Someone else brought their mini speaker and they’re playing music from a solid playlist that has some bangers on it. My friends start showing off the drunker they get. Saying stupid shit. Doing stupider shit. Dom grabbed a saw out of the back of his truck for some reason and is taking down a little pine tree that stands nearby, while guys from the football team are encouraging him.
Pretty sure he could get in major trouble for that if a park ranger showed up, but I can’t imagine that happening right now.
I’m quiet, listening to everyone talk, while biding my time, not wanting to go over and talk to Addie too soon. Stupid, but I don’t want to push. Or make a fool of myself. Everyone thinks I’ve got my shit under control since I’m popular or whatever, but I’m just as insecure as the next guy, especially when it comes to Addie.
She has no idea how much she means to me.
The girl is clueless.
We’re about two hours into the night when I spot her talking with my friend, Liam. Just the two of them chatting it up near a cluster of giant rocks. I can’t stop looking at them. To the point that Dom nudges me, jolting me out of my trance.
“You say something?” I ask him.
“I asked if you were going to stop staring at her and just go over there and start talking.” Dom shakes his head before tilting it in Addie’s direction. “Grow some balls and do it.”
“I’ve got a girlfriend.”
“Who’s leaving you soon. You told me so yourself, you want to break up with her,” Dom points out.
I wince, sipping from my beer. I did tell him that. I’ve said it a few times. I send Dom a quick look before my gaze goes back to my friend and my crush. “Please tell me Liam isn’t interested in Addie.”
“I have no idea if he is. That guy doesn’t tell me shit,” Dom mutters with a shake of his head.
“Me either.” Unease fills me as I watch them talk, Addie laughing at something Liam says.
Shit.
“Addie Douglas is open game right now, Callahan. And Sasha’s not here. Go talk to her.” Dom chuckles.
“It’s not like that,” I say irritably, hating how he called her open game.
“Then what is it like? Because you’ve been staring at Addie every time I’ve caught you in the same room as her for months. Don’t bother bringing up Sasha either. I know what’s really going on with you two.” Dom smirks.
I send him a dirty look. “That’s not true. I don’t stare at Addie.”
It’s definitely true, but I don’t want to admit it to him.
“Whatever, man. You stick with Sasha who treats you like shit most of the time, when you can bag whoever you want. And that girl over there? The one talking to Liam? She will want you. I see her sending you the same kind of looks you send her so…”
“Really?” I hate the hope in my voice and I clear my throat to hide it. “I don’t believe you. Besides, she’s talking to Liam.”
“Only because you won’t talk to her.” Dom gives my shoulder a shove, which sends me toppling a bit. And I’m a big guy, though so is Dom. “Go. Say hi. Tell her you want her body before Liam beats you to it.”
“I can’t do that.” I shove him back, annoyed, and he laughs at me, the asshole.
“Why the hell not?”
“I have a girlfriend, asswipe.” Annoyance fills me and I try my best to push it away. “What if she’s the girl Liam likes?”
“It’s on him that he doesn’t tell us what’s up. Right now, she’s fair game, my friend. I say go for it.” Dom inclines his head in their direction.
I’m not fair game, though. I’m with someone else, and I don’t cheat.
Turning away from him, I head to where Addie and Liam are standing. She’s staring up at him as he continues talking, nodding and smiling as if what he’s saying is so damn interesting, and I stop right next to her, not saying a word.
Liam pauses mid-sentence when he spots me, his expression turning decidedly unfriendly. “Beck. Hey.”
I flick my chin at him in greeting. “What’s up?” I glance over at Addie to find her watching me, the faintest smile on her pretty face.
“Hi,” she says to me, her voice low.
Inviting.
Liam glares at me, as if I’m infringing on his territory, which is some straight-up bullshit if you ask me. “Mind if I talk to Addison privately for a minute?”
His hesitation is obvious, his gaze cutting to Addie’s for a brief moment before he returns his attention to me. “Sure. No problem.” He turns and leaves in a literal cloud of dust, which I would find amusing any other night.
But not tonight.
“I think you might’ve scared him,” Addie says once he’s gone.
“Why would I scare him? We’re friends.” I settle on the edge of one of the rocks, a fantasy forming in my head. One where Addie sits on my lap and slings her arms around my neck. I’d put my arms around her waist and kiss her, right in front of everyone.
I wonder what she tastes like.
I’ve wondered that for a long-ass time.
“You mow guys down on the football field.” She waves a hand in my direction. “You’re intimidating.”
“You think I’m intimidating?” I raise my brows, surprised.
“No, I don’t think so. But everyone else might.” She shakes her head, her lips curling into a barely-there smile. “You don’t scare me, Callahan. I knew you back when you got the wind knocked out of you at a youth league football game, and you cried for your mom as they carried you off the field.”
Shit. I remember that. A humiliating, adolescent moment. “You were there?”
“Heck yeah. I was on the youth cheer team that one year, remember?”
I do remember. Back when seeing girls in short skirts didn’t do much for me.
Times have definitely changed.
“Why’d you quit?” I ask her.
“My mom said I needed to choose—volleyball or cheer. They’re both huge commitments. I liked volleyball a lot more so that’s what I stuck with. Really, I just wanted to be like my big sister,” she says, referring to Jocelyn.
What I’ve heard from Jake and Ava is that Jos was a great volleyball player in high school, but I’m pretty sure Addie’s better.
“Don’t we all?” I scratch the back of my neck. “I got into football because of Jake. And my dad, of course.”
“Of course. Your dad is an NFL legend. And your brother is on his way to becoming a legend too.” Addie smiles, not fazed by my dad’s fame whatsoever—or Jake’s. Most people who go to our high school aren’t. Drew Callahan is a fixture on the football field since he’s been coaching the varsity team for years. They’re used to seeing him around.
And Jake went to our high school—he’s not the only pro football player to graduate from here. My sister Autumn’s husband Ash Davis went pro, and Addie’s brother-in-law Diego Garcia plays for the NFL too. They were both coached by my dad, which is totally cool.
“You’re a great volleyball player,” I tell her, and I’m not just saying it either. “I’ve watched you play a few times.”