Page 25 of Catching Feelings

“Oh, she’s the best.” Will locks eyes with me seriously. “She’s my girlfriend Kara’s best friend, and those two would die for each other. And nobody does more for anyone in Hamilton Lakes than her. Like, obviously our team is great, but without her?” He shakes his head. “We wouldn’t even be on the map.”

“It’s no fun playing a great game if no one is cheering you on! Cap’n Ahab knows,” Kai adds, checking his hair in the camera of his phone. (It’s perfectly styled, as always.)

… right. “Yeah, she’s been super welcoming.”

“Welcoming, huh?” Will waggles his eyebrows.

I flush, feeling irrationally like I need to defend Sabrina’s honor. “Not like that.”

He just shrugs. “Whatever makes you happy, man. As long as it doesn’t screw up your game.”

My cheeks warm, and I bend to put more focus than strictly necessary on lacing up my sneakers. “Well, I’m just happy to be playing this year—I’m not good enough to go much farther—”

“You serious?” Will’s eyebrows pop up in shock. “You’re definitely good enough to play in college. You’ve got fast feet, open eyes, quick inside hands. Great technique. You know how to read the field and adjust. And you work damn hard—coaches are gonna love your grit.”

I blink. I’m probably blushing from the unexpected praise. “I guess college was never really an option in Brownsville. We didn’t get the kinda scouts you guys do here.”

“Well, shit, we’re drowning in scouts!” Kai cries. “They’ll be showing up to games all season. You keep doing your thing and you’re bound to get noticed—right, Cap’n Kirk?”

Will ignores Kai’s theatrics—probably got used to them years ago—and fixes me with a steely gaze. “That’s right. A lot of the guys are counting on that this year. I’ve been talking to a coach at UCLA, and if I play well this season, he said I’m sure to get signed.”

“And he’s definitely good enough,” Gabe pipes in, leg jiggling up and down as he laces his shoes.

I nod hurriedly, resisting the urge to salute. “I’m sure you are.”

“That remains to be seen.” Will takes a step toward me, meticulously adjusting the cuffs of his button-down. “But I can tell you one thing: I keep my team drama free so we have optimal chances of playing our best, and a team is only as strong as its weakest link. You’ve got talent, Holloway. Don’t waste it. If there’s anything you need to talk about… you come to me, okay?”

My mouth goes dry. Will’s just giving me the standard new-guy warning, right? Not hinting that I might be trouble?

I meet his eye without flinching. “Drama free sounds perfect to me.”

And just like that, the momentary storm on Will’s face has blown over, and he’s back to smiling sunnily. “Great!” He claps me on the back. “Then have fun!”

Gabe slings an arm around my neck and lifts a single finger. “But not too much fun.”

I roll my eyes. “We’re just friends.”

“I’d love a friend that good,” Kai says under his breath.

I wave them off and exit the locker room, mind whirring a mile a minute. Will isn’t the kind of guy to give empty compliments. And if he’s right, maybe all the mess from this last year happened for a reason.

If I get a scholarship to play in college, that would change everything.

As long as I don’t screw things up here. Keep things drama free and no trouble.

A text from Ryan interrupts the butterflies in my stomach. hey, you want to try that ice cream place on the way home? i’m telling you, you gotta try their mint chip!!!

I’m about to send him a thumbs-up, but then I spot Sabrina’s blond ponytail bent over the desk in the athletics office.

Getting a ride to work with a guy from the team, sorry! Maybe this weekend?

Only a little guilt creeps up my throat. I have a work shift after practice anyway, regardless of who’s driving. We can try that ice-cream place another time. And I don’t need to remind him just how much time I’m spending with Sabrina.

When she looks up to meet my eyes, beaming, I can’t help smiling back. Sabrina has a way of making my worries dissolve.

“Your friend giving you a ride?” Gabe hoots as he passes. I flip him off behind my back, and Will and Kai erupt in cackles. I gotta admit, I’ve missed being teased by a team.

As much as I like them, though, I’m really looking forward to Sabrina rambling a mile a minute.