Page 106 of Fraternizing with the Enemy
Logan gave another ghostly chuckle again, grip on me loosening as he looked away. “Yeah. Well. I’m your first boyfriend, aren’t I?”
I pinched his side. “And you like me? Youreallylike me?”
“You already knew that,” Logan said, looking at me with a startled expression. “I told you.”
“No, you said you werechalantabout me. But actually hearing those words—it’s different.”
The moment seemed toquiet. That was the only way I could describe it. It was like Logan pressed pause, eyestracing mine as if searching for something. Or trying to commit me to memory. Or, maybe, commit thismomentto memory. His arms had yet to fall from around me, the bubble of the moment stillours.
“I like you,” Logan murmured. He removed one hand from my back to reach up and brush back some of my blonde hair. Not in a perfecting way, like Jade always did, but in a tender way of his own. His fingertips trailed delicately along my cheekbone, and I held my breath. “I mean it. I really do.”
A rush of warmth spread through me, its own fingertipped touch on my insides. I had the strongest, strongest urge to squeal, but forced myself to remain still. Barely. A faint, almost dream-like thought danced through my mind.This is what falling in love feels like. “And I like you,” I said, leaning closer, tilting my face up.
Kiss me, I wanted to say. To beg.Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me.
He had to know I wanted it. It had to be obvious, written all over my face the same way it was written all over his.
But suddenly, just like all the other times we’d gotten close, Logan pulled away. His arms fell from around me, and he easily stepped back out of the embrace. My shoulders dropped as, yet again, he left the gap uncrossed. “I’m sorry tonight was such a bust,” he said, reaching for the handle of my car door and popping it open. “Raincheck?”
Why won’t you kiss me?I wanted to demand, and if it hadn’t been for his words moments ago—I like you, I really do—my question might’ve slipped out. Instead, I pinched off a smile. “Raincheck,” I agreed, sliding into the driver’s seat.
Saturday afternoon, I found myself going on Babble on my laptop instead of my phone. The web design was pretty sophisticated for someone in high school, thankfully, so I was able to filter the posts by a time frame. With my computer open on my bed, I scrolled back to last fall, setting the months between August and October, with a keyword offootball. Thirty posts loaded, and I slowly went through the titles, looking for one in particular.
Brentwood vs. Jefferson Football Game.
Once again, the Cats crushed the Dogs—did anyone really think it would go any other way?
Brentwood High Bobcats dominated the field tonight in a nail-biting 32–28 showdown against our forever rivals, the Jefferson High Bulldogs. Tension was high. Trash talk was higher. And the Bulldogs? Well… they barked, but they couldn’t bite.
Let’s talk about Connor Bray, though. That boy ate! Is it too early to call him next year’s QB1? (Okay, maybe, but tell me I’m wrong.)
But for now, let's raise a digital toast to our boys for shutting it down and showing out. See you in the comments—unless you’re a sore loser.
I frowned. Typical Babble fashion, but no mention of Noah breaking his leg at all. I read it once more before scrolling to the comments.
BundlesOfBobcats: Connor Bray was on fire—he might as well have walked on the field with a crown
Hunt4Bulldogs: Bobcats > Bulldogs forever. This rivalry is starting to feel like a tradition of losing… for them
GirlWithBangs: At least the Bulldogs tried participation trophies all around!
MrTwister123: Anyone else hear the Bulldog QB’s leg snap? GROSS
BundlesOfBobcats: Y’all deserve a parade down Main Street after that game tbh
I blinked at the one, clicking on it to expand the thread. Only two people responded to their comment.
OraanjeJooce: I didn’t hear anything. He was probably faking it for attention
MrTwister123: nah, it definitely broke. they took him out on the ambulance.
And that was it. I scrolled through the forty-five other comments, but they were just congratulations or Connor quarterback speculations—nothing more about the ruined career of a Jefferson Bulldog.
Just before I closed the webpage, my eyes caught the article posted after that one—less than twelve hours later.
JANNOR IS OVER?!
That’s right, girls and Bobcats. Jannor is officially O.V.E.R. How do I know? I received a particularly trustworthy tip this morning. I’m not going to say it’s from our Bobcat Babe herself, but
