Page 42 of When Nothing Else Matters

“There’s nothing more to talk about. It’s sorted.” She pulls her phone from her pocket and stares at the locked screen, avoiding my gaze, like she avoids my questions. I’m ninety-nine percent sure that her panic attack has everything to do with whatever baggage she’s carrying around. And it’s baggage she has no intention of offloading. I can’t seem to take my eyes off her, so I don’t miss when she suddenly straightens her shoulders, takes a deep but silent breath, and turns back to face me, a new casual demeanor in place.

“If you want to go all deep and meaningful tonight, why don’t we talk about why we’re really here?” She raises an eyebrow, the smallest hint of a sneer on her face, as if to say “how doyoulike it?”

She has a point. I had no intention of sharing, but I should. I lean forward and rest my elbows on my knees, release a deep breath, and tell her what’s wrong. Most of it, anyway. I tell her about my father’s death, my distant relationship with my mother, and my public outburst at Nicole. What I don’t tell her, what I still can’t face, is my part in my father’s death and the dark thoughts I have because of that.

Summer sits quietly and listens to my every word. When I talk about being a twelve-year-old without a dad, she squeezes my hand in comfort. When I mention Lucy’s unwavering support, her face lights up, mimicking my own. And at the mention of my outburst, she bites her lip to hold back a laugh, bringing a smile to my face.

I haven’t vented like that in…well, ever. Lucy and Joel know almost everything about my life, but I’ve always delivered the information in pieces. There’s something to be said about verbally spewing up all your thoughts at once. It feels good.

“Enough with the heavy and the bleachers. It’s time we move down to where the magic happens,” I say after a moment of silence. “Don’t think I didn’t notice the football in your bag.”

Her nose crinkles, and she sighs. “Ah, you caught that?”

“I did.”

“I brought it for extreme circumstances only. Just in case my wit and charm weren’t enough to cheer you up.”

“You brought it for me? Here I was thinking you secretly played.” I smirk.

She playfully shoves my shoulder. “Shut up; you know it’s for you.”

“Have you ever played?”

Her smile drops ever so slightly. “Yep.” If I wasn’t so focused on her, I never would have noticed the change in expression.

“Want to play now?” Based on her reaction to my last question, I’m expecting a no, but we are definitely playing.

“Ugh, are you going to let me say no?”

Ha, it’s like she knows me so well already. “Definitely not,” I say with a smile.

She rolls her eyes and waves her hand toward the field. “Well, lead the way.”

“No fair,” she yells, as I throw the ball down for the sixth time. She’s right. It’s not at all fair, but I’m letting her get a few wins. At least, Iwasletting her get some wins, until she started playing dirty.

She catches up and grabs ahold of my arm, leaning over to catch her breath. “I thought we agreed you’d run at half speed?”

“That was before you stripped.”

“What? That wasn’t…I didn’tstrip. Ichangedinto a tank top. It’s hot.”She backs away from me with her hands in the air.

“You were trying to distract me.”

“What? Never,” she says innocently, but she can’t hide the small smirk adorning her face.

“Okay. My mistake. Your turn,” I say, kicking the ball along the ground in her direction.

She eyes me suspiciously, for good reason, but then picks it up and moves into place. I sit on the grass and cross my legs, dutifully complying to the starting position Summer assigned me.

I see her grin before I close my eyes and say, “Okay, I’m ready.”

“Mickey twenty-two, Donald, hut,” she yells, and I hear her take off running. I can’t help but laugh at her ridiculous but inventive attempts at calling the play.

Leaping from the ground, I sprint after her. There’s no half speed this time, not with what I have planned.

She’s almost at our designated end zone, her bag, when I dart in front of her and slam my shoulders into her waist. The impact catches her off guard, allowing me to lift her off the ground and over my shoulder in one quick motion.

The ball drops to the turf, just shy of its mark.

---