by Amber Garza
“Hey.” Her tone is curt, her gaze flickering around like she’s uneasy.
My stomach knots. I push off the locker, wondering if I misjudged things.
Grabbing the jacket between her fingers, she thrusts it in my direction. “Here’s your jacket back. I figured there’s no reason for me to have it anymore.”
Yep, I seriously misjudged things. She wasn’t coming over here to rekindle our relationship. She’s here to end it.
I stare at the jacket, unable to take it back. “Talia, please just keep the jacket.” Shaking her head, she continues to hold it out. A few students stare over at us openly while others try to be more subtle about it. However, it’s pretty clear that everyone in this hallway knows what’s going on. A girl doesn’t give a guy his jacket back unless she’s dumping him. Irritation surfaces at how Talia’s handling this. We weren’t even a real couple, and now she’s going to break up with me publicly? Angrily, I snatch the jacket back. “Fine, but you couldn’t have come to my house and done this privately? I thought I treated you pretty well. I had no idea you wanted to stick it to me like this.”
Her face drops. “I-I-I didn’t even think of it that way. I actually thought this was what you wanted.”
“You thought this was what I wanted?” I snap, incredulous. “After I confessed my feelings the other day? Yeah, Tals, this is exactly what I wanted.” Snorting bitterly, I cross my arms over my chest, the jacket dangling between my fingers. Her scent clings to it, wafting under my nose and turning my stomach. “Wow, you really are clueless.”
“I’m clueless?” She shoots back. “I’m doing exactly what you told me to do, Josh.”
“What?” Now I’m even more baffled.
“Yeah, remember the instructions you gave me at the beginning of all of this? You told me to remember the plan, and to not fall for you. Well, I listened. I remembered the plan, and I didn’t fall for you,” she says icily. “And now I’ve broken up with you for everyone to see, so we both can move on.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Heather watching us with interest from her locker. Great. That chick will probably be all over me like stink on crap by the end of the day. Turning back to Talia, I blow out a breath. “Well, then I guess I should thank you.”
Her expression hardens, and I have no idea why. Clearly, she wants out of this, so I’m letting her out. When her lips lower into a frown, my mom’s words knock around in my head.
You just have to show her that you genuinely like her.
Did she do all of this hoping I would protest? That I would beg her to stay with me?
“You’re welcome.” Her lower lip trembles a little, and she forcefully lifts her chin up. “Well, I guess I’ll see ya around.” She sidesteps me, and panic blooms in my chest.
Jutting out my arm, I grab her wrist. “Wait.” A thousand statements fly through my mind in a matter of seconds, but I have no idea if any of them are what she wants to hear. How can I prove to her that she’s more than just a challenge, that I genuinely want to be with her? I’ve tried saying that, but it wasn’t enough. What will be enough?
Her eyebrows raise as she waits for me to speak.
Heart plummeting, I release her arm and mumble, “Thanks for the jacket.”
Eyes narrowing, she nods. Then she mutely walks away from me.
“What was all that about?” Nolan swaggers over to me, his head bobbing toward an angry Talia as she tears down the hallway. My gaze drops to my jacket, and Nolan’s eyes follow. “Yikes.” He cringes. “That’s not a good sign.”
“No, it’s not.” My lips curling downward, I glance back down the hallway. But Talia’s nowhere to be seen.
The bell peals, and Nolan’s hand clamps down on my shoulder. “There’ll be other girls, man.”
“I don’t want another girl,” I say honestly.
His brows leap clear up to his forehead. “Did you just say you don’t want another girl? I’ve never heard you say that before.”
I shrug. “People change.”
“Clearly.” He smiles with appreciation. “Well, then get her back, man.” Leaning in close, he winks. “And I’d do it fast before Chase gets wind of this.”
“She’s never gonna go out with that tool,” I say, hoping I’m right. Still, his words light a fire in my belly. Talia’s hot. Other guys are going to try to snag the minute they know she’s free. I can’t let that happen.
“I gotta get to class. See ya later?”
“Yep.” I wave Nolan off and then stand in the middle of the almost empty hallway, feeling lost. The jacket is heavy in my hand, and my heart aches thinking of how Talia gave it back to me like that. Talk about public humiliation. I thought she was all about privacy. Boy was I wrong.
And then it hits me, and I know exactly what I have to do. I only hope I can pull it off.
TALIA
“What’s going on with you and Josh? Did you two break up?” Heather slides onto the bench next to me at lunch, tossing a chunk of her hair over her shoulder. Her gaze slides over my shoulder to the opposite end of the table. The end that Josh normally sits at.
A sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, I crane my neck to look. Sure enough there is Josh and Nolan, hunched over their lunches talking to each other. My heart pinches at the sight of him over there. Turning back around, I swallow hard. “Yeah. We broke up.” So far Hayes hadn’t told anyone about our conversation, and at this point I’m guessing he won’t. At least I’m hoping he doesn’t. At least this way Josh and I can save face by telling people we were together and now we’re not. That’s much less embarrassing than telling them the truth. If everyone knew we went out as part of a scheme to get our exes back and we weren’t even successful, we’ll look like complete losers. That’s something neither of us want.
“Why?” Heather asks, a concerned look on her face. “What happened?”
Oh, man. I really should’ve come up with a story before now. Then I realize I don’t really need a story. This is Josh we’re talking about. “Oh, you know. Just the usual stuff. Josh being Josh.”
Heather’s hand covers mine. “I’m sorry. Who was it?” Her gaze sweeps the room. She’s trying to figure out what girl he messed around with. My insides knot. I should go along with this, but I can’t. Josh didn’t cheat on me. In fact, even though our relationship was fake, he never even looked at another girl while we were together. He was the perfect gentleman, which was super weird, considering his reputation.
“No, he didn’t cheat on me.”
She yanks her hand back. “Then what did he do?”
I blow out a breath. “He…um…nothing really. It just didn’t work out.”
Her eyes widen. “Well, don’t look now, but he’s on his way over here.”
A chill brushes over my skin, and I sit perfectly still, unsure of what else to do. What I want to do is run out of the cafeteria as fast as I can. It was hard enough to run into him in the hall. When he was talking to me earlier, all I wanted to do was touch his skin or thread my fingers through his. It was confusing, and it made my head spin.
“Hey, girls.” When Josh greets us, Heather’s face lights up. I can already see the wheels in her head turning. She thinks this is her big chance with Josh. It annoys me, even though it shouldn’t. I’m the one who told him I didn’t want anything more with him. Therefore, he’s fair game. But for some reason that doesn’t sit well with me.
Man, I am seriously a mess.
I guess that’s what happens when you start living a lie. You don’t know who you are, much less what you want.
Peering up at Josh, I force a smile. “What’s up?” I thought I had said what I needed to this morning, so I have no idea why he’s over here now.
“I was just coming over here to invite you to the game tonight, Tals.” He pauses, an apologetic expression cloaking his face. “Sorry. I meant, Talia.”
I nod, but it didn’t actually bother me this time, which is puzzling since I used to hate that nickname. Now for some reas
on I find it endearing. And it reminds me of how awkward this entire thing is. We never should’ve entered into a fake relationship. It’s too weird that we held hands and kissed and acted like we were in love when we weren’t. I think it really screwed with us.
“Um…” I twirl a strand of hair around my finger. “I don’t think I can make it.” At Heather’s insistent nodding, I point to her. “But maybe Heather can go.”
Her smile deepens, but Josh frowns. In all honesty, it doesn’t sound like a great solution to me either.
“What do you have going on tonight?” Josh presses, reminding me of his old self. His old bossy, controlling self. So why does it turn me on? Ugh. I need therapy. “If it’s something with your parents, maybe I could talk to them. Explain how important it is to me that you’re at the game.”
Seriously. What is he up to?
Heather must be wondering the same thing by the way her eyebrows shoot clear up to her darkened roots.
“Why? What’s going on?” I’m baffled.
“It’s an important game, and I just want you there. Plus, my mom’s coming and she was really hoping to sit with you.”
Ah, so there it is: the real reason. For a minute, I thought he was being vulnerable and sincere. And I guess he was. But it was to do something nice for his mom, not because he actually needs me. Which is fine. I get it. Honestly, his love for his mom is probably the most redeeming quality about him.
Heather is staring at me like I have two heads. Nudging my leg with her hand, she jerks her head toward Josh.
“Subtle, Heather,” I mutter under my breath. However, I understand her behavior. Clearly I can’t turn him down now. Not after he threw his mom into it. That would make me sound like a total jerk. “Okay. Fine. I’ll go.”
“Great.” He smiles. “See you there.”
“Yep.” I wave as he takes off.
“Oh, my gosh, that was so romantic.” Heather flutters her eyelashes and sways back and forth like she thinks she’s in an old western movie or something. She even has the accent down.
“He was just doing a favor for his mom. She’s having a rough time right now.”
“Oh, that had nothing to do with his mom.”
I stare at her, wondering if we both heard the same conversation. “He said he wanted me to sit with his mom.”
“And he also said that it was an important game and he wanted you there.”
Interesting how we both latched on to different parts of the conversation. It drives home that phrase about people only hearing what they want to hear. However, she’s not wrong. He did say that. Is it possible that he really does need me at his game? The thought sends a chill running through my body.
It scares me how much I want it to be true.
Either way, I guess I’ll find out tonight.
***
When I show up to the ballgame, I wonder if Josh told his mom the truth about us. My stomach churns at the thought. But when I approach, her large smile puts me at ease.
“Talia.” She waves me over. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
I sit down next to her, the bench creaking beneath my weight. “Well, Josh said it was an important game.” I catch a glimpse of Ashley sitting with Hayes’s grandpa and Mom in the first row. For the first time all year I don’t feel even a twinge of jealousy. I wonder if that means I’m finally over him.
“An important game, huh?” Josh’s mom’s eyes sparkle as if she knows something I don’t.
When I glance up at the other team, I’m baffled. It’s not our rival. It’s a team we beat every time. Again, I have no idea what makes tonight different than the other games. The Prairie Creek Panthers are out on the field already. I was running a little late. I had to eat dinner with my parents first. Luckily, I hadn’t told them anything about Josh and me, so they didn’t bat an eye when I told them I wanted to attend the game. Anna gave me a funny look, though, as I headed out the door. But that’s okay. I’d talk with her later. Usually when Anna had information on me it made me nervous, but something feels different this time. I don’t think she’ll say anything.
I find Josh on second. His legs are parted, and he’s bent down slightly waiting on the ball. His face appears even more tanned than usual against the bright colors of his hat and jersey. I’ve always had a thing for guys in baseball hats. It’s so sexy to me. And Josh definitely looks sexy out there. When the ball is hit in his direction, he catches it and throws it in. Pride swells in my chest, and I clap excitedly. His mom does the same beside me.
The air is cool tonight and brushes over my skin, lifting my hair off my shoulders. Since that was the third out, the Panthers jog off the field. Josh doesn’t look up at me, but that’s okay. I hadn’t expected him to. I know he gets focused on the game.
The first few batters for the Panthers do well, all getting hits and getting on base. Then Hayes swaggers up, swinging his bat. Ashley leaps up, hollering out encouraging words, his mom and grandpa echoing her. Again, I’m shocked at how neutral my feelings are. Even when I look at Hayes I feel nothing really. I mean, I still think he’s a nice guy, and I’m impressed with how hard he hits the ball. As it soars over the players’ heads, I cheer with the rest of the crowd. But I don’t carry the same longing I had at all the other games. I simply am appreciating what a good player he is.
After Hayes rounds the bases, I look up to see that Josh is up to bat next. I sit up straighter, wiping my palms on my thighs. Nerves attack my insides, and I can’t figure out why. Since when do I get nervous for Josh? I’m not even sure Josh gets nervous when he’s up to bat. I can tell his mom is having the same feelings as me, though, by the way her legs bounce up and down.
The pitch comes at Josh hard. He swings and misses. I blow out the breath I’d been holding and fist my hands in my lap. My long nails pierce the tender flesh of my palms as I await the next pitch. This is how I used to get when I watched Palmer play, but I’ve never been like this watching Josh play before. Not even when I was here as his pretend girlfriend.
Then again, I have no idea what I’m here as tonight. His friend? The girl he’s interested in? A babysitter for his mom? And what would that even be called? A momsitter?
Shaking my head, I force away the thoughts. I’m getting distracted.
The next pitch is thrown, and this time Josh’s bat connects with it. As the ball flies into the air, I expect Josh to take off running. But he doesn’t. He turns toward the bleachers and yells, “That was for you, Talia!” Then he spins around and races toward first base.
My whole body goes rigid while heat creeps up my neck and spills across my face. What the hell was that? In all the games I’ve attended, I’ve never seen Josh behave like that.
“Talia!” My head snaps up at the sound of my name once again. He’s standing on first, his hands cupped around his mouth. The batter after him just hit the ball and is now running in his direction. My pulse thrums beneath my flesh.
“Easton, get the hell off the base!” Coach Hopkins hollers, his face mottled red with anger.
“Say you’ll go out with me again, Talia, and I’ll run!” Josh yells. The other batter is nearing him.
My gaze shifts around taking in the awed faces of the crowd. Everyone else seems just as confused as I am.
“Talia!”
“Easton! You better move now!” Coach Hopkins yells again, his face turning so red it resembles a tomato.
Desperation rises in me. “Yes!” I holler, leaping up. “Yes. Just go!”
With a triumphant smile, he starts running. And it’s just in the nick of time. The other batter hops up on first base. Unfortunately, Josh moved too late to save himself and he gets tagged out. One glance at Coach Hopkins tells me he’s going to be in a lot of trouble. The entire crowd stares at me with betrayal as if I lost the game for all of them. Cheeks burning, I sit back down. A part of me feels proud, but mostly I feel embarrassed.
A hand lands on my back, and I turn to look at Josh’s mom. She is beaming at me.
So apparently she’s the only one in the bleachers who’s not upset with me. Maybe I should go sit on the other side. I’m sure the other team is grateful to me.
“Talia.” Josh appears beside me, winded, his face flush.
“Josh.” I stand. “What the hell was that?”
“That was me securing a date with you.” He snatches up both my hands. I don’t pull them back. Instead, I allow his fingers to slip through mine.
“I’m serious, Easton, you better get your ass back over here!” Coach Hopkins yells.
“You’re going to get in so much trouble. From Coach and your team.” I glance around. “And the fans.” Leaning in close, I add, “Plus, I don’t think anyone’s very happy with me either.”
“I’m sorry if they’re not happy with you.” He tugs me closer. “But I don’t care if they’re upset with me. It was worth it. Now I get to go out with you.” Bringing me even closer, our noses brush. “For real this time.”
His words cause my heart to skip a beat.
“Easton!”
He cringes. “I have to go.”
“Yeah, you do,” I agree.
Swiftly, he moves in and stamps a kiss to my forehead. Then he spins around and races toward the dugout. For a moment, I stand still, rehashing the moment in my mind. Josh made a fool of himself for me. He screwed up during the baseball game intentionally, all just to ensure I’d go out with him. In some ways it was so incredibly stupid, but in other ways it was incredibly romantic. I’m sure none of his teammates would agree.
Still afraid to look at anyone, I keep my head ducked as I make my way back to the bleachers. With my head down, I sit next to Josh’s mom. She pats me on the leg, and I peer up at her, my hair falling in my face. Reaching up, I tuck a strand behind my ear.
“Can you believe he just did that?” I whisper.
“I’ve never seen my son behave like that before,” she says, and my insides knot, worried that she’s upset with me too. But then she smiles. “But, yes, I can believe it. You’re more important to him than any game, Talia.”
