My phone rang as I was walking into Candy's the next morning. I left while she was still asleep. It was time for Whiskey to eat and I was getting hungry too. I didn't sleep next to her, I lay awake and I stared at her. And I recognized what I felt. Attraction, lust, adoration.

Adoration always leads to something else. Almost always.

But not with me. I can adore someone and not like them. You adore little kids, you adore kittens and puppies. I adore Indigo Bloom Easton. In that puppy way.

I stood in line and then answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Reece, where are you at?" It was Ryan.

"Candy's. What's up?"

"Can you fill in today for practice? We're a player short."

"Haven't you got a game this Friday?"

"Yeah. That's why we need you. Troy had to bail today to take his little brother to the doctor but we're making the strategy. Are you free?"

"Yeah. What time?"

"The usual." So, four o'clock.

"I'll be there. See you then, bye."

"Bye." He hung up and I put the phone in my pocket as I stepped up for my turn.

I ordered what I usually do, paid, got my drink, and then sat down because I still had thirty minutes until class. I was looking through the window when I saw Indie walking in. She had on sweatpants but she put on a fitted, black, full-sleeve v-neck which was tucked into her pants. Her hair was thrown up in a bun with a claw clip and she had her bag on her shoulder. She walked in and got in line.

I was watching her but my eyes shifted to the counter when the waitress was called to the back and someone else, a guy, took over the counter. When there were three people left in front of her, she was scrolling through her phone. And the guy was checking her out. I held my chin in my palm and watched.

When it was finally her turn, she put her phone away.

His smile was ten times brighter, and he became more charming. I rolled my eyes but kept watching.

She placed her order and then took out the cash. I watched as he scribbled the order and very obviously, his number onto the cup. He slid it over for the barista to prepare the drink and then took the cash from her, his fingers intentionally brushing hers when he dropped the change in her palm. He asked her something while printing the receipt and she nodded, replying softly.

I clenched and unclenched my jaw.

She tucked the change away and then gave him a nod before moving out of line and waiting for her drink. While waiting, she dug through her bag and her hand came back out with a black marker. She took the drink with a smile and then left. I could still see her from here. She stopped outside and scribbled all over the number so she couldn't use it. Then she tucked her marker away and drank her tea, walking to campus. She's very early today.

I stood up and left, catching up to her as she reached the campus. "Hey," I said as she swiped her ID and walked through.

"Hey," she smiled at me over her shoulder.

We were walking in when I asked her, "What happened to your cup?"

She glanced at me. "I saw you sitting there, don't act dumb."

I chuckled, "I just want to know. Why didn't you just leave it be?"

"So I wouldn't be tempted to call. He was cute," she shrugged.

"Was he now?"

She nodded, smirking at me.

"Then why wouldn't you want to call?"

"We're committed, aren't we? I can hook up with him when we're done. Whenever that is. What will I do with his number now? It'll go to waste." We walked into our lecture hall and took our seats.

"What are you doing after classes?" I asked, watching as she pulled out her laptop and notebook.

"I was planning on getting my nails done. Why?"

"I have practice today."

She nodded and then her face turned into one of confusion. "So?"

"You should come. I'll take you after that to get your nails done. Unless you're going with Chloe. Are you?"

She shook her head slowly. "I was planning to go alone."

"I'll take you. If you can wait an hour for me."

A smile tugged at her lips but she held it back and nodded. "I can wait for you."

➵ ➵ ➵ ➵ ➵

We were halfway through practice and Indigo was sitting up in the bleachers, watching with her earphones in. I got distracted when I saw Landon walking in through the doors and walking over to her, sitting right beside her. She pulled her earphones out and turned to him.

"Reece!"

I looked forward as the ball came at me. I caught it in time and dribbled it closer to the basket before passing it forward. He passed it back to me when I was in a position to score and I did, feeling the sweat drip down the side of my face as well as down my chest.

I was still watching them when Ryan came over to me as we took a little break. "You brought a cheerleader with you today," he smirked, nudging my shoulder with his own.

"It's not like that," I mumbled, my eyes still trained on her and Landon.

He was saying something to her. He didn't look angry or upset. He seemed genuine from afar and maybe he was just talking to her. I doubt their break-up hurts him anyway.

"What do you mean? She's here for you, isn't she? That makes her your cheerleader."

"She's only here because I have to drop her off somewhere after this," I lied, glancing at Ryan.

"Oh, I see. Is that why you're sending jealous daggers over there?"

I rolled my eyes and ignored his remark, watching them.

"Relax, my guy. I think she likes you, not him."

"What makes you say that?" I asked out of curiosity.

"She's been watching you the whole time. She's been smiling and she does a little clap every time you score. Need I say more?"

She nodded at something Landon said and then she shrugged, leaning back a little. He said something and she replied with a nod. She started fidgeting with her earring when he asked her something. She looked away from him and looked around the room, her eyes meeting mine. She turned away quickly and looked at Landon. She nodded again and said something. He shrugged and mumbled something while standing up. He looked down at her with his eyebrows raised before he asked another question. She laughed softly and nodded.

He left after that, waving her bye. She waved back and then turned her attention back to me.

I really want to know what they talked about.

"All right, let's call it a day. We know the strategy for the next game. Tomorrow, we'll practice with Troy. Thanks, Reece," Ryan said, patting my shoulder.

"No problem." I saluted the team with two fingers and then jogged over to Indie. "You okay?" I asked, the words falling out of my mouth.

She nodded while smiling. "You're going to shower?"

"Yeah. Give me ten minutes."

"Sure thing."

I went into the locker room with the team and took the first stall, beating the other guys. I showered and got dressed quickly and threw my gym bag in the spare locker I use here and then jogged back out to her. With drenched hair and my towel still in hand. I'll take it to the apartment to wash it with my laundry this weekend. "Let's go."

"Your hair is still soaked, didn't you dry it?" she laughed, pulling me back and taking the towel from my hands. She held it out to me. "Dry it."

I pushed it back into her hands. "Dry it."

She looked at me in confusion.

I sat down on the bleachers and pulled her to stand between my legs. "Here. I need a mirror, so..."

She rolled her eyes but she was smiling. She put the towel on my head and started ruffling my hair, drying it up quickly. She would stop and run her fingers through it so it wasn't tangled and then kept drying. "Do you have any idea how many guys called me your cheerleader on their way out?" She laughed while stopping and tilting my chin up to get the front of my hair.

"Did they?" I asked, grabbing her waist.

She threw my hands off and playfully slapped my cheek, pushing me away. She got back to drying my hair and I grabbed the back of her thighs, pulling her down into my lap so she straddled me. She gasped and stared at me, her eyes wide. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights, all flustered and cute. She always looks cute.

"But you didn't cheer for me," I smirked.

"I did," she mumbled. "I—"

"Did a little clap every time I scored."

"You saw?"

"A few times," I nodded.

"Then why would you say I didn't—"

I silenced her with a kiss, pulling her lips down to mine, holding one side of her face. I freed her hair from the claw clip until it fell over one side of her face and hid her from all the guys who were walking back in that weren't from the team. They were freshman boys who had the gym next for their practice.

Her hair fell like a curtain over her face and mildly over mine while some of the guys wolf-whistled and then left, the slam of the door echoing behind them.

I stopped, pulling away to look at her. That's the first time I've kissed her in public. And it should be the last. Because fuck friends don't kiss in public. They don't kiss at all unless they're about to fuck. And we aren't. So why did I just kiss her?

"Why did you do that?" She blinked, looking very lost and innocent.

"I don't know. I felt like it," I whispered.

She nodded, "Okay." She cleared her throat and then climbed off of me, grabbing her bag and taking the claw clip which I held out for her. She pulled her hair back from each side, clasping it together. "Let's go?" She held out her hand for me to grab. We both stared at her hand and she pulled it back when I didn't take it. "That was too girlfriend-y. Sorry."

I stood up and grabbed her hand. "Not really. Come on."

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