I stretch my legs out under the table and let my foot rest against Julian’s ankle. He doesn’t move. “Maybe a little. I haven’t been out on the field in a game since eighth grade,” I remind him, meeting his eyes. He moves his foot a little so that his shoe strokes my ankle lightly. “I was gone before our first game freshman year. That’s a long time to go without touching a football. Or wearing cleats or strapping on pads or any of that stuff.” The more I talk about it, the more my stomach ties itself in intricate knots.

Or maybe that’s because of the feel of Julian’s foot on my skin.

“You’ll be amazing,” Camille says. “Once you get out there and hear the crowd cheering, you’ll fall right back into it.”

I’m pretty sure that’s not how it’s going to go, but I appreciate Camille’s optimism. In my head, there’s a lot more sweating, vomiting, and dizziness involved.

Merri brings a big platter of cheese fries and three small plates to the table. “Careful, they’re hot,” she says, speaking only to Julian.

“Thanks, Merri,” Julian says, smiling at her. Her cheeks turn three shades of pink, and she can’t look him in the eye.

Camille waits until Merri turns and heads back toward the kitchen before she whispers, “Should we tell her you’re gay or just, I don’t know, let her stumble upon that massive heartbreak all on her own?”

“Knock it off.” Julian rolls his eyes, but I laugh out loud.

“Oh! Someone who appreciates my jokes! You’re my new best friend, Elijah,” Camille says, throwing her arm around my neck and pulling me close for a big, noisy kiss on the cheek.

Julian makes a face while he drags a fat French fry through the cheese sauce pooling on the giant plate in front of us. “Not that either of you care, but I have come to a decision about the Taylor prank,” he announces.

Camille sits up super straight in the booth. “When? Just now? Ooh, tell me tell me! Wait. Don’t say anything until I’m properly hydrated.” She takes a massive sip of her cherry Coke and makes a big show of dabbing the corners of her mouth with a napkin and then folding her hands in front of her.

I can’t stop laughing. She clearly gets a kick out of giving Julian the business.

“Okay. I am ready. Lay it on me,” she says.

“I have decided to do nothing,” he says.

“Wait. What?” Camille’s face drops.