Page 21

CHAPTER 21

blue

A nna’s back was smashed tight against my chest, my arms encircling her middle as we studied the brownie mixes in Food Lion. I pushed a lock of hair from her neck and placed a soft kiss right behind her ear. “Thanks for coming to my game last weekend.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.” She reached backward, hooking her hand around my neck, pulled my head down, and kissed me.

“Get a room,” an elderly lady mumbled as she drove by in a motorized cart.

“We can’t!” I hollered as she zoomed away. “We’re waiting for marriage.”

Anna giggled.

The woman glowered over her shoulder. “Not if you keep that up, you’re not.” Then she disappeared around the end of the aisle.

Anna shook with quiet laughter in my arms. “She’s probably right.” She stepped away. “We might need to ease up.”

“Not a chance.” I pulled her back against me. “I only get you once a week. My hands are going to be on you the entire time. Get used to it.”

We’d been doing the long-distance thing for a month and it was rough. Wonderful, intense, what I lived for every day…but rough. Right now, it was eleven a.m. on a Sunday. We’d played Notre Dame Friday night and spent all day Saturday coming home. The second I got to Knoxville, I jumped in the car and drove to Sweet Grass, arriving at two a.m. When Anna got up at eight to go to church, I got my exhausted behind up and went with her. No way was she leaving me for a second. So yeah, I was beat. Happy but beat.

Anna had told me it was okay if we couldn’t see each other every week. But it wasn’t okay with me. I had an entire Sunday free and I was going to spend it with her. Well, spend it doing homework, eating brownies, and making out. With her. And then I’d hop back in the car at four in the morning and head home.

But Madden was with me. We could take turns driving. He and Tally had hit it off from minute one. They were back at the apartment right now. Alone. Maybe they were “getting a room”? I didn’t know what Tally’s thoughts were on that kind of thing these days. Regardless, I was happy for Stilts. He’d been waiting a long while for a decent girl to come along.

I pointed to the mix with Reese’s peanut butter chips. “That one looks good.”

“Oh, I love Reese’s. Let’s do it.”

I grabbed the box and we headed off down the aisle. “Do we have milk back at the apartment?” I asked.

“Hmm, probably curdled.” She laughed. “Let’s go grab some.” She pulled me by the hand. “I still can’t believe you got us matching sweatshirts.”

“You can’t?” I looked down at my hoodie and then at hers. They were Knoxville colors, baby blue with the words Team Blupree printed in bright orange. “I mean, if anyone should wear these, it should be us. Amirite?”

She looked back and tossed me a wink. “You’re right.”

I grinned. “Does that mean you’re gonna do it?”

“Change our last names to Blupree when we get married?” She snorted. “Heck no.” Then she turned, pirouetting into me, and pecked me on the mouth. “I cannot wait to change my name to Bishop.”

My hands were on her hips. “Is that right?”

“Yup.” Another kiss. “And have all your babies.” She poked a finger into my cheek. “And every one of them will have that dimple. And be lefties.”

I nipped her nose with mine. “And have your smile and amber eyes.”

She threaded her arms around my neck. “Yes, and we can have a house on the ranch for holidays and the off-season.”

“I like it. I’ll teach the kids football and you can teach them to ride horses.” I hugged her so tight that her feet came off the ground. When I set her down, the toes of her shoes were on top of mine. “Do you think your family will make me wear a cowboy hat?”

“Definitely.” She smoothed my hair. “You’re gonna look so hot.”

I laughed. “So. I was thinking….” I nuzzled her cheek. “We could live in the house you and your mom lived in. We could renovate it. Granite countertops, redo the wood floors, new lights and cabinets. Add a wing on the back for all those babies.”

She tilted back and looked me in the eye. “Seriously?” Her eyes were wet. “I would love that.”

“Don’t cry, sweet Anna. I just want to give you the world.”

“Blue. You are my world. This has been the best month of my life. You know that, don’t you?”

“I know it’s been the best month of my life. Hands down.”

“Yeah.” She pushed up, digging into my toes. But I didn’t care because she was kissing me right here in Food Lion, in Sweet Grass, Virginia. We were talking about the future and babies and love. It was what I’d dreamed of for four years and it wasn’t a daydream anymore. It was actual real life. And yeah, that future was years down the road, but it was ours. Together.

A laugh from the next aisle over brought Anna to a stop. Who was that?

“That’s Brooklyn,” she whispered, her brow crinkled. “She said she went home for the day.”

Brooklyn laughed again, flirty and light. It was super weird. I’d never heard Brooklyn flirt before.

Anna looked amused and confused. “Let’s see who she’s with,” she whispered. She tiptoed in that direction and giggled as we peered around the corner.

Brooklyn and a curly-haired blond guy were standing chest to back much like Anna and I had a moment ago. He had his arm around her waist and she had her arm over his, snuggled against him. It was sweet and odd. I’d almost thought Brooklyn didn’t like guys. She was so emotionless about them. Or snarky. Almost like she hated men.

She definitely didn’t hate this guy though. I’d say she liked him quite a bit.

Anna let out a little gasp and stepped away from me, dropping my hand. Brooklyn’s head whipped around. Like Anna, she stepped away from her guy. They looked at each other, wide-eyed, the air suddenly heavy and tense.

“Anna?” Brooklyn choked. Her face went from shocked to ashamed to shattered in less than a second. Then she whirled and took off in the opposite direction, leaving her boyfriend standing there watching.

Without a word, Anna jogged after her, passing the blond guy like he wasn’t even there. He looked familiar. Had I met him before?

I sauntered over. “This is awkward. What just happened?”

He stared at me, a bit wary, a bit…angry?

I offered him my fist. “I’m Blue. Anna’s boyfriend. Brooklyn and I were friends in high school.”

“Yeah.” He huffed out a laugh, not happy. “I know who you are.” He did not bump me back.

“Ohh-kay.” I folded my arms not knowing what the heck was happening.

Just then Anna came back around the corner grinning, leading Brooklyn by the shoulders as she choked out tiny sobs. Anna whispered something and Brooklyn laughed through her tears.

Blondie eased up a little and tilted his head at Brooklyn, a smile playing at his lips. “Told you she wouldn’t care.”

“Are you kidding?” Anna’s eyes were wide, a perfect smile splitting her face, her pearly whites shimmering like she was doing a toothpaste commercial. “This is amazing.” She passed Brooklyn off to him. “Two of my favorite people, together?” She gave him an awkward side hug that he didn’t return.

Then she sidled up next to me and linked her arm around mine. “Blue, this is Jonah. Jonah, this is Blue.”

Oh crap.

Her ex.

Her ex was dating Brooklyn?

Her ex was dating Brooklyn, they’d kept it a secret, and Anna didn’t care. Actually—I peeked over at her—she was glowing. Thrilled for them. Anna tucked herself under my arm, curled her hand around my waist, and rested her head against my shoulder.

“How long has this been going on?” She giggled. “Did you like each other before?” Only Anna could ask if her best friend and her boyfriend had a thing for each other while she and he were a couple and be excited about it. This woman was classy like no one else I’d ever been with.

“No.” Jonah shook his head, a hardness there. He was still hurt over Anna. But then he looked at Brooklyn and everything in him relaxed, softened. So, possibly hurt over Anna but falling hard and fast for Brooklyn?

“Yes. I mean, I thought he was cute. And I couldn’t find anything wrong with him and you know that never happens,” Brooklyn said, chagrined. “Sorry I didn’t tell you.”

“Brook,” Anna said, throwing out her free arm. “We tell each other everything. Even uncomfortable stuff.”

“I couldn’t tell you that. Not when you were together.”

Anna sighed. “It’s okay. But tell me everything now. How did it happen?”

Brooklyn and Jonah shared a smile.

His nose wrinkled. “She kind of helped me. A lot.” He waved his hand at me then Anna. “With everything. One day, a couple of weeks ago, she was just talking and I realized she was…kind of gorgeous.” That last part came out breathy. Like his vocal cords could hardly push it out.

Anna lay her fingers against her lips and she smiled. “She totally is.”

Brooklyn blushed. “I am not.”

“You are,” the three of us said in unison. She was. In a nerdy, snarky, brilliant, adorable sort of way.

She blushed even deeper.

Jonah looked down at her with a smoldering gaze. “So I just leaned over and pecked her on the mouth to see what she would do.”

“And?” Anna bounced on the balls of her feet.

He scratched his eyebrow. “She attacked me like a wild animal.”

We all burst out laughing.

Even Brooklyn, though she looked a little mortified. “I’d been holding back for a long time, okay?”

Jonah pulled her against him and rested his chin on the top of her head. “And I realized she was the kind of girl who would always tell me exactly how she felt.” His eyes flashed to Anna and I knew she hadn’t been that girl for him.

“No cap.” I chuckled. If Brooklyn was anything, she was honest. Painfully so.

“Yeah,” Jonah said. “Like she lets me know if I need a stick of gum.”

“Or if you have a wonky eyebrow,” Anna added.

“Or if your ex calls you Blucifer in her sleep,” I said.

Jonah’s eyes skittered to me and something in his expression told me he knew that one. And maybe it had hurt him.

Brooklyn shrugged. “I am who I am.”

“Yeah.” Jonah smiled. “You are. And it’s my favorite thing about you.”

“Mine too.” Anna gave her a soft smile.

“Same.” I had to get that in there.

Anna held up our brownie mix and shook it. “Brownies and Uno, anyone?”

Brooklyn looked at Jonah and though he seemed completely chill to me, she must’ve seen something in his expression we didn’t. “Too soon.” She clicked her tongue. “Give it a few months.” Then her face went back to her normal expressionless state. Which usually meant something sarcastic or biting was about to come out of her mouth. “Matching sweatshirts, guys? With your ship name, really? So cheeseball.”

We went our separate ways after that. Anna tightened her hold on my waist but every now and then, through the store and in the checkout line, she’d let out a little giggle.

She swiped and I bagged.

I grabbed the receipt. “You really weren’t in love with him, were you?”

“I tried.” She looked up at me, her eyes soft. “But how could I? You overshadow everything and everyone.”

My chest cinched in the best way. “Ditto.”

She reached into the bag and pulled out her pack of peach gum. She popped a piece in and chewed for a few seconds. Then she closed her eyes and smiled the most transcendently happy smile. “Two more weeks. I can’t wait.”

I blinked. “Two more weeks ’til what?”

She poked me playfully in the ribs. “Til we get to spend Thanksgiving break together in Seddledowne.” She swung our hands between us, so happy.

Oh crap. “Hey, babe.” I winced, not wanting to say it but having no choice. “I don’t get to go home for Thanksgiving. Ever.”

She dropped my hand. “What? Are you serious?”

“Yeah.” I sighed. “We play our biggest game of the year that Saturday. Coach always has Thanksgiving for everyone at his house.” She chewed her lip, looking dejected. I reached for her, pulling her against me. “But you can come have Thanksgiving with me.”

“So I have to pick between you and my family?” She twirled the string on my hoodie. “Silas isn’t going to like that.”

“Then don’t worry about it,” I said in a hush. “Just go see your family.” It took all my willpower to say it. It was the opposite of what I actually wanted.

“No. You’re my family now.” She shook her head, determined. “Christmas? Will you be home for that?”

I tightened my arms around her waist and kissed her temple. “I hope not.” Her jaw dropped and I laughed. “If I am, it means we didn’t make it to a bowl game or the national championship.”

Her chin lifted. “Got it. So I should pray for losses, starting now.” She snickered.

I tickled her sides. “You’d better not.” This girl was the opposite of every other girl I’d dated. All they cared about was football. Not the actual game. Just the prestige of it and how far they hoped I’d go. All Anna cared about was us being home with family for the holidays.

I pulled her so tight, we were almost one person. “I’ll be home for a few days at Christmas either way. And once the season is over I’m not even allowed to play football again until the spring. So we’ll have time together in January and February.”

Her nose scrunched. “School though.” She finally met my eye. “This is hard, huh?”

“Yeah. Really hard.”

“So I have to drive to Knoxville for Thanksgiving.”

“You don’t have to…but I sure want you to.” Her eyes turned down and I knew she was thinking about being away from her family during the holidays for the first time in her life. “If it makes the decision any easier, I promise to keep my dimple out at all times. And I’m a way better kisser than any of the Duprees.”

I held my breath, hoping she’d take the happy way out.

The rumble started in her ribs. I felt it in my fingertips first and the second I did, I relaxed. Her laughter released the tension I’d held in every muscle of my body. But it felt like a close call. Like one of these times when she had to choose, she might decide it was too much, and she might not choose me.

Problem was, life as an athlete was nothing but commitment. Commitment to the sport, my coaches, the team, and my health. Commitment to everything and everyone but the people I loved most.

But looking at Anna now that her laughter had died down, indecision evident in the pucker of her brows—my chest swelled with so much love. I didn’t know how I was supposed to put anything ahead of her.

Not anymore.

Not again.