Page 6 of Kickoff

We positioned ourselves on the float on one side of the pool.

“Ready?” Melinda asked. I nodded, and before I could take a full breath in, she dove forward and was swimming to the other end as if propelled by an engine. It took me a long second to get into motion, hypnotized by the way her body speared through the water.

I touched the wall seconds after her. “Whoa. How did you do that? You were fast. Like super extra lightning fast.”

Her smile brightened her entire face. “I’m gonna be in the school swim team this year. I practiced a lot over the summer.”

I blinked, still surprised she beat me. “You are really good.”

“Thanks. It’s like you and football. It’s no big deal.”

My happiness slipped away. “So, does this mean we’re not dating? Like ever?”

She shrugged. “Sorry.” She grabbed the edge of the pool and lifted herself out of the water, gathered her stuff, and neared me as I dried myself. “Thank you for inviting me tonight, Mason. I had fun.”

She inched closer and dropped a kiss on my cheek before grabbing her bag and running away. She turned once to watch me over her shoulder. “For what it’s worth, I think you are pretty too. For a boy.” She didn’t wait for my reply as she reached the driveway and disappeared behind the line of trees separating our properties, the sound of her wet footsteps on the pavement echoing behind her.

For a long moment, I stayed there, watching the same spot, wondering what I had done wrong.

When I couldn’t decide, I grabbed my stuff and followed my dad inside.

Once in my bedroom, I neared the window when I spotted movement next door. Melinda’s parents were sitting in their backyard, sipping on wine. I watched her as she joined them. Sensations I’d never felt before tingled low in my body. Even though I tried to shift my gaze away, I couldn’t. I had no clue what was going on with me since she came over to play basketball earlier, but I didn’t want to share her with the guys once school started next week. I wanted Melinda to be my special friend. Chase would be all over her on Monday. He loved girls, and she was new in town, so he would want to make her his special friend too. He dated Samantha Johnson for a whole month last spring, so he had experience, and I didn’t. He had even kissed her on the lips. He said it was gross, but he was ready to do it again.

I had to find a way to let the guys know I played with Melinda first and called dibs on her. That she was my friend. After all, we already had a date together. It had to count for something.

Tonight, we had a great time until I opened my big mouth and messed it all up. Why did I have to tell her we were dating? I had seen Chase’s older brother flirt with girls many times. He always told us the trick was to look confident. I was pretty sure I’d nailed that part. He also said to invite them to eat, which I had, and to set the ambiance. I did that too. Melinda had even commented on it. I followed all the steps. I had no idea why she didn’t agree. We had fun together, and she could play ball. Mom even said to Dad earlier that Melinda and I had chemistry, whatever it meant. Yet, she ran away from me as if I had cooties after she won the race.

She looked up my way, and I lifted a hand to wave at her, but she turned around before I could.

Seconds later, she entered her house, and I sighed.

Was this what being rejected felt like? Because I didn’t like it. It knotted my stomach.

Lying on my bed, I dreamed about the girl with the sparkling eyes who made my heart race.

1

You’re the lion to our kittens

Three months ago

Chase, my best friend, honked twice after he parked in my driveway. I grabbed my overnight and sleeping bags and beelined for his pickup truck, dropping my stuff in the cargo box. I entered the garage, after I punched the code to open the door, to take the cooler I had filled earlier and the five-person tent my parents kept in there.

“Need a hand, man?” my friend asked through the rolled-down window.

“Nah. All good. I hope Rusty brought his tent because I swear this thing can only sleep five people if they are either women or little kids. No way can we all fit in.”

“If he hasn’t, he’s sleeping in his car, and we keep the tent for ourselves.”

We bumped fists.

“Deal.”

“Is Craig riding with us?”

I shook my head. “Nah. My big bro is at Paige’s. Sheldon is picking him up. It’s just the two of us.”

I locked the front door, then hauled myself onto the passenger seat once I made sure I had my wallet and my keys.