When our lips part, he says, “Actually, two conditions. If either of us can’t make the call, we let the other person know in advance, okay?”
“Okay,” I agree.
After they take off, one of the girls from the rockers says, “So, Dani, who were those guys?”
“My brother, Damon; our best friend, Chase; and another friend, Lacey. The boys are here on a football recruitment trip.”
“You should introduce me to that Chase guy later,” she says.
“He’s a high school senior,” I explain. Because this girl is older, like twenty-one.
“He sure doesn’t look like one. And who cares? He’s fine.”
I tilt my head at her. “You would date a younger guy?”
“One who looked like that? Definitely. Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed your not-so-little brother’s best friend is hot.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Oh, I’ve noticed.”
“Boys at my high school didn’t look like that. Is he legal?”
“As a matter of fact, he turned eighteen just last week.” And what a birthday it was. But I’m interested to hear her thoughts on this. “He’s actually not just my brother’s best friend. He’s mine.”
“Oh, the plot thickens.”
“So, you really wouldn’t care that he’s so much younger than you?” I ask.
“Who would care about that?”
“You don’t think people would give me crap about it?”
“About what?”
“About the fact that he’s still in high school?”
“Is that why you’re not together? The age thing? Are you that much older?”
“Five months. But I’ve always been a year older in school.”
“Oh, I get it,” she says. “You were one of those girls.”
“One of what girls?”
“Well, if I had to guess, in high school, you prided yourself on the fact that you dated older guys. I went through that phase when I was a junior. When I thought only college guys were good enough for me. I thought high school boys—or the ones at my high school anyway—were too immature. But then I came to college and realized age doesn’t matter so much as the person. I’ve dated older guys who are more immature than younger ones. I got a mature vibe from him.”
“And my brother?”
“Not as mature, but smart. And he’s definitely a charmer.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re right about that,” I say.
“Hey, Dani.”
“Yeah?”
“If you do decide the age difference is a problem for you, then give him my number.”
When I stop by the box at the half, Lacey isn’t there, but neither is Jadyn, so they probably went somewhere together. And I don’t mind that at all.
After greeting my dad, Jennifer, and covering my little sisters’ faces with kisses, I saunter over to Chase. “One of the older girls in my sorority wants me to give you her number.”
“What for?”
“Because she thinks you’re hot and an old soul. She’s twenty-one.”
“Interesting,” he says.
“As in you are interested?”
“I said it’s interesting. That she’d be in college and interested in someone still in high school.”
“She says that doesn’t matter as much in college. The age thing.”
“I’m excited to get to college then.”
“So you can date older women?”
“Yes, one who happens to be just a mere five months older than me. And for the first time in our lives, maybe it wouldn’t be an issue.”
“It was definitely not an issue on your birthday,” I flirt.
“True.”
“And, it’s not an issue here.”
“Does that translate to us?” he asks.
“Are you saying you think we should renegotiate the terms of our friendship already?”
He smirks at me and raises an eyebrow. “Depends on if you want to give that girl my number.”
“Well, considering you have a date for Homecoming and recruitment visits and I have a lot of sorority stuff coming up—”
“We should probably be friends.”
“With benefits,” I say, pulling him into the bathroom, locking the door, and kissing him.
Friday, October 18th
Started without me.
Devaney
Chase and I only managed to do our video chat on two out of the four Friday nights since we’d last seen each other. And even though our parents came up for a couple of football games, Chase wasn’t able to attend. We’ve managed to text a bit off and on. Just enough.
All I know is that I am excited to be home and to spend the weekend with him, but when I get to the house and see the yard decorated with homecoming signs, I realize that I probably won’t actually get to spend that much time with him.
Tonight is his game. Tomorrow night, he has the dance. And on Sunday, I have to fly back early.
Even though my family knew what time I would be here, no one is at my house, so I go over to the Mackenzies’ and find Jadyn with piles of shirts spread across the kitchen table.
“Help!” she says, giving me a hug in greeting.
“What is all this?”
“This is a whole lot of One Eleven shirts. The kids started with just one option, but they’ve added more designs. I have to get these organized. I’m really proud of them for starting this company and for it to be doing well already, but with the boys playing and Haley cheering, I’ve gotten stuck delivering them. I have a bunch of people stopping by this afternoon to pick them up before the game. Thought I’d put them all on a table in the garage. Want to help me?”
“Sure,” I say, looking around the room with a smile. “You know, sometimes, I feel more at home here than I do in my own house.”
“Why’s that, Dani?”
“Maybe because it’s next door. Maybe it was always a reprieve from the rules at my house. Maybe it’s because I relax every time I walk in the front door. Or maybe it’s the cookies,” I say, walking over to the snack bar and getting one out from under a domed lid. After I take a bite, I grin. “Actually, it’s definitely the cookies.”
“Or maybe,” she offers, “it’s because Chase lives here.”
“That, too. How was your first semester of college? Was it a big adjustment for you?”
“Well, my parents had passed away in April of my senior year, so for me, college was a needed change of scenery. A new adventure to sink my teeth into. Something to take my mind off missing them. Being at home, all those memories were both comforting and painful. And because of it, let’s just say that I embraced college life fully.”
“How did you turn out so normal? If something like that had happened to my parents—”
“After my parents died, I worried that I had taken them for granted. I know things have been a little strained with your mom the past few years. How are things now? Since her big revelation.”
“Good, honestly. Her and Van came up for one of the games. They took me out for dinner after. It was nice. But I sort of keep waiting for her to tell me she was just kidding.”