Page 51 of Home Field Advantage
“Fine by me.” Dallas shrugs with a grin before pulling out his phone and handing it to me. I look at the phone and back up at him before taking it, and I see that the phone app is already open for me.
He makes me forget my phone number all of a sudden.
“I guess…I’ll text you when I plan to come by,” I say, handing him back his phone.
My phone buzzes in my back pocket, and I take it out to see a text.
Unknown number:
It’s me.
Smiling down at the text, it feels like the weight of the world is in my palm. A line of communication with the neighbor whom I wanted to steer clear of, but am now having second thoughts about.
Do I want this?
Do I want to explore this, knowing he’s here temporarily?
“I’ll put her number in your phone,” Sage says to Dallas, pulling the phone from his hand. “I know how to spell Miss Barlow’s name now.”
She clicks away with her tongue poking out in concentration, and I take the opportunity to watch Dallas watch Sage. He looks at her like she’s his whole world. And it makes me feel like I’mmissing out on so much. Not even realizing that the fear of relationships will hold me back fromthis. Experiencing someone looking at me like I’m their whole world.
Nan clears her throat, breaking Dallas’s trance from watching his daughter and mine from watching them.
He turns to face me. “Well, we’d better get going.”
I nod, wringing my fingers nervously in front of me.
“It was good to see you outside of school,” Sage says first. “I can’t wait to see you again tomorrow for the puzzle. And the next day for school. And the next day, and the next day. Every day with Miss Barlow! Yes!” she rattles off, her voice growing with each word, as if she’s realizing at the same time the words leave her lips.
I laugh. “Yes, I’ll see you then.”
Looking at Dallas now, my nervous system strikes again. He brings his bottom lip between his teeth as a lopsided grin forms on his face. I feel weak, like my legs are going to give out beneath me at any second.
“It was good seeing you, Poppy. I’m glad we ran into you this morning.”
“You too.”
These are the only two words I can manage without fumbling over my words.
Dallas winks and takes a few steps backward, facing me before shaking his head, smiling, and turning on his heel to walk away.
I feel my cheeks heat on their own.
“Well,” Nan says beside me, forcing me to face her. She has her arms crossed over her chest and a knowing grin. “Looks like Pretty Poppy has an admirer in town.”
“Definitely not.”
“I saw the way he looks at you, girl.”
“How did he look at me?”
She stands there, assessing me. “He looks at you like you’re the answer to everything.”
CHAPTER 13
I’M ONLY HERE FOR THE SNACKS.
Dallas
