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“No…” I looked at the net and nodded toward it. “Maybe I have been all along. I didn’t mean to. I…I’m sorry.”

“You’re not. I knew what I was getting into and why. You know I’m not his fan either. I volunteered.” His eyes traveled to the ground, then back up to me. “You got a gift today?”

I nodded, and repeated what he’d said. “Didn’t everyone?”

“From who?”

“Deja. She did it to make Jensen mad.”

“And did it?”

“He showed up at my house when he knew I didn’t want him there. So maybe.”

“He showed up at your house?”

“Yes, and instead of kicking him out, my mom told me I was upsetting everyone and that I should leave.”

“That’s messed up.”

“Thank you!”

He stared at the ball I held. “I wish I could kick Jensen’s facetoo.”

“You can,” I said, extending it toward him. “I’ve seen you working out. You’re strong.”

He looked down at his knee and shook his head. “I need more time.” He let out a sigh. “I should’ve gotten you a gift today. Candy or something.”

My heart stuttered in my chest. “What?”

“I wanted to.”

“You did?”

“I thought about how it would make Jensen mad too.”

“Right.” I placed another ball and kicked it hard. That one was Theo’s face.

When I turned around to get another, Theo was there, right in front of me. Close.

“No more,” he said. “Not like this, in the wrong clothes and the wrong shoes with the wrong mindset.”

“Oh, please, just turn off your coach mode for a minute and let me vent,” I said, trying to step around him.

He stepped in front of me.

“Stop, Theo. I need to do this. I need to practice.”

“You don’t need to do this today. We’ll practice tomorrow.”

“No, I need to today.”

“Why?”

“Because I do.”

“Why?” he pressed.

“Because I’m running out of time,” I said. “We only have three weeks.”