Page 115 of The Surprise Play

I cringe. Ugh. Yeah. I so can’t go there.

Wily and I will just have to spend Valentine’s Day apart.

And that’s probably a good thing, right? Because I need to get used to living without him. After he graduates, he’s going to be off who knows where playing football, and I just have to enjoy this for what it is.

A glitch in the matrix.

A dream that I’ll eventually wake up from.

My phone starts beeping with an incoming call and I check my screen, my insides jumping with delight when the nameCoyotepops up.

“Hey, Mom, I have to go.”

“Okay, sweetie. We’ll see you next weekend, then. I love you.”

“Love you too,” I sing, quickly hanging up before I lose Wily’s call. “Hi.”

Oh my gosh, I sound like a tween, my voice all soft and wispy.

“Hey, beautiful. How’s it going?”

“Good. How was practice?”

“Light and easy. Coach wanted to get home early. Carson told me he’s got a special date night with the missus. I think it’s their wedding anniversary or something. Anyway, worked in our favor. Practice wrapped up about twenty minutes ago.”

“Wow. That’s awesome.”

“So, what are you doing?”

I swing back and forth in my chair, nibbling the end of my pen as I gaze out the window and picture him standing in his room. Is he shirtless? Is his hair wet from a shower?

My lady parts start to tingle, my body thrumming with this new energy I’m already addicted to.

“I was just talking to my mom,” I tell him. “And then I was thinking I’d proof my assignment, then… I don’t know, read a book or watch a movie or…”

“Come hang out with me?”

I grin. “Really? You’re free tonight?”

“I’m free to hang out with you. I just need to wait for Carson to get back with my truck, and then I’ll come and… Wait.” He sucks in a quick breath.

“What?”

“Nylah lives in your building.”

“She does?”

“Yeah. She’s on the second floor, I think. Run down and see if she’s there. You can catch a ride.”

“What?”

“I loaned Carson my truck to go and get her, so see if you can catch a ride.”

I sit forward in my seat, nerves thrashing me as I entertain the idea of going downstairs to look for a perfect stranger and ask for a ride. “Like… right now?”

“Yes. Go, go, go, girl. I’ll see ya soon.”

“Uh… I’m not sure I can.” I cringe, hating the idea of letting him down, but I’ve never met Nylah Jones before. I’ve heard all about her, but every time I’ve gone to Football Frat, she either hasn’t been there or I haven’t seen her because I like to hang out in Wily’s room.