Page 87 of Embrace

I move closer, weaving through the crowd until I am beside her. She still doesn’t turn, even as strangers brush past her like she’snot even there. I edge in, hold her elbow, and block them from touching her.

“What are you doing here?”

She finally looks at me, and that lost breath is back in my chest. Her hair falls across her eyes, brushing against the glasses perched on her nose. Her skin glows under the dim light, a flush blooming across her cheeks.

“Hi.” Her eyes dart all over the place. “You’re here. I was just…” She trails off, gesturing to the photo booth.

“You didn’t come.” Fuck, I sound clingy.

Her gaze darts behind me again. “I’m sorry. I wanted to. Really. But I had to do stuff for the shelter and my classes—”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”

She drops her gaze. “I’m glad you had a good game. I’m sure you did great.”

The thought of her not even bothering to watch does something to my ego. “We won.”

“That’s great! Is the whole team here? Like everyone?” she asks warily.

I nod, a little confused. “Yeah, pretty much. Not Coach, obviously.”

She pauses, nodding toward the crowd. “And Cassie’s here. In your jersey.”

My gaze easily finds Cassie, the number seventy-six on her back. I watch Scarlett carefully, trying to decipher her reaction, but she just plays with the ends of her hair.

“She asked me to take her out this weekend,” I blurt out.

Maybe I should’ve kept my mouth shut, but I felt like I was hiding something from Scarlett.

“Oh!” Her voice raises an octave higher. “That’s great, Kian.” She lifts her hand in a high five. There’s so much running through my mind that I barely register it when I awkwardly press my palm to hers.

I’m wondering why my chest burns like I’ve rubbed red chilies all over my skin, but the thought doesn’t last because someone bumps into me, almost making me bump into Scarlett.

Adi Patel finishes the last of his drink and shoves the glass into one of his teammates’ hands.

He stares at Scarlett, whose eyes widen behind her glasses. She steps backward just as he pushes closer, jamming himself between us.

“Scarlett?” Her name rolls off his tongue with too much familiarity, like he’s tasted it before.

I don’t know if it’s the way Scarlett looks like a skittish deer, or if I’m still irritated by the game, but something takes over.

My palm lands straight on his chest, keeping him where he is. “Getting a bit close, aren’t you?”

His brows furrow, and he scoffs at the hand I have on him. But even with that furious look on his face, he doesn’t make a sudden move. He steps back, letting my hand fall away.

“What’s your problem, Ishida?” Then he cocks his head, giving Scarlett a thorough appraisal. “Remember me, Red?”

Red?

Instantly, I know what’s happening, and I don’t like the way Scarlett swallows before giving him a stuttered answer. “Hey, A-Adi.”

His name in her mouth seems to satisfy him. “I called you, you know.”

I’m silently begging her to look at me. To give me some sign so I can tell this idiot to fuck off. But she doesn’t. Her gaze stays trained somewhere lower than his eyes.

“I’m sorry, I must not have seen it.”

“Texted you too.”