My brother tilted his head, and for once in his life, he didn’t have a comeback for me. “Deal,” he said.
I smile at the memory but realize that they’ve started without me. Which makes me sad.
Haley comes through the garage door the next time it opens, not her mom. She’s dressed in her game-day uniform, and there are glittery red strands woven through her braid.
“You look adorable!” I screech, tossing my arms around her and giving her a hug. Because of volleyball and cheer competitions, she hasn’t been up to a single game, so I haven’t seen her since Chase’s birthday weekend.
“Thanks,” she says. “What do you think of the shirts?”
“They are amazing. You’re really talented, Hay.”
“We were supposed to work on them together,” she says softly.
“I know. We pinkie swore, but you haven’t asked me for help. I’d love to though.”
“Good,” she says with a grin. “You can start by wearing one to the game tonight. Which is your favorite?”
“This one,” I tell her, picking up the One Eleven jersey.
“That’s my personal favorite, too.”
“How many shirts have you sold?”
“We’re on our third printing, and we’re only halfway through the season. Damon handles the brand’s social media. We all brainstormed on designs. It’s been a fun project.”
“I bet.”
She squints her eyes at me. “Are you serious about us working together?”
“Absolutely. Now, tell me all about Homecoming while we sort through these. Do you have a date, or are you going with friends?”
“Date,” she says with a smile before pulling a long chain out from her shirt. It’s got a guy’s class ring dangling from the end of it. “Boyfriend actually, as of today. And you’ll never guess who.”
“Who?”
“Pace Williams! He’s been coming to my volleyball games all year, and he would talk to me a lot, but I kind of thought it was a being nice to my friend’s little sister sort of deal. I was so surprised when he asked me to Homecoming. And he did it in the cutest way. He decorated a volleyball and tossed it to me at practice. I figured Chase and Damon would have a fit about it. But I guess Pace told them he liked me, and they sort of approved of it before he ever asked me to hang out. We had our first date on September the eighteenth after one of my games, and today, on our one-month anniversary, he asked me to be his girlfriend.”
“That’s so cool. I like Pace. He’s really nice.”
“And so cute, right?”
“He is very cute. I’m happy for you.”
“I’m happy for me, too. Homecoming is going to be a blast, and I love my dress. But I feel so bad for Chase.”
“Why?”
“Lacey has the chicken pox!”
“The chicken pox?”
“Yeah, she got it from her little brother. She doesn’t really have very many pox, but she’s been running a fever for a couple days, and she’s contagious.”
“So, she can’t even go to the dance?”
“Nope. No parade. No cheering at the game. No dance. And she’s up for Homecoming Queen.”
“Oh, that’s awful,” I think, actually feeling really bad for her. “What’s Chase going to do?”
“He hasn’t said for sure. A group of us are supposed to go in a limo together. Me and Pace, Chase and Lacey, Damon and his date, Bella, and a couple other guys on the team and their dates. We got a party limo, and we’re going to the Plaza to take photos by all the pretty fountains, then dinner, and the dance.”
“I’ll be at the dance,” I say.
“That’s right! You have to crown the next king. I’m really sorry,” she says, a blush spreading across her face. “I totally forgot about that. I didn’t even know you would be here this weekend. But I’m so glad you are. You should come with us! Like, for dinner and stuff.”
“Oh, no. That would be weird. I’m only going to the dance. I have to be there a half hour before the coronation, and then I’ll leave right after. I had my homecoming dances; it’s your turn now.”
She holds her hands together and happily spins around in a circle. “Yes, it is.”
I hear noise coming from upstairs, and a few moments later, Emersyn and Winger come down the steps.
“Me and Winger take nap,” she says, patting the dog, “so we can see Chase play football!”
“Does Winger get to go to the game?” I tease.
“No,” Haley says, “but she’s obsessed with that dog. I swear, they are best friends.”
Haley picks up Emersyn and says, “Come on. Let’s go tell Mommy you’re awake.”
“And I’d better go see where my family is,” I tell Haley.
“Oh, I saw them pulling in the driveway when I got home.”
“Awesome. I’ll head that way.”
And I’m about to—until Chase comes walking through the front door.
“Hey!” he says, his face brightening. He rushes toward me, picks me up, and swings me around. “You’re just the girl I was going to see.”
“You were?”
“Yeah, I figured you were home. I was going to drop my backpack in my room and then go to your house. But since you’re already here”—he gives me a wicked grin—“why don’t you help me with that?”
Needless to say, I follow him up the stairs.
When we get into his room, he sets his backpack down and pulls me into his arms. I expect him to kiss me right away, but he just hugs me.
“You okay?” I ask him. “Nervous about tonight?”
“It’s been a stressful week,” he says, still holding me tight.
I don’t say anything else, just nuzzle my nose into his neck and try to transfer my positive energy to him through my tight embrace.
Finally, he lets out a deep sigh, lets go of me, and pulls me onto the bed with him.
“Lacey has the chicken pox,” he says.
“Yeah, Haley told me. That sucks. I feel bad for her.”
“You do?” he asks, studying me closely.
“Of course I do, Chase. It would suck to be up for queen, to miss the parade, the game, the dance, the crowning, the after-parties.”
“I sent her flowers this morning to cheer her up, and I wish there was more I could do. But Pace’s dad—he’s a pediatrician—strongly advised me against it. Her case is mild, but she’s very contagious. And I can’t risk missing a game.”
“Still, that was really sweet, Chase.”
He nods his head.
“Has all that been a distraction from your preparation?”
“Fortunately, our opponent doesn’t have a very good record, but yeah, it’s been a distraction. She’s freaking out, and then there’s all the usual festivities. It’s just a lot.”
“I can imagine. And I talked to Haley. It’s so cool she’s dating Pace. And that you are all going together.”
“You know, you could come to dinner with us, if you wanted. Since we all have to be there anyway.”