Page 76 of Chess Not Checkers
I pull back, and she gives me a pointed look. A giggle bursts out of me. “I’ll tell you soon, I promise. Like, next week.”
She raises a brow. “I’m going to trust you, even though I’d like to drag you in the house and have the whole family interrogate you until you break.”
I laugh. “Thank you for trusting me. I know it sounds weird, but it’s good.”
“And you really ate bonbons with him?” she asks softly. Only Dahlia knows how much meaning that holds.
“Mom would like him,” I say, my eyes welling with tears at the thought. “So would Dad, though he’d pretend not to on principle.”
“Of course.” Dahlia laughs, her eyes glistening too. She sucks in a breath and blows it out in an exaggerated manner. “Okay, I will refrain from asking about this mysterious man. But we’re getting coffee at the Sweet Bean next week, and I want all the details.”
I giggle. “Deal. Just…” I glance back to make sure he didn’t come out when we weren’t looking. “Don’t bring Levi. He won’t like some of the details.” My face warms hotter than the fire.
“Which means I’m going tolovethem.” She squeezes my shoulders. “Sisters only. Got it.”
“Maybe I could bring my friends too? I think you’d like them.”
Her smile is bright. “I would love that.”
“Okay, it’s a plan.” I glance up at the starry sky and sigh. “I should probably go. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow with homecoming.”
“Yes, you’ll need all the sleep you can get.”
We hug one more time. When she pulls back, she lets out a little laugh. “I guess I shouldn’t be trying to set you up with Shepherd, then? I thought you two would be cute together since you both like chess.”
It takes everything in me to not turn into a wide-eyed statue.
“You were trying to set us up?” I squeak. That must be why she suggested we play chess together.
She shrugs. “I thought it would be good. He’s a nice boy.”
I tighten the blanket around myself and pray she doesn’t see me emotionally floundering.
“He is nice,” I say carefully. “Maybe leave the dating thing to me?”
She sighs. “If I must.”
I shake my head. “I’m going to go now before you embarrass me even more.”
“It’s my job to embarrass you, but yes, you should get going. Don’t forget to hug everyone before you leave.”
We say our goodbyes again, and I walk through a long train of warm hugs. After I’ve been sufficiently squeezed, I get out to my car and check my phone for the first time since I got here. Sure enough, Shepherd’s warning message is in our text thread. But so is a more recent one.
Shepherd: I left you a gift by your back left tire. I know you have to wear your uniform most of the day, but I thought you could wear it while getting ready in the morning.
I jump back out of my car and look around to make sure none of my family is watching before grabbing the blue gift bag and getting back inside. I reach into the bag and pull out a jersey. With Shepherd’s name on it. A smile spreads across my face. I grab my phone and text him back.
Jasmine: I love it! Thank you! I’ll definitely wear it tomorrow. I’m about to head back to the apartment.
Shepherd: Want to talk while you drive?
My heart skips. I immediately press call, then start to turn my car around.
Shepherd’s voice fills my car. “I guess that’s a yes.”
“It was torture spending all night in the same house without getting to talk to you,” I say as I start down the magnolia-lined driveway.
“Especially when you won. I wanted to kiss you so bad.”
