Page 30 of Overtime
“Anyway, Maddie. Tell me about you.”
Ryan’s sudden comment snaps me back to reality. A reality where I can’t start going mushy over a guy who smells mouthwatering, because he has a freaking girlfriend.
Goodness, what is wrong with me?
“Um, so. I’m not very interesting? Creative writing major. Twenty-one. I knit?”
“And you love strawberries, from what I’ve heard.”
I laugh a bit. “Yeah, they make me happy.”
Aran cuts a quick glance at me but says nothing as he turns the vehicle on, and the heating starts with a roar.
“Creative writing sounds cool, though. What do you write?”
“Fiction books. Mostly YA.” I clear my throat. “That’s young adult, in case you don’t know.”
“So like,Twilighttype of thing?”
I shift a bit so I can glance over my shoulder. Ryan looks curious rather than mocking, so I relax.
“Not quite, but same age category.”
“So when will we see your work in bookstores?”
I’m at a loss for words, because there’s genuine excitement in her voice. None of the mockery I get from my mom or anyone else who is also not in this writing life. I peek over at Aran, and he looks chill too. Like we’re talking about something totally normal.
“Oh.” I sag into the seat, more overwhelmed than I want to show. “Um, actually, my first book comes out in less than three months.”
At that, Aran shifts his attention to me for a second.
From the back, Ryan says, “Get out! For real?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s remarkable!”
“It’s no big deal,” I mumble, turning away so I can blink back tears. I wish Mom had reacted like this when I broke the news to her last year.
“No, that’s pretty amazing, Strawberry.”
Hearing that from Aran robs me of breath.
“You’ll have to give me your autograph,” Ryan continues, not noticing that I’m about to break down into tears. “I’ll add it to my collection. Although, so far it’s only been jocks.”
“Her collection is full of autographs from friends,” Aran explains. I wipe my face quickly so I can turn to him. My eyes catch on his hand where it’s turning the wheel as if it’s someone he’s caressing. “She thinks one of us will hit it big and she’ll be able to sell the autograph for a hefty sum.”
“It’s what my dad did.” She laughs. “One of his childhood friends became a pretty well-known singer, and with the money from the autograph, he bought me my first car.”
I like Ryan. She’s a chatterbox like me when I’m not being an emotional butt. And she seems genuinely friendly.
A small smile plays on Aran’s lips. He must like her a lot too, huh?
Ryan picks up where she left off. “Anyway, that’s probably the most interesting thing about me. Other than that, I’m also twenty-one. I’m a bio major. And I’m varsity Strikes.”
“The captain,” Aran finishes off.
“What?” I whirl around as far as my seat belt lets me. “You’re the Strikes captain?”
