Page 101 of Behind the Net

Dumb, naive hope twirls and spins in my chest. The typing dots pop up, disappear, and pop up again.

I’ve never been to Silver Falls,he texts.

My heart leaps into my throat and I beam at my phone.

“What is going on?” Hazel asks, smirking at me.

“Nothing.”It’s gorgeous this time of year,I text.You’ll freeze your ass off.

Perfect.Can I come say hi?

Yes, please.

Great. My flight lands in two hours.

My mouth falls open.What?!

I’m at the airport. Is that okay?

Of course!My smile stretches from ear to ear.

Hazel drops down beside me, peering at my phone to read the texts. “What?” she repeats. “What’s going on?”

I don’t care that my emotions are written all over my face. “Jamie’s coming to visit.”

She sighs, but she’s smiling. “Of course he is.”

* * *

The doorbell rings, and I leap up from the couch before taking a deep breath in front of the door. Hazel snorts from the kitchen, where she’s on her laptop.

I open the door, and he’s standing there with a barely perceptible smile, which means he’s just as excited as I am. God, he’s so tall. I’m speechless, staring up at him with a doofy grin on my face.

“Hi,” I say stupidly.

His cheeks are flushed from the cold. He’s wearing a green toque that brings out the color of his eyes. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but he’s looking at me like I’m the best thing he’s ever seen.

“Hi,” he says, and the low tenor of his voice sends a shiver down my spine.

The tension runs between us, and his gaze drops to my lips. He looks like he wants to kiss me, and my stomach wobbles in the best way.

“We’re home,” my dad calls from behind Jamie, and we take a step apart.

My parents climb the steps, chatting, and stop short when they see Jamie. They were visiting friends, and I thought they’d be out later.

My dad’s eyes go wide like he’s seen a ghost. “Oh my god.” He thrusts his hand forward with a big, friendly grin. “What the heck is Jamie Streicher doing on my front step? Ken Hartley.”

Jamie shakes his hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.” He offers my dad a smile, and from her spot in the kitchen, Hazel glances at me in confusion.

Sir?Hazel mouths and I shrug.

“Oh, this is the hockey player!” My mom claps her hands. “We’ve heard so much about you.”

He smiles again at her, and my face burns. They haven’t heardthat muchabout him. So I mention him once in a while. So what?

“Hi, Mrs. Hartley,” Jamie says, shaking her hand.

She pulls him into a hug. Her head barely comes to his shoulder. “Call me Maureen, honey. Let’s go inside. You’re going to catch a cold.”

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