Page 14 of Kickoff

If Melinda got into Crestwood U, then I would attend too. Maybe I was pussy-whipped just like my brother. The only problem, in my scenario, was that the girl had no idea I would follow her to the opposite side of the globe if she asked me to.

I stretched my quads and then my arms over my head one last time, ready to go. With a sigh, I glanced at the house next door again, annoyed I had spotted no signs of life there in the last ten minutes.

The front door behind me opened, and I almost expected it to be my brother when Paige joined me, a container full of freshly iced cupcakes in hand.

“Hey Mase, you still here?”

I craned my neck to meet her eyes. Paige was tall enough—about five-eight, the same height as her best friend—but I towered over her by at least six inches. “Yeah. I finished my stretching. I was just about to leave.” I gestured to the street with my chin.

With long dark blonde hair and gray irises, Paige was pretty. Level-headed and smart, I understood why my brother was so enamored with her. She and Melinda had been best friends since the first day of seventh grade. The day I made an ass of myself at school—and humiliated her in the process—and my neighbor turned her back on me and killed whatever friendship we might have had.

Paige shoved her other hand in the pocket of her shorts and twisted her lips.

“What’s wrong? I know you well enough to tell when something is bothering you. Spill it.”

She remained silent.

“Is it Craig? What did the sucker do this time?” I lifted a brow, waiting for her to confirm. “Did he do something to piss you off?”

We both knew my brother was way too serious for his own good sometimes and would never do anything to anger his girlfriend. Even though they were still in high school, Craig and Paige were that couple. The one you looked up to. The one that made sense from day one. The one you envied sometimes when you were alone in bed at night. Yeah, they were disgustingly adorable together. And meant to last. The forever kind of love.

The upturn of Paige’s lips hinted that she thought I was being funny, but the frown marring her forehead indicated there was still something bothering her.

“What’s wrong, babe? You know you can talk to me. Always.” I pulled her to sit on a step next to me. She placed the container beside her on the deck.

Unlike my brother who hated my calling his girlfriend babe, Paige had never complained about it or asked me to drop it. She and I shared our own special bond.

“Did Craig confide in you about something?” she asked, staring straight into my eyes. I would never be able to spin shit to her because she would call me out on it.

“No. Why?”

She shrugged. “He’s been acting weird lately.”

I bumped her shoulder with mine. “My brother is weird, girl.” The sound of her chuckle warmed me up. “Nothing new there. It was about time you caught up with the fact.”

“He is not. He’s focused. Smart and talented. And he knows what he wants. I admire him.”

“Maybe. He’s still weird, though. He’s seventeen and acts like he’s thirty most of the time. He should go out more, party more, enjoy his youth more. Just sayin’. He gotta live before he’s all grown up and has a bunch of responsibilities. I can’t be fun for the two of us forever. He has to step in and do his part. There must exist a way for him to loosen up a bit. Do you think they offer classes in college for that? Maybe he should join a fraternity next year. Those guys sure know how to enjoy all the perks college has to offer, no? Have you thought about joining a sorority instead of staying in the dorms? You and Craig would make a cute Kappa Gamma Whatever couple.”

“Kappa Gamma Whatever couple? It sounds terrible.” She exploded in a fit of laugher. “Anyway, for your information, not all of us want to get shitfaced or sleep around all the time, Mase…or join Greek life. And for your own good, please never move to a frat house. That would be a nightmare waiting to happen. Steer clear of drunk college kids and you’ll be all right. By the way, in case you weren’t aware, one day, you’ll have to grow up too.”

I lifted my hands between us as if to protect myself and put my most scared face on. “Me too? Are you serious?”

Paige bobbed her head, laughing.

“Oh geez, I should have been warned. Why is it that nobody ever told me? Moooooom?”

Paige planted a hand over my mouth, shutting me up.

My teasing died down, and she dropped her hand.

I rubbed my jaw. “Let’s see. I know he’s been stressed about college. Since junior year, we have had all these scouts calling us and promising things. Craig has been waiting for Thompson U to make an offer. Hopefully, when they come to see him play later this fall, they’ll get their heads out of their asses, and it’ll be a done deal. They already showed interest in me last year. He should be next. He has those late-night meetings with Dad in his office once a week. Neither of them will tell me what it’s about.”

“They do? He didn’t tell me about them either. Has he told you he’s been re-thinking our college choice? Is it because of the tuition fees?” Alarm swirled in her eyes.

“Nah. Even if he doesn’t get that full-ride scholarship, our tuition fees are covered, no matter what. Mom and Dad have made sure we’d both be good on that front before we even turned one. It’s flattering to know your number one school also wants you, that’s all. I’m sure it’s nothing. You two are fine?”

“Yes.” She rubbed her palms on her thighs, looking nervous. “I think so. He’s being quiet about all this. He usually confides in me. This time, it’s like he’s keeping something from me, and it’s annoying me. Every time I broach the topic, he says I’m worrying for nothing.”