Page 20

Chapter

Seventeen

JONAS

Mom: Good luck with finals!

Jonas: Thanks. I appreciate it.

I let my backpack slide off my shoulder and plop on my bedroom floor with a thud. Lucky it didn’t land on my toe. With a sigh, I throw on athletic shorts and a gray Harrison Hockey t-shirt.

The season is over, and I could take a month or two off from intense conditioning, like most of the other guys. But I don’t know what to do with myself. My thoughts are so loud about the loss, the only thing that quiets them is the zen moments I have during long runs.

So while I already worked out this morning, it’s the best way to spend my time right now. If I exercise until I’m utterly exhausted, I’ll fall into bed tonight and sleep without reliving the Championship game over and over in my head.

I tie my shoes, grab my ear buds, and slip my phone in my pocket. I open the front door to our apartment and stop in my tracks.

Hadley stands on the threshold, poised to knock and juggling a bunch of plastic bags. Her eyes widen. “Oh, hey.”

“Hi.”

I haven’t been avoiding her. Or rather, I haven’t been avoiding her specifically. I’ve kinda been avoiding everyone. I need to buckle down, finish this semester, and come back next year and make sure no one remembers this loss. Or remembers my part in it.

She shifts, and one of the bags she’s holding slips from her grasp. She muffles a curse, and I help her scoop everything off the floor. I’m not sure what she’s doing but I glimpse… popsicle sticks? A hot glue gun?

“Hadley, are you… crafting?”

“No.” She huffs. “Well, yes. Can you help me get this inside?”

I shrug and follow her into our apartment.

“Brother dearest!” Her voice carries through the space. “I’m here!

Spreading out like she lives here, Hadley dumps her armful of plastic bags onto the floor of our living room. Her black crop top rides up, showing off a sliver of tanned skin at her back, and I swallow. I stand behind her, unsure and still holding the stuff I scooped up.

Hunter emerges from his bedroom, wincing as he scans his phone screen. “Hadley, I’m so sorry to do this to you, but?—”

“Seriously?” She cuts him off. “Are you ditching me?”

“I am. Because Natalie texted and she needs help with her dad.”

“Oh.” Hadley’s face softens. “Of course.”

Natalie’s dad recently had a kidney transplant, which is great news for him and her family. So far, he is recovering well, and his body is not rejecting the new organ. She and Hunter are in a good place and it’s awesome to see them leaning on each other and growing together through tough times.

“Is there anything we can do?” I ask. While I was young the first time my sister was in the hospital, I remember the toll it can take, even if the surgery is a move in the right direction. “We could have pizza delivered or something.”

Hunter smiles and claps me on the shoulder. “That’s a great idea. I’ll pick up some on the way over. But can you cover for me here with Hadley? I promised to help with her stagecraft class.”

I glance at Hadley, trying not to let my eyes linger on the curve of her hips in her high-waisted jeans. She flushes a pretty pink color.

“Oh, I don’t want—” she starts at the same time I say, “Sure.” I can skip my extra run for this.

“Perfect.” Hunter gives her a noogie and tosses me a grin. “You’re a lifesaver.”

He heads out the front door, and Hadley and I stare at each other for a beat.

“I’m obviously leaving. I won’t impose like that.” She shifts her weight and collects one of her shopping bags. “I was only doing this here because you have more space than I do. But I’ll find?—”

“Aw, come on.” I grab the bag she’s holding and tug. “Stay.”

“No, there’s no need?—”

“Hunter will never let me live it down if he finds out I didn’t help you.” A smile flirts with the corners of her lips, so I keep going. “Besides, now that we talked about pizza, I want some. So you can order dinner to pay me back for my time. I’m probably great at stagecraft.”

Hadley lets go of the plastic handle and sighs. “That would make one of us.”

“So not your future major, then?” I unpack her supplies on the floor—cardboard boxes, popsicle sticks, a glue gun and refills, toothpicks, fabric, and paint. This feels more like kindergarten than a college class.

“No, definitely not.” She bites her lip and settles next to me on the carpet. “In fact, I think the professor is relieved we’re not building actual sets.”

“Yeah, why not?” I gesture at the pile of stuff in front of us on the living room floor. “What’s up with this?”

“Normally, the stagecraft classes build the sets for the theater department. But Feller Hall of Music is being renovated right now. So we have to create replica sets, to scale.”

“Oh.” I stare at the popsicle sticks, still unclear how they figure in. But if Hadley needs help, I’m here for it. “Okay, let’s get started.”

It’s not great, not by any stretch of the imagination. But we have a stage, some curtains, spots marked out where lights would go, and a decent backdrop. It’s done, and that’s what matters most at this point.

The pizza arrives, so I get out two paper plates while Hadley answers the door. The smell of garlic and cheese fills the apartment as she sets the cardboard box on the counter and my mouth waters.

“Want a drink?” I ask, opening the fridge.

“Will you freak out if I have a beer?” Hadley raises a brow, popping her hand on her hip. She looks as delicious as the pizza.

“I’m not your brother.” I grab two longnecks and give her one.

She clinks it against mine. “I’m aware.”

I hand her the magnetic bottle opener off the refrigerator, and a frisson of awareness runs down my spine as our fingers brush.

Clearing my throat, I busy myself with selecting two slices and settle on the couch.

I expect Hadley to put space between us and sit on the other end, but there’s only a foot separating us.

I’ve kept myself in check all night as she’d lean close to work on something, and the scent of her cotton candy perfume would make me dizzy with want.

Is she trying to make this difficult for me?

I can’t have her, but I can’t stay away.

Maybe over the summer, when the temptation is gone, I’ll be able to put her out of my head and move on.

I take a large bite of pizza and chew, trying to focus on food and not the girl in front of me.

“So now we know, not theater and stagecraft. Any idea what you’re leaning towards for a major, though?”

Hadley swallows a swig of her drink. “Actually, yeah. I’m meeting with my advisor next week, and I think I figured it out.”

“Well?” I say after she stops speaking. “Don’t leave me in suspense!”

She huffs a laugh. “You’ll be the first person I’ve told. I, um, I’m going to choose Computer Science.”

“Hadley, that’s awesome. I’m so glad you found something you like.”

Staring at the pizza on her plate, she glances at me through her lashes. “Yeah? It fits okay?”

“Fits okay? Is it a dress?”

“No, but—I’m worried people won’t think I’m smart enough or something for that major.”

I take her beer out of her fingers and set it on the floor, then shift to hold both her hands and face her on the couch.

“Were you smart enough to do well in your Intro to Computer Science class this semester?” I ask, voice serious.

“Yes, but?—”

“And do you like it?”

She gulps. “Yes, I do.”

“Is it something you wouldn’t mind doing as a job?”

“I think it could be a fun challenge.”

“That’s it, then.” I squeeze her fingers. “It sounds like it’s a great fit.”

I almost lose my balance when she throws her arms around my neck in a tight hug. “You always know the right thing to say, Jonas. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” I pat her back and try not to dwell on how much I’m going to miss her over the summer.

We’ll text, I’m sure. That will have to be enough. And it’s probably best if I don’t see her for a few months. Maybe then I can remember she’s Hunter’s sister and not someone I should be hugging on the couch when he’s not home.