Mav and I look at each other, shrug, and start walking past the giant trees that surround the Dickson house and out into the dark field where our classmates are horsing around and yelling like fools. We stop to look up at the sky.
“There!” I point to the white streak burning a path across the night. “Make a wish.”
Mav glances at me. “You know what I want.”
I could read that in so many ways, but the truth is, I know he’s talking about football. “That star is you, Mav. You’re going to make it. You’re breaking all the records at our school. By the end of your senior year, you’ll be undeniable, and every college in Texas is going to want you.” I grab his rough hand, look into his gorgeous eyes, and start belting out “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey. I know I’m horribly out of tune, but I don’t care.
Mav grins so wide, his dimples pop out, and he hugs me. “Thanks, Bay. You always know what I need.”
Wrapping my arms around his waist, I rest my head against his broad chest and breathe in his sexy sandalwood scent. This is my idea of heaven.
Should I forget recording the challenge, lean up on my toes, and kiss him?
Just then, some guy barrels into us and I almost topple over, but Maverick holds onto my arms and keeps me upright. “Hey, watch it,” he growls at the football player who almost knocked me down like a bowling pin.
“Sorry, bro. Didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Mav’s brow furrows as he stares down at me. “Are you okay?”
I’ll probably have a huge bruise on my shoulder tomorrow, but when my best friend looks at me like this, I can’t seem to care. “I’m fine.” Kissing Maverick in a field of people probably isn’t a good idea, which is why I should stick with my original plan. “Listen, I have a favor I need to ask. Do you have a few minutes?”
“Sure. Whatcha need?”
He gives me one of his sweet smiles that makes my heart skip a beat. I bite my bottom lip as I try to gather my courage. “I haveto do a current events video, and Mrs. O’Connor said I could interview a football player if we won the game tonight.”
That’s sorta true. Another kid in my class asked the question, and she said that was fine, so I’m going to use it as my excuse to talk to Mav in private.
“You wanna do this now?” He scratches the back of his head and glances at the dark field of partygoers.
“Chet’s sister said we could use her room. I promise it won’t take long. Maybe ten minutes.”
“Okay. Lead the way, babe.”
Holy shit. Did he just call me babe?Stop, Baylee. He just called you Bay, and you’re letting your imagination run away again.
We head toward the house, and since the crowd is so thick, I reach back to grab his hand. He laces his fingers through mine like it’s no big deal. We’ve held hands before, but not like this.
My heart goes into overdrive at the sight of us linked together.
It’s another sign. I’m sure of it.
Inside the house, the music is muffled. Stopping off in the kitchen, we each grab a Coke out of the ice chest on the counter before I motion toward the stairs.
“How do you know where to go?” he asks.
This house is a maze. “I study with Daisy sometimes. She struggles with school too.”
His arm wraps around my shoulder. “Your hard work’s gonna pay off.” He pauses, his brows furrowing. “Have you thought more about trying to get into Lone Star State? Pretty sure that’s where Paige plans to go.”
Unfortunately, there’s no scholarship for smart-assery or eye-rolling, so I’m shit out of luck. Lord knows my grades won’t get me any financial aid. The kicker is I actually like school. I’m just not great at test-taking or paying attention when I’m not interested.
I open the door to Daisy’s room, flip on the lights, and turn toward him. “I’ll never get a scholarship like you or Paige, and I can’t ask my mom to take out loans. She already struggles so much to help me and my sister. I don’t want to add to her problems.”
“Sorry, Bay. That sucks. So what will you do?”
I shrug. “Maybe stick around here and get my cosmetology license so I can help my mom until my sister’s on her feet. Then, I don’t know.”
He nods slowly, looking more upset than I thought he would over me not attending Lone Star State.
