It’d been an entire week since Garrett had kissed me, and we still hadn’t talked about it. In fact, we hadn’t really talked at all. He’d waved and asked me about my day the few times we’d bumped into each other outside, but that was it.
On Thursday, he’d even helped Jamie practice some goals out in the yard, but had turned him down when he invited him over for dinner.
I felt like in trying to save our friendship, I’d already ruined it. He’d said he’d back off, but I guess I hadn’t realized he’d also meant as friends as well.
I shifted on the bleacher, rubbing subconsciously at my chest, trying to soothe the ache that had settled in and wouldn’t leave. It was late morning, and Jamie’s game would be starting any minute. It was the first one I’d had to attend alone, and I was feeling a little sorry for myself.
Layla had taken a gig to play music at a farmer’s market in a neighboring town this weekend, and my parents were at some kind of fundraiser for my dad’s work. I was whinier about it than Jamie was.
We’d all made plans to have a late lunch together later so he could tell them how it went. He’d asked me twice already if I knew whether Garrett was coming. I hadn’t been able to give him an answer.
I rubbed harder, wishing I lived in one of those fantasy worlds where people could turn their emotions off. When compared to powers like flying, super strength, or speed, I’d take emotional control every time.
Huddling deeper into the blanket I’d finally remembered to bring; I propped my feet on the bleacher in front of me and rested my head on my knees. I closed my eyes and crossed my arms over my face, separating myself from the world.
To anyone looking at me, I probably resembled a woolly cocoon. Too bad I’d be the same exhausted woman when I emerged.
Laughter sounded to my left, followed by the vibrations of someone walking across the bleacher I was sitting on. “Is that you under there, Madison?”
I shot up, nearly tipping backward into the foot space behind me. My blanket puddled around my waist, and I looked up to see Michael smiling down at me.
“Oh. Good morning, Michael.”
“Cold?” He stepped closer, lowering to sit next to me. I grabbed the edges of the blanket, shuffling to the side even though he already had more than enough room to sit.
I huffed a laugh I dearly hoped didn’t sound as fake as it felt. The idea of small talk was already pulling on the last strings of my energy, and we’d only started.
“A little. Just waiting for the game to start.”
He pointed toward the boys huddled up on the field, “Looks like they’re getting ready to run out there now.”
I made do with nodding.
“Do you mind if I sit here, or are you waiting for someone?”
I bit the inside of my cheek at his obvious fishing. He might as well have waved a rod and worm around, but I couldn’t blame him. The last time we’d spoken, Garrett had swept in like a tidal wave, whisking me away.
“It’s just me today.” I turned my attention to the field. I still couldn’t claim to be a fan of sports, but there was something about watching kids run aimlessly around a field for an hour or two that was almost calming. Like watching a fish tank or an ant farm.
In my peripheral, I could see Michael glance my way several times. He clearly wanted to say or ask something, but he hadn’t worked up the nerve. Part of me hoped he never did, as shitty as the thought was. Anytime someone gave me a look like that, they were usually about to ask me something personal.
“Can I ask you something?”
Damn.
I dragged my eyes to him, but he was looking down at his watch, fiddling with the dials, so I looked back at the field. “Sure.”
“Are you free next weekend? It’s Ian’s birthday, and he’s wanting to invite Jamie over for some pizza and cake. I thought…maybe we could…”
His stuttering trailed off, and I frowned, twisting toward him. He was asking about a kid birthday, not dinner and a movie, so why did he sound so damn nervous? I opened my mouth to ask when, only for another voice to beat me to it.
“What day?”
Warmth engulfed my shoulder a second later as a large hand curled around it, tucking me against the jean-covered leg standing behind me. How his lumberjack of a body made it across these rickety benches without me noticing was a feat in itself. The man was stealthy as hell.
Michael looked like he’d swallowed something bitter as he replied, “Saturday afternoon.”
Garrett’s hands lifted just enough to grip the edge of my blanket and pull it higher over my shoulders before dropping to my biceps and rubbing his fingers up and down in a soothing manner.
“We can check our schedules. Maddie works Saturday evenings, but if you’re okay with it, I have no problem bringing Jamie,” he said, directing the last part at me.
Michael glanced over, but I struggled to focus on him when I could still feel Garrett’s words wrapping around me. We. He said we would check, like we were a team, a unit, a family in the making.
There was a funny feeling in my middle that was either my heart pulling a Grinch number and growing, or there was a chance I was about to vomit.
“Yeah, I’m sure we can make it work.”
Michael appeared less than happy about the entire ordeal. “Good. That’s good.” He stood abruptly, muttering something about needing to use the restroom. I watched him leave, wondering if he knew he’d walked in the opposite direction of them.
I pivoted my body, coming face to face with Garrett’s thick thigh. I slid my eyes up his frame, raising an eyebrow in silent question.
His eyes moved over every inch of my face like we’d gone months being apart. The hand on my arm moved to my cheek, cupping it for a fleeting moment before he pulled back and tucked his hands into his hoodie. “Hey.”
I couldn’t hide the smile the single word brought to my face. “I didn’t think you were coming.”
He stepped over the bleacher, settling down next to me. “Is it all right that I’m here?”
Before thinking better about it, I placed my hand on his leg. “Of course, it is. Jamie kept asking me if you were coming. He’s going to be so happy.”
His eyes latched onto my hand before slowly making their way up, “And you?”
“I’m happy you’re here too.” I laughed awkwardly. “I thought you’d finally come to your senses and were avoiding me.”
His brow furrowed, “I was trying to give you space.”
I squeezed his leg once before forcing the mind-of-its-own limb back to my lap. “I needed space from your sex eyes, Garrett, not from you.”
Laughter tore out of him like he wasn’t prepared for it, and a small glowing ember perked up inside of me. It was one of the most beautiful sounds I’d ever heard.
I stared at my child, a knife gripped in my hand, hovering over a half-sliced tomato. “I’m sorry, you did what?”
“I invited him over for lunch.”
Carefully setting the knife down, I wiped my hands on a towel, turning to face the living room and my parents, who were currently chatting on the couch about something they’d read in the news.
“Here,” I confirmed, pointing to the floor.
Jamie opened his mouth, but just then a knock sounded against the door, startling my parents and setting Rugsy off.
I dropped my head into my hands, allowing myself to freak out for a split second before I found my female balls and marched over. Garrett was here. To have lunch with my parents. Dear Lord, they were going to interrogate the hell out of me later.
Opening the door, I stepped back enough for his large frame to squeeze past. He looked like he was about to treat me to a sexy smirk when his eyes darted over my shoulder and noticed the other occupants in the room.
“Hey, Garrett,” Jamie said, popping up next to me jack-in-the-box style.
“Hey, J-man, long time no see.”
Jamie chuckled, looking at me with the orneriest face on the planet, silently saying, See? It’s fine.