Page 30

“Are you hungry? I have snacks,” I said, standing up. Buck rolled to his feet and shook all over.

“Oh, sure.” We sat on the bench together and I pulled out the clementines and cheese sticks.

“I hope you didn’t swipe these from some hungry kids,” she said, taking a cheese stick.

“Nah, there were extras.”

Buck sat at our feet as Hunter and I ate.

Since we saw each other on Thursday, we’d been talking in messages. Nothing serious, just random questions here and there.

I asked her about her million jobs, and she asked me about being a firefighter and about my brothers. I couldn’t help but be delighted that she wanted to know about them. The urge to gush about each one of them was strong, so I had to hold back a little.

“Are you missing the game?” she asked, frowning at her sticky hands from peeling the clementines. I pulled a disposable wipe out of the fanny pack on my waist and handed it to her.

“Thanks.”

“It’s okay, they just started. It’s not like he’s on the Olympic team or anything. It’s peewee.” He already had a cheering section with the rest of the family.

“Still,” she said, playing with the edge of her sweater cuff.

“Hey.”

Hunter looked up at me. “I’m right where I need to be right now.”

She looked away and shook her head. “How do you just say things like that?”

“Like what?”

Buck sighed and rested his head on his paws, apparently giving up the search for dropped crumbs.

Hunter waved her hand. “You know what I mean.”

“I’m not sure I do, actually.” I rested my arm on the back of the bench. It was almost as good as putting my arm around her. We’d get there.

She let out a sound of frustration. “Never mind.”

“Staceeeeee.” I turned and found Eli jogging over.

“What is it?” I asked, only slightly annoyed that he’d interrupted us. Guess Hunter was going to meet at least one member of my family.

“Mom wanted to know if you’re still coming over for dinner after the game,” he said, rolling his eyes.

“Why didn’t she just send me a message?”

Eli shrugged his bony shoulders. He was still in that awkward gangly phase, all elbows and knees. I wondered how tall he’d end up being. If he would end up like me and Torrin.

“Yeah, I’m coming over for dinner,” I said and turned to Hunter, who’d been pretending she wasn’t watching the interaction.

“Hunter, this is my brother Eli. Eli, this is my friend Hunter.”

I gestured for him to come closer and watched as his eyes got a little wide when he saw how pretty she was.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Hunter said, putting out her hand.

I gave Eli a look and he uncrossed his arms and gave her a shake. “Uh hey.”

Eli looked at me and crossed his arms again, suddenly getting shy.