“I told you,” Sarah said, giving me one more elbow to the rib. I just kept the dumb look on my face for the rest of the night.
The one drag about college games was how long they took to play out. By the time the clock was ticking down, it was 11 p.m. As predicted, the Wildcats scored 63 points against ASU. It was a rebuilding year for us, yes, but Reed was also at his best this season. And he had an amazing team to back him up. He and Trig were pulled in the third quarter to save their energy for the bowl bid the Wildcats would definitely get. I found myself watching Reed’s every move as he stood and walked the sidelines, hoping he’d turn to me just once more. He never did, but I also knew he liked to stay focused on that field. And the players usually caught hell from coach for taking their focus away from the field, even when they weren’t in the game.
Sarah, Becky, Sean and I waited for the crowds to move out before we left the stadium, knowing we’d be standing outside the athletic department for a while waiting on Reed anyhow. Sienna joined us after changing. It felt like old times, the group of us waiting for Reed, so we could go out and celebrate. But I was quickly reminded that it was the present, not the past, when the others joined our group in the lobby.
Jason had his arms draped all over Dylan, possessing her, and eyeing the college guys who were checking her out. He wasn’t jealous, but instead seemed to get off on the attention she was getting, just wanting to attach himself to her so everyone would know he was the man who was good enough. She was his prize, his trophy.
Jenny stood next to them, wrestling her hands a little, almost as if she was nervous. I watched her ask Dylan a question, and then Jason piped in giving her a response. She seemed uncomfortable, and I wanted to help her.
“God, why did I want to help this girl, who just hours ago put me in a jealous rage? What was wrong with me?” I wondered.
I was about to walk over to strike up a conversation with her, when Buck’s booming laugh broke the quiet. He was hobbling on his crutches from the main locker room with Reed, who held the door open for him, rolling his eyes at his stubborn father. “I don’t need you to get every door for me, you know,” he said, loud enough so we all heard. He wanted us to know he wasn’t helpless, but no one would ever think that. Not of Buck Johnson, anyhow.
“Yeah, I know…just let me do the little things though, okay Pops? Humor me,” Reed said, his bag weighing over his shoulder. His hair was still wet, and his body damp from his shower. He was dressed nicely, like he was getting ready to go out for the night, wearing dark jeans and a fitted black shirt rolled at the sleeves to show off his engraved watch and strong, golden forearms.
He tilted his head my way for just a brief second or two, making eye contact with me once or twice. He was talking to Dylan now, almost as if he was getting directions. His face was smirking when he turned back at me again, like he wanted to share a secret with me. I was stuck on him, not able to move away, but the burning stare from Jason couldn’t be ignored. His grin was less playful, more cunning and amused. Suddenly uncomfortable, I turned my attention back to my friends, and to Rosie who had pulled up with the truck so Buck wouldn’t have to walk very far.
“So, what’s the deal? Are we driving back home? You staying at my house?” Sarah asked, nudging me to attention.
“Oh, uh, I guess so,” I said, half of me still yearning to hear Reed’s conversation. We were starting to get up to walk away, my whole heart slamming into my stomach, overwhelmed with dejection, when I felt a hand on my back, and heard his voice.
“Hey, wait up,” Reed said. I spun around to face him, stumbling into his chest a little so he had to right me back on my feet. “Whoa, there’s no race,” he joked.
I just smiled, eagerly, wanting his next words to be, “I forgive you,” and “I love you,” and “forever.” Instead, he looked down, chewing the inside of his cheek a little, and pinching his brow as if he wasn’t sure about what he wanted to say. “Hey, so…I was hoping maybe we could talk sometime…not tonight, I can’t,” he said, shrugging over his shoulder where Dylan, Jenny and Jason were waiting, my heart sinking all over again. “I’ve got a few things to run over with Dylan. And…God, I’d really love to put them off…but I can’t. I tried. There’s a lot in play over the next few weeks…but, I was thinking, maybe Friday? I know you have finals coming up. So, I wanted to talk before I lost you to your books, super nerd?”
Super nerd. Ha. He had no idea how far from that I’d been. I would be happy, at this point, to escape my psych class with a D. But now wasn’t the time to lie out my pathetic fall from academic greatness to Reed. We didn’t have the time for that. So instead, I just smiled and gestured to his waiting party. “Sure, Friday’s fine. You should go. Your…people are waiting,” I said, unsure of what to call them, Jenny. He just turned to give them the one-minute sign with his hand, causing Jenny to smile and wave. I winced at her happiness, still jealous.