Page 22 of The Game Plan

“Yeah, you have.”

Tamar is quiet for a few moments. “I don’t get it, I really don’t, but I’m going to try to be a better friend and support you. It’s not about me, it’s about you.”

“I don’t think I’m asking for a lot,” I point out. “Basic human decency.”

She winces. “I deserve that. I deserve a lot worse than that.”

We finish getting dressed in silence and head to the gym. It’s another fun day of cardio drills. I’d rather do suicide sprints all day, every day, than relive that conversation over again. The other girls seem to have picked up on Tamar’s and my reconciliation and are all over me again.

“Are you joining us for dinner tonight?” Aleesha asks. “We haven’t seen you in forever.”

“I’m right here. I haven’t gone anywhere.”

She rolls her eyes. “You sit at the table and don’t talk to anyone. You come home and go straight to your room. You’re here, yeah, but you’re not with us. What happened? What did we do?”

“It’s nothing you guys did. It’s me. I needed some space.”

A strategic retreat. I needed to hole up and lick my wounds in private. To stew in my own anger without letting it bubble over and impact other people, too. My ire was mainly aimed at Tamar and her stupid comments. I don’t care that the rest of the team is gossiping about me behind my back. It’s what they said to my face that got to me.

It’s been a fuckingweek, and it’s only Thursday.

I want to talk to Miles. It’s an ache deep inside me. I don’t know why. We barely know each other. We’ve studied together twice. We’ve talked a handful of times. I’m not saying we’re best friends or anything like that. I don’t even know if we’re regular friends yet.

But being with him is peaceful. Restful. Something about him soothes my soul in a way I didn’t know I needed. He makes my whole day better.

I want to see him again. Now. And not just to study.

I wonder what he’s doing. Does he have class? Practice? There’s another home game this weekend. Is he getting ready, studying plays, watching tape? I want to know. I want to know everything about him.

After practice, I head to the dining hall with the girls like nothing is wrong, and for the first time, I think everything might be okay. I’m still a little too much in my head. I’m not purposefully withdrawing this time, though I have withdrawn. I wonder if he’s going to be there.

Following the girls to a table, I take a seat facing the back of the room. Miles has sat at the same table every time I’ve seen him. He’s a creature of habit.

We’re halfway through our meal when I spot him. He’s wearing a Newton Football windbreaker and a dark green hoodie. It’s a good look on him. I’ve only ever seen him wearing school hoodies—a new one every day, sure, but always sweatshirts. I don’t blame him. It’s fall. The chill in the air has a way of seeping into your bones if you’re not careful.

He takes his usual seat at the back of the room. Miles unrolls his silverware and looks up. We make eye contact, and he blinks. Then he breaks into a brilliant smile.

My heart skips a beat.

“Hi,” I mouth from across the room.

His cheeks go red, and he dips his head.

Beside him, Barrett looks over in my direction and nudges him. He waggles his fingers at me and sniggers.

I roll my eyes. Miles doesn’t look up again. He toys with his food.

As I watch, Tucker and Greg join them, Amir not far behind. Wes pulls another book out of his backpack and proceeds to ignore everyone.

It’s always the six of them. They don’t hang out with anyone else that I’ve seen. Wes always has a new book. Tucker is always on his phone. Amir, Greg, and Barrett are usually laughing and joking. Sometimes Miles joins in.

He’s still not eating, just pushing the food around on his plate. His head comes up, and his eyes dart over to mine. We make eye contact for a brief second, and he looks away again, his cheeks flaming red. I wonder what that’s about.

“How do you feel about movie night?” Lex asks. “We were thinking either Legally Blonde or Grease.”

“That sounds fine,” I tell her, not really paying attention.

I pull out my phone and bring up Miles’ contact. I added his number on Monday and haven’t used it yet. I don’t know what to say. I just know I want to talk to him.

---