Page 191 of Chasing Headlines
“There's not five hundred hours in a week.”
“Ah well, it'd take me longer, then. Shame.” His voice curled into my ear.
“You've got a one-track mind.”
“Fair.” He cleared his throat. “So, will I see you this Friday?”
I pulled my knees up to my chest. “I, uh, can't get there, but. But I'm coming back early. So, I'll be there next week. Save me a seat for the special New Years' mystery meat surprise.”
He chuckled. “Actually, Eberhardt's barbequing or something.”
Ah, a baseball team activity. The tight feeling around my chest squeezed. “Ah, you’re busy, then. Well, I’m sure Dotty and I can amuse ourselves?—”
“Want to be my plus one?”
I blinked.What? I can go?“Oh, um, I guess we should keep up appearances.”
“Livvie?” His voice lowered to a dangerous tone. “Don't . . . don’t do that.”
I sighed. He was right, we’d agreed to give this whole actual-dating thing a chance, even though we’d not yet, managed to goon a real “date”. But that didn’t keep us from kissing. And oh, I’d been right, his lips were made for kissing . . . I traced the edge of my lip with my fingertips.
“Livvie.”
I pressed my eyes closed and tried to force the words from my brain to my tongue:my dad’s running for IML minor league president and may have been involved in keeping you out of the draft. And my brother’s a scout for the Sabers, who also turned their back on you. No hard feelings, right?But I just . . . couldn’t. “Sorry, wasn’t exactly a happy family reunion. I needed to hear your voice, so thanks for thinking of me. And calling.” The scout application caught my eye, again. What would Breslin think . . . of any of it?
“What's going on?”
“Not while I'm here. When I get back—”home?Why did that word pop into my brain?“Promise.”
A growl tore through the line. And I knew what was coming.
Breslin: We said none of this pretend shit.
“I know.” I closed my eyes, again, and I could picture him, that look like a wild animal—caught and unsure . . . I wasn't here to hurt him.
“It's too important.” He whispered.
I love you, but I'm afraid to tell you . . .
Breslin: Talk to me, Livvie.
Liv: It's something I should say in person.
Breslin: Are you breaking up with me?
Liv: No!
Breslin: Then tell me something honest. Something I don't know. Say it out loud, I can hear it in your voice when you lie.
Liv: What?!
Breslin: Out loud.
My brain was blank. But he wouldn't ask me if I wasn't, if I would just . . .He can tell in my voice?“Um, remember the day we got stuck in the maintenance closet?”
He chuckled. “Yeah.”
“I wanted you to kiss me, then.”