“Ouch!” Strangled laughter rumbled in my chest despite how much her words stung.
“Shit, Asher, I didn’t mean—”
“Don’t sweat it. I have tough skin, Hernandez. But since we’ve both been blown off by our so-called friends, we could, I don’t know, hang out maybe?” I steeled myself for her rejection.
So color me surprised when the word, “Okay,” slipped from her soft pink lips.
“Yeah?” my eyes widened.
“Yeah, so long as you don’t make a bigger deal out of this than it is.”
“And what is this?” I teased.
“Two friends getting milkshakes at The Alley?”
“You have yourself a deal, friend.”
Mya rolled her eyes as if she knew exactly what was going through my head. But there was no way she knew.
Because if she did, I was pretty sure she’d be running for the hills.
“I used to love this place.” I glanced around The Alley, taking in the familiar Formica tables, clink of the pinball machine, and smell of fried food.
“Why did you stop coming?”
“Once we made Varsity, it was just kind of off-limits. Everyone knew Tate, the owner, didn’t stand any football rivalry bullshit so we just avoided it.”
“Because you wanted to cause trouble?”
“Not really, but coming here meant shedding our jersey’s and in case you haven’t noticed, we’re not about that.”
She glanced down at me. I was sure her eyes lingered on my chest a little longer than necessary. “You’re not wearing your jersey today.”
“Things are different now the season is over.” The words came out strained as I led Mya over to a booth.
“But there’s the exhibition game.”
“Yeah, but it’s not like State. There was a lot riding on that. We had a lot to prove. This game is just a way for Principal Finnigan and Principal Castrol to look good in front of the press. Finnigan has been wanting to clean up our reputation since he transferred here and this gives him a platform to do that.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever understand how one town can be so obsessed with football.” Mya picked up a menu, and I found myself lost in the way she studied it, her big brown eyes sweeping over the laminated card, sparking with interest.
“Stop,” she let out a small sigh.
“Stop what? I’m not doing—”
“I can feel you watching me.” Her eyes flicked to mine. So dark and intense… and pissed.
“Right. Sorry.”
“You promised, Asher.” Mya lay the menu flat, pressing her hands against it. “Friends, remember?”
“Friends, got it… and why is that again?”
She blew out another exasperated breath. “Because I’m not looking for a relationship. And you’re…” Mya shook her head. “We’re just not compatible.”
“You haven’t even given me a chance. It makes sense. You’re friends with Hailee and Felicity and we’re all always hanging out anyway.”
“Which is just another reason it makes no sense. Flick and Hailee are my only…” Mya pressed her lips together.
“Your only what?”
Leaning across the table a little, she whispered, “My only friends here. If we did try dating, which we are not doing, and it went wrong, I’d lose them.”
“They wouldn’t choose me over you.”
“No but they’d choose their boyfriends.” Something flickered in her eyes.
“You’re so certain we wouldn’t work out. Why is that?” I scrubbed my jaw, half-surprised, half-relieved she wasn’t just shutting down this line of conversation.
“Look around you, Asher.”
Frowning, I glanced around the diner. A few kids watched us, curiosity glittering in their eyes. But it wasn’t anything outside the usual. Kids tended to know when a Raider was around. It’s just how it was in Rixon; came with the responsibility of wearing a blue and white jersey.
“In case you haven’t noticed, having an audience comes with the territory.”
“Wow, arrogant much?”
Laughter rumbled in my chest. “Just telling it like it is. I could care less if we have an audience. I only see you, Mya.”
Her lips parted on a small gasp.
“What, no sassy comeback?”
“I do not sass.”
“Sure you don’t.” I smirked, loving our playful interaction. But it ended all too quickly, when Mya’s smile slipped away.
“You don’t think they’re looking at us wondering what someone like you is doing here with someone like me?”
“I don’t give a shit what they think, and you shouldn’t either.”
“It’s easy for you to say,” she threw back and I tugged my hair in frustration. Mya was a complicated girl. Walls so high and reinforced I wasn’t ever sure I’d get through them. But then, sometimes, she’d give me a look that said, ‘don’t give up’.
“Come on, Hernandez, work with me here. I won’t let them bother me, if you don’t let them bother you. Or I could go over there and ask them what the fuck their problem is?” I went to get up, but Mya’s hand snagged my wrist over the table.
“No,” she rushed out. “Don’t, please.”
“So you’ll ignore them?”
“Them who?” Her voice dripped sarcasm but I’d take it.
“That’s my girl,” I said, grinning like the damn Cheshire cat. Mya’s eyes widened in surprise at my slip of the tongue.
If only she knew the truth. Knew that it wasn’t a slip of the tongue at all. It was a test. A promise of things to come. Because one day, Mya Hernandez would be mine.
She just didn’t know it yet.
Chapter Five
Mya
Every Tuesday without fail, I spoke to Mom. Sometimes we’d speak for hours, other times it was shorter, and if she got upset, we usually ended the call and promised to talk again soon. But today, the first time in almost twelve weeks, she didn’t pick up.
“Come on, Mama,” I muttered, hitting call again. It rang out, the drone of the dial tone echoing through my mind. “Aunt C, have you heard from Mama today?”
She appeared in the door. “She texted me a couple of days ago. She isn’t answering?” Aunt Ciara eyed the phone in my hand.
“No. It’s Tuesday. We always talk on Tuesdays.” Panic flooded me. “What if something happ—”
“Breathe, Mya. Breathe.” My aunt hurried to my side. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
Just then, my cell phone blared to life. “See, nothing to worry about.”
“Mama?”
“Mya, mi pequeña. I’m sorry I missed your call. I was washing my hair and didn’t hear my cell.”
“That’s okay.” Relief sank into my bones. Aunt Ciara pressed a kiss to my head before leaving me alone. “How are you?”
“You know how it is, baby. Gotta keep working.”
I stiffened. “I know, Mama.”