Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58947 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58947 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
“You should go,” I say in a rush. “You’re missing everything.”
“No, I’m not.”
The air throbs between us like a pulse, and we hold each other’s gaze hostage. In the living room, the team claps for something, and it snaps the thread between our eyes, freeing me to look away.
“I better…” He points his thumb over his shoulder and leaves the kitchen.
I slump against the counter, my breath coming out in a stream of forced air. What the heck? I’ve had boyfriends. Kissed guys. Gone all the way a few times. Nothing to write home about. If anything, I made it out to be more than it was when I told my friends because…surely there was supposed to be more? More than fumbling hands and squishy lips and boozy breath and a guy getting his, but never thinking about mine. Besides not getting me off—which I can do in my bed by myself—those guys didn’t touch me. Not with their clumsy, seeking hands, but in my heart. Shoot, in my soul. They were so worried about touching all the parts they got to see, they didn’t bother with the parts invisible to the naked eye. Those parts—the under the skin, stirring in my chest, burning up my heart parts—Naz somehow seemed to touch in a matter of glances, with a few words and a simple brush of my fingers.
“You been watching too much Vampire Diaries,” I mutter, laughing at my own whimsical thoughts.
I know that’s television, fantasy, fiction, but if love ain’t epic, I don’t want it. If it ain’t life and death—not literally, the way it is for Stefan, Damon, and Elena—but if it’s not something that makes you risk, makes you ache, then why bother?
I’m scarfing down some coconut bread when the guys start bringing their paper plates into the kitchen and tossing them in the trash.
“You guys ready to take pictures?” Cliff asks. “For posterity, I think is what they call it. The night before we shook up the world.”
“Wow,” I mutter, tying off a bag of trash. “It’s a ball game, not a revolution.”
“Don’t let them hear you say that.”
I glance up to find Naz standing beside me.
“Oh. I just meant…well.” My words tangle up. “Just meant that, um, you guys think the whole world revolves around that court.”
“I don’t.” He shrugs. “But it may be my best shot at a full ride for college, so it’s important, yeah.”
“How good are you?” I tease, smiling and leaning against the edge of the sink.
“Not as good as your brother, but who is?”
“Strongarm,” Cliff calls from the kitchen door, his glance pinging suspiciously between Naz and me. “We’re going up on the roof for pictures. Come on.”
“On the roof?” Naz frowns.
“My daddy made it a rooftop we could use for cookouts and stuff. It’s actually kind of cool.”
“And totally safe,” Mama says, entering just behind Cliff.
“Mama, can you come take some pictures of us?” Cliff asks.
“Get your sister to do it.” Mama shakes her head. “I spent my whole day cooking all that food for you. Don’t ask me for another thing.”
Cliff rolls his eyes up to the ceiling and releases a long-suffering sigh. “Will you do it, Tee?”
“Um, yeah.” I make sure not to look at Naz so Cliff won’t kick him out.
By the time we’ve climbed the steps to reach the roof, the guys are lined up in their sports jackets and ties. They’re all laughing. That same sense of invincibility Cliff carries—he’s managed to imbue his team with it. They’re all so boisterous and cocksure, except Naz. It’s obvious to me these guys have been together for three years, and that Naz is still trying to find his place. Even in the photos, there’s something that sets him apart, makes him seem alone even in the midst of boys dressed exactly the same.
I use Daddy’s camera and also take a few with my phone. After thirty minutes of them posing and me snapping, I stop.
“Cliff, I have enough pics for three championships,” I say. “We done?”
“Yeah, yeah.” He comes over and squeezes my shoulders, bending to kiss my forehead. “Thanks, Tee.”
He turns to his team and lifts his arms, releasing a shout. “That’s a wrap. Now take your ugly asses home and get some sleep. Tomorrow will be here before you know it.”
I hang back, waiting for the roof to clear. When the last of their shrieks dies out, I grab the blanket from a storage bench, spread it on the cement floor, and sit. Between my parents and siblings, and all of Cliff’s friends who are always at the house, it can get pretty crowded. It can be hard to think in all the noise. It can become impossible to dream, so I come up here every chance I get to be alone.
“Thanks again for taking the pictures.”