Page 44 of Shutout
“I beg to disagree,” I say from my bench, a towel on my head as I work on loosening my skate laces. “This feels a lot likeso close, yet so farto me, and that’s not worth celebrating.” I grit my teeth. We have a decent chance with this roster but only if they stop screwing around.
And then Kyle Warren opens his stinky mouth. “Oh wow, what a demoralizing thing to say from the guy who is supposed to be our captain. We should all be out celebrating that we held our own against the reigning champions, right?”
His buddies agree with him like drones and start rallying the rest of the team for a night at O’Malley’s. I leave it alone because at least they didn’t half-ass it tonight at the game, even if Kyle’s error is what led to the Falcon’s sixth goal.
I’m so annoyed, I scrub my skin in the shower like I’m trying to peel it off. Be the Captain, they said. It’ll be fun, they said.
“What do you wanna do?” Dane asks me afterward, when we’re putting on our freaking suits and ties. “Hit O’Malley’s too, or go to a rage room?” He chuckles but the idea has merit.
I shake my head. “No, I think I need quiet. See you at home later.”
“Okay, honey. Don’t be too late or I’ll worry.”
I flip him off on my way out of the lockers, hauling my sports bag on my shoulder as I head to the parking lot. Maybe I should’ve blow dried my hair because the chill bites me as I walk into the night. I didn’t tell Dane that there’s a third option, one that centers me better than a crowded place or smashing things ever could. One that’s on speaking terms with me again. But if I told him, he’d have gotten jealous.
I toss my bag in the backseat of my Gladiator. After climbing in the driver’s seat, I pull out my phone from the pocket of my slacks, wishing I could surprise Liv and show up unannounced at her place. Except I don’t have her current address, so I have no choice but to ruin the plan on my own.
Me
What u up to
I turn on the vehicle and crank up the heat so it starts working fast. With one hand, I tap on the steering wheel as I wait for a response. With the other, I doom scroll through social media to pretend like I’m not being impatient at all.
But then Liv’s face pops up on my screen. I pause to watch a video of her showing how to make a quick allergen-free salad to the tune of Motionless in White. I snort a laugh at the contrast. She moves through her kitchen as though it’s a totally domestic scene without the strident background music and she looks at the camera like she’s bored. It’s hilarious.
Or it would be if she wasn’t so damn hot.
I rub my chin with my hand while I watch her. Does this make me a shitty person? I’m her friend. Her best friendwannabe. I’d break my own face before making her uncomfortable.
But I like what she’s wearing. It’s some kind of black top, so tight it shows off her curves. The neckline swoops down, not drastically, but enough to show some skin. When she turns around for a second to retrieve something, I can see a lot of her back. If I had her permission, I’d kiss her neck slowly, savoring her skin the way I would her lips, and I’d make my way down her spine until I map every inch of her.
That’s when my phone pings with a response.
*Olive emoji*
Studying, why?
Me
Would you like some free pizza with that?
*Olive emoji*
Uhh I am confusion
Me
Text me your address to unconfuse yourself
I squirm on my seat while her three dots reappear, trying to convince myself that the thought of kissing her back hasn’t affected me.
*Olive emoji*
Free you said? Why yes, thank you
“Yes.” I pump a fist as her new address pops onto my screen. I add it to her contact info, put on my seatbelt, and drive off to Romano’s. Not only is it the best Italian place in town, they’re owned by the family of Olivia’s brother-in-law. They know the Liv special by heart now, which is the only pizza guaranteed to not trigger any of her allergies.
As always, the place is an overwhelming explosion of soundas I walk in. Weaving through the tables, I head directly for the counter where the matriarch of the Cassiano clan is checking a couple out.
