names?”
“I’m Emily Garcia and this is my friend Alyssa Tuft,” says the one nearest to me, while the other girl leans forward to twirl her fingers in a little greeting. “And we’re such big fans. Could we have your autograph, by the way?”
I tuck my tongue against my cheek and shift to give Liv a look. She rolls her eyes and pulls up the email tab, probably to follow through on the lecturer’s request. During class. How edgy of her.
“Sure,” I return to the other girls.
It’s always bizarre when this happens because it’s not like I’m some professional superstar. I wasn’t even the first round’s first pick in the draft. I was second, which for casual fans—or my father—means shit. If people requesting my autograph knew half of what Liv knows about me, they’d think I’m the biggest loser in the world.
No wonder she calls me Body Odor.
“Thank you,” farthest girl says. Elisa?
“Also,” her friend—Amelia—adds, “I guess we should all exchange phone numbers. To plan the meetups and such.”
“Right.” I grab my phone and click around to punch in the first name, before giving the nearest girl my phone to add her number.
Her smile falters. “It’s Emily. Not Elisa.”
“Oh, sorry.” I lean forward to look at the other girl. “What was yours again?”
“Erm, Alyssa.”
“Emily. Alyssa—What?” I turn. Liv’s expression is impassive, but I’m pretty sure I heard a muffled chuckle.
“Nothing.”
Nothing my ass. She was laughing at me. It’s the most glorious sound I’ve heard in a long time. This is why Liam Roberts used to give me so much shit about her, because I always turn into a clown in front of her to make her laugh. Or smile. Her happiness has always made me happy.
Phone numbers exchanged, correct names stored, and when the class finishes up the new girls try to strike a conversation. The problem is that Olivia is faster than a mouse, and I basically have to trip on myself to catch her before she vanishes.
I grab her by the elbow. “Hey, you said we’d talk later.”
Her lips pinch in annoyance but she doesn’t shrug off myhold right away. And now that I’ve caught up, she slows her pace down.
“Later could mean tonight. Or tomorrow. Or in ten years.”
“As if.” I snort. “Especially not after you’ve unblocked my number.”
“I can just as easily block it again.” She gives me a sweet smile that lasts all of one second. “You should’ve stayed behind to do some more fan service instead.”
“Jealous?”
Liv scoffs. “In your dreams.”
Yeah. Definitely in my dreams as of this weekend.
Changing gears, I shrug on my backpack. Her eyes set on the strap by my shoulder for some reason. “So, you didn’t know I’m the team captain now?”
“No, I’m not your groupie.”
“But friends should know what their friends are up to.”
She stops. “For the last time, we’re not?—”
“Nope, we’re past this.” I raise a hand, palm facing her. “We’re back to being friends. And we’re never going back to not being friends. You hear me?”
