I scratch my nose, my biggest tell, a crack in my perfect poker face, and she laughs aloud. ‘Take a good look, May. You can’t hide from it for ever.’

Chapter Fifteen

Albuquerque

May

I busy myself picking out each type of cloud as they pass the windows by. Cumulus. Nimbus. Stratus. Jordan, on the other hand, wants nothing to do with clouds.

‘… really famous football team, and maybe now, we’ll get to see some of the players at the game—’

‘Girl, you are too much,’ Maddie hollers from the back of the bus.

‘Shut your mouth!’ shouts Jordan in return. ‘You don’t wanna see Ronny Casamento?’

Sounds of agreement fill the bus, and up front, Coach shakes her head exhaustedly. Beside me, in the aisle seat, Colt’s brow furrows. ‘Ronny who?’

‘Ronny Casamento,’ Jordan says with a little extra ‘oomph’. ‘Last year, when Albuquerque came up here for the yearly match, we met him at this massive party Lambda Alpha Delta hosted. I thought Maddie was gonna pass out when he complimented her game. Sayin’ all these things about how she was scoring and then something real cute about her smile. She ate it up. And him? He wouldn’t stop following her around like a lovesick puppy all night.’

‘He’ll looove to see her again this year,’ Brianna jumps right in.

I can’t help but laugh. The lore around Ronny Casamento goes deep – especially because after the Lambdas’ Jungle Gym party, he followed Maddie on Instagram, and rumour has it they’ve been in touch over the past year, waiting for the next Albuquerque game to have their adorable little reunion. As it goes with all rivalry games, we alternate between away and home each year, and this year, we’re travelling to Albuquerque to play the Armadillos in one of our most anticipated matches of the season. I’d be more excited, but the eight-plus-hour bus ride and concussion protocol have kind of ruined the mood for me.

‘He’s guaranteed to be in pro football within the next two years,’ I point out, raising an eyebrow at Maddie, who’s got her quickly reddening face in her hands. ‘That’s wealth management. Capitalize on that while you got the chance, girl.’

‘Noooo!’ she groans. ‘Guys!’

‘Hold on, now.’ Colt grins, that dumb, lopsided grin that has the ability to make your heart skip about a million beats. A dimple etches itself in his left cheek, and I find myself wishing he’d turn the smile he directs at Maddie my way. Gross! What? ‘Are you looking forward to seeing him, though, Maddie?’

‘I …’ She slowly removes her hands from her face, and sheepishly, like a shy bride, nods just slightly. ‘I guess I am.’

‘You guess?’ teases Jordan.

‘Okay, fine!’ Maddie blurts. ‘I’m counting the fucking hours!’