Songs for Cricket by Laine, E. (ebook reader .TXT) 📕

like that emoji with a million teeth as they talked softly between themselves. A memory played in my head, and I remembered when I met her, her eyes could be considered amber or firelight. Was she his muse? Was she Cricket? And I prayed Cooper stayed upstairs. He didn’t need to see the two of them together.

It felt like I’d swallowed my heart. My chest felt so empty. I practically ran for the door trying to marshal my feelings as if it were possible.

By the time, I made it outside, Emily was there. Though she wasn’t supposed to drive, I was. When I made it over to her car, she had an explanation ready.

“I thought it would be easier to meet here, since the movies are in this direction.”

After the movie as we drove to one of the only two restaurants close to town, she dropped a ball on me.

“Hey, Kevin wants to know if he could join us for dinner. But it’s okay if you want it to be the two of us.”

My eyebrows reached my hairline. “At least he’s asking.”

She nodded, looking relieved. Maybe I’d read things wrong, and he was just a guy really into his girl.

“Tell him if he brings Billy along, he can come.”

It was her turn to look shocked. I shrugged. Billy hadn’t pressed me, and he hadn’t acted like an asshole when I put limits on what I was willing to do when I had basically brushed him off. What was I waiting for? Was I like the woman in the movie stumbling along, nose sniffing at the wrong boy?

“Really?” she asked.

“Yes.”

We arrived at the restaurant just as Kevin and Billy showed up.

“Hey,” Billy said as he came over.

We stood there awkwardly. I wasn’t sure what to do or how to feel. I’d been half in love with Shepard for so long, I wasn’t sure what to do when the butterflies didn’t come.

He took the lead when Kevin ushered us over.

“They have a table for us,” Kevin said.

Billy took my hand, and I followed them inside. The night turned out fun. Kevin was almost as funny as Billy. I laughed a lot that night. It felt so good just to laugh. When Billy offered me a ride, I pointed at my car.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted him to kiss me or not, and I was relieved when he only waved goodbye after giving me a tight hug, squeezing our held hands before letting go.

When I got back, I heard sounds from the backyard but went straight to my room. We had practice in the morning, and I couldn’t afford to be tired. I had too much to prove.

The next morning, August was furious. Apparently, Shepard had told him sometime last night about the guys hazing me. Even Cooper simmered with rage. I worried they would make things worse for me by confronting our teammates. For the most part it had been harmless pranks. But there was still one thing I hadn’t told them.

On the car ride over to practice, I begged them not to do anything. But even I knew when August had his mind set to something, there was no changing it. I could only hope Cooper and Shepard would be able to talk some sense into him.

When I headed right instead of up the escalator, Shepard asked, “Where are you going?”

The answer was just one of the two things I hadn’t told him about.

“I’m going to change down here.”

He nodded, probably thinking I was the one feeling uncomfortable. But the truth was, Coach had pulled me aside and told me a few of the guys didn’t want to change in front of me. So I had to get dressed downstairs and could only enter the main locker room for morning meetings in the pit. Afterward, I could grab my equipment. There wasn’t any doubt in my mind who was stirring up all the trouble for me even if he wasn’t the one directly doing it. Bryant was a sophomore. He’d had a year to bond with everyone, but I was just a rookie.

I spent extra time in the locker room because I didn’t want to stand in the hall and wait for the morning meeting to begin. It was better to sit alone and not explain to anyone who saw me why I was there.

I finally exited about seven minutes until. I gave myself a minute in case my clock didn’t synch up with Coach’s. But when I made it upstairs, Shepard was in the hall with Tori.

Great.

My cleats did the job of announcing my presence, and they turned as one unit, making a striking pair.

“Finley,” Shepard said. “I asked Tori here so we can talk.”

What? Were they going to announce to me they were officially a couple? If so, why? Did he want to dig the dagger in a little deeper? Or maybe he knew how I felt about him and as my friend wanted to let me down gently.

“Shepard, I think I can handle this,” Tori offered.

He looked between us but silently agreed and disappeared into the locker room.

“So—” I spoke before she could get going. This was the last thing I needed on top of everything else. “This isn’t really a good time. I need to get in there for the morning meeting.”

“Actually, that’s why I’m here. And I’ve already talked to your coach.”

My mouth hung open in the air a second or maybe two. “My coach. What does he have to do with you and Shepard being together?”

She laughed. “Me and Shepard?” Her giggles turned to chortles. “That’s funny. I mean, I wish. He’s definitely something to look at. But I’m pretty sure I’m not the one he’s interested in.”

Though she and I might end up good friends, at the moment, I held the secret of Shepard’s lyrics to myself.

“Then, why are you here?” I asked.

“Shepard brought the difficulties you’ve been having to my attention.”

I stepped back, feeling betrayed. “I’m not going to file a complaint.”

Her