I want to get defensive, but the bright sun swinging inside my chest won’t let me. I can’t believe I’ve never considered going to the game. Maybe because my stomach hurts like hell. Or because the doctor ordered me to stay home until Wednesday. Or because a teacher or coach or any of my teammates could spot me. But they’re even smaller than the smallest specks of dust—not even about to stop me from seeing Rex.

REX

Carli. Is. In. The. Building. Can you believe it? I mean, I dreamed of her coming, but there’s no way I thought she’d be here this soon after surgery.

I’m sitting high up in the stands, a couple rows above my team. The JV game is about to start. Carli’s walking along the sidelines with Cole, who’s suited up for the game. A few of his teammates, standing in a huddle around their coach, look back at him like, What the fuck? But he doesn’t pay them any mind. His attention is on Carli, his arm around her for support. And judging by how slow they’re moving, she needs every bit of it.

I stand up, ready to run to her and relieve him so he can get on the court.

But the first horn on the game clock sounds, and I sit back down.

Coach is sitting in the bleachers above me, so he can keep a good eye on the team. He likes us to stay put during the JV games, stay focused. I mean, we can run to the bathroom or go get a bag of chips from the vending machines if we want, but if he catches anybody wandering around trying to holla at girls, he benches them for the game.

But man, this feeling inside me right now has me thinking crazy. Has me thinking this moment is bigger than a game on the bench. Has my whole body feeling like it’s about to explode into some rainbows and shit. I’m telling you, another minute of trying to contain it, and people are gonna be picking me up as Lucky Charms scattered around the gym.

The second horn sounds. Game time. Man, forget this. I run down the bleachers and sidelines until I’m standing in front of Carli, looking straight into her brown eyes, taking in their surprise, their delight.

I wrap my arm around her other side. “I got her,” I tell Cole, and he flashes me a giant smile before letting go.

CARLI