Page 28 of Catching Feelings

“I’m just saying it’s a good thing we didn’t have to find out.”

I laugh, but even I can’t come up with another excuse to keep him chatting here, and he has a shift to get to.

He seems to realize it at the same time, because he taps the windowsill reassuringly before turning to run inside. He’s waylaid by half a dozen people, students and regular Hamilton Lakes citizens alike, and I know they’re asking about the upcoming season. He slows to politely smile and nod at them, and I can almost hear his voice. It’s a great team and it’s an honor to play with them, ma’am. Yes, I think our chances at a state title are great this year. No, there’s not a better team in the league. I have to bite my cheek to stop myself from grinning like a loon. My smile threatens to split my face. He’s settling in so well and is so kind to everyone—like a Hawk should be.

I’m just proud because he’s my new-student mentee. Just like I would be of anyone.

Gravel crunches behind me as a car rolls up. When I turn, Kara has both eyebrows raised in question. I hope I’m not blushing too hard as I slide out of the car and lead the way into Lakeside. The best booth is, sadly, indeed occupied.

“Where are Naomi and Priya?” I ask as we nab a table in the back.

She gives me a scathing look. Oh, she sees right through me. “Checking out that location for homecoming, per your instructions.”

“Oh yeah!” I drum my fingers on the table in excitement. “The theater in Greenfield? It’s in our budget, so as long as there’s not something terribly wrong with the space, that would be so cool. We could have some sort of Phantom theme!”

“Mm-hmm,” Kara deadpans, eyeing me like she’s just waiting for me to run out of excuses.

Not yet, I haven’t. I swipe open my phone. “Gotta tell Mom about the car. I can take it in to get a new battery or alternator or whatever—I don’t want her using her days off for that—but she’s gonna have to give me the insurance info…” I type and retype the message, trying to phrase it in the least alarming way possible.

By the time I look up to meet Kara’s eyes again, there’s a new tinge of concern there. “You don’t need to manage your mom’s emotions about your car, you know.”

I grimace. “Yeah, yeah. Listen, she has enough to deal with, okay? She doesn’t need this on top of everything else.”

Luckily, Harper swings by to drop off milkshakes, and Kara’s line of questioning is abruptly cut off.

Less luckily, I’m out of other topics to discuss. When Harper retreats, Kara leans forward over the table again, eyes bright. “So…” I slump in defeat, waving her on. “Why’re you hanging out with Tyler? I know you’re doing the homecoming thing and all, but I thought that was just as friends?”

I shrug, bending to slurp from my straw. “It is a friends thing. I was just giving him a ride to his shift.”

Kara side-eyes me. “Mm-hmm. Because you looked like you were giving him the full Sabrina.”

I grimace at her. “What on Earth is that?”

“Oh, most people don’t get it.” She waves a hand in the air. “Usually only me, Naomi, Priya. You know. The Sabrina who’s not just trying to make you feel all spirited and confident and like you’re the most interesting person in the world. The Sabrina who’s chattering your ear off because you make her feel like the most interesting person in the world.”

I blink at her. She is… not wrong. Hanging out with Tyler turns off the overactive parts of my brain—the parts that are always making to-do lists and taking care of other people and trying to keep the peace. He helps me stay in the moment—makes it impossible not to. Maybe I do let him see a part of myself that not everyone gets access to.

I certainly found myself spilling my guts on that first drive home. And the situation has only gotten worse since then—I can’t find my filter around this guy.

Kara rests her chin in her hands, smiling smugly.

“Oh, whatever.” I roll my eyes. “Tyler’s… complicated. I don’t think getting involved is smart.”

My gaze drifts across the room, where he’s taking orders from a family of four. He’s smiling, bending down so he’s at eye level to talk to the youngest boy.

Right now, he doesn’t look complicated at all. He looks like the hot, kind, new football player who eagerly listened to me yap about Gilmore Girls for an entire car ride.

But going to homecoming as friends is enough of a risk already. We got lucky that Ryan shrugged it off without turning it into a whole drama—there’s no way I’m pushing it further. Not when hockey season and all my collaborations with his team still lie ahead.

“Yeah,” Kara says, and I look back at her. Her expression has turned a little more conflicted. “You might be right. I wasn’t sure if I should say this without knowing the facts, but I did hear a rumor.”

My breath catches. “What kind of rumor?”

She hesitates for a long moment. “A rumor he was kicked out of his last school.”

I cough on my milkshake. “Wait, what?”

She nods. “Lila said that’s why he transferred to Hamilton Lakes. I don’t know the details, but some kind of bad behavior.”