“Anything!” she says around a bite of food.
I pause at her enthusiasm, but shrug off the hesitation. Sienna dances to the beat of her own drum. She’s probably excited she got her chakras aligned.
“Could you possibly give me a ride to my cousin’s house? I know it’s a hike, but I can pay for gas, both ways, and spring for lunch.”
“Yes, I can totally give you a ride.”
Thank God.
“But!” She chomps another bite of granola. Swallows. Holds up one finger. “You have to come to the game with me first.”
My shoulders slump. “Why? The drive is only going to take maybe two hours. Two and a half, tops.”
“Traffic, dude. Traffic. The guys are undefeated. UT is undefeated. Do you know what that means? That means every Tom, Dick, and Daisy will be tailgating from here to Austin.”
“You mean Harry. Tom, Dick, andHarry.”
She waves a hand. “That’s sexist. Why do the guys get to have all the fun? There’s no Harry in my version of things.”
I blow out a breath. “Okay. Fine.” She’s probably right about the traffic. “So… could you pick me up after the game?”
“Ha! As if I’d let you get out of this momentous occasion! No, my little bumblebee, I will not pick you up after. I am dragging your asswithme.”
“No. Out of the question.”
“I have two tickets and no one to go with me. Ben begged me to bring you this week. Are you really going to let me go by myself? That’s so sad. Isn’t our friendship worth more to you?”
My heart sinks. Is this how Ramona felt when she moved out with nary a look back? “Am I a terrible friend?”
Her eyes soften and she nibbles on her bottom lip. “No,” she says. “Not a terrible friend at all. In fact, I love you to pieces. It’s just…” She swallows. “I really need you to come with me, okay?”
The pleading in her voice does me in. Sienna never asks me for anything. Will it hurt to watch Rider play today? Undoubtedly. Can I turn down Sienna? No.
But then she adds, “Hear me out on this. Let’s say, on theoff chanceyou and Rider work things out, do you really want to miss what will undoubtedly be a huge game in his career, possibly the biggest of his college career?”
Ugh. If there’s even theteeniest, tiniestchance he and I end up together, she’s right. I’d probably hate myself for missing the game when Sienna has tickets and is offering to drive me.
My heart lurches as my stomach does a deep dive. I’m not prepared to see him again. But I’m not sure I can walk away either.
“You drive a hard bargain.”
When she tackles me in a hug, I laugh. Something I didn’t think I’d be able to do today.
Maybe watching the game won’t be so bad.
71
GABBY
“You’re kidding me.”I glare at Sienna, who’s trying to paint purple grease stripes under my eyes.
“Not at all. We’re about to face our biggest rivals. The energy of each and every fan in there matters.” She points a finger at the lines of people streaming toward the stadium. “Do you want to mess with their mojo? Of course not! We’re team players. Never mind your differences with Rider. Those guys are our neighbors and our friends. Aren’t they?”
Damn it. She has a good point. My beef with Rider notwithstanding, I love those big lugs.
You love Rider too, you dummy.
I huff out a groan. “Fine!”
