Page 70 of It’s All in How You Fall
“Cool.” I force myself back into the friend zone and elbow his rib cage. “Did you regale her with your knowledge of Cathy Rigby’s entire career from the Olympics to Broadway?”
All my fear about dipping a toe back into what happened on his couch falls away with his immediate laugh. “Nope. Didn’t even come up, but I’ll be ready if it ever does.”
Everimplies a follow-up date. Or time spent together. This is what I wanted, I remind myself.
His eyes meet mine. “Thank you.”
I glance away. I’m not sure I can really enjoy those beautiful brown eyes from close range anymore. “Of course.”
He stops at his car. “Hey, do you want a ride home?”
I do. But I don’t. Before I can even shake my head and make my exit, Alex’s phone actually startsringing. We’re both so stunned that he fishes it out of his bag, inspects the screen, and—it’s Sunny. Alex immediately reddens about the ears, and because it’s my role, I waggle my eyebrows and gently punch him on the shoulder with a knowing twist to my lips. “See you tomorrow.”
Our deal is done. Successful. He did his job. I did mine. Everything from here on out is a consequence.
My emotions are a total jumble as I walk home. It’s ridiculously hot, blistering waves hovering over the asphalt, but a chill has settled in my spine, pooling into my stomach. All at once I feel cold and sloshy.
Alex and Sunny went out, and now she’s calling him. They’ll probably meet up for a dinner date that will have everyone in a ten-foot radius falling over from sugar shock at the sweetness of it all.
This is what I wanted. And clutched in my hand is the paperwork for what I got out of the deal besides bragging rights in making the most perfect match ever.
A new beginning.
As I move in toward the rosebushes and the park beyond, I spy Nat on the basketball court. The weird hot-cold feeling within me seems to even out at the sight of him, and my heartbeat smooths into a fast but predictable rhythm. Without really meaning to, I veer past the park boundary and cut up the lawn toward the court.
Too late I realize that he’s not shooting hoops alone. He’s got a partner, a dark-haired boy who makes me do a double take.
The clothes aren’t right. The build’s not either. And there’s not a blue Challenger, or actually a single car at all, in the four-spot lot edging the opposite end of the park.
Ryan Rodinsky?
Perhaps I’m not the only one learning a new sport.
Ryan notices me first and waves. Which is the perfect popular boy move—I know more about him than he likely knows about me, but he’s the affable kind of popular who at least pretends we’re all on the same level.
“Caroline, hey,” he says, trapping the ball against his chest. “What’s up?”
“What’s up with you? This doesn’t look like stadium stairs.” As far as I know that’s their only real interaction, something they’ve kept going ever since Nat used it as an excuse to talk with Ryan’s older sister.
Ryan grins and shrugs, squeezing the ball between both palms, elbows straight out to the side. “I’m no one-trick pony. I like to play.”
I shoot a glance at my brother. “You’re recruiting him.”
“Kid’s got talent. And we need more depth at forward.”
Forward. Alex’s position.
They might be almost interchangeable on the soccer field, but in basketball Ryan needs to add about twenty pounds, six inches, and a whole lot of court time to get anywhere near Alex on the depth chart. “Hey, Ryan, can I borrow my brother a second?”
“Sure thing,” he says, automatically dribbling his way under the basket for what looks to be layup work.
Without a word, Nat meets me where I’m toeing the edge of the court.
“Hey, so you know the Northfield Tennis Championships?”
“Do I? They had us weed every single bed in the place this week in preparation for several truckloads of mulch they’re delivering Sunday. Then it’ll be fresh pebbles and stringing lights and testing bulbs. I fear for next week. Think I should quit a couple weeks early? You know, to save my knees?”
I ignore his plight. “So, about that.” I extend the packet toward him. “Alex entered me in the beginner’s bracket. We’re allowed to bring a friend—would you want to be my plus one?”
