“Is this going how you planned, Tanner?” Mason asked.
“You know it’s not.”
Mason laughed and turned to me. “So you haven’t talked to Matt yet?”
I shook my head.
“I’m pretty sure James was just asking you to leave because you haven’t spoken to Matt yet. He wasn’t trying to be rude. But this is an important game. And Matt’s the coach.”
“What?”No.Matt’s here?Oh God, James was just trying to protect his friend. He wasn’t beingthatmuch of an asshole.
“Are you kidding me?” James asked Tanner. “Why wouldn’t you tell her that?”
“Surprise,” Tanner said.
But I was barely paying attention. I turned around.
And there he was.
I didn’t know whether to smile or cry as I watched Matt jog out onto the field after his players. He was far away. But he looked the same. Maybe his shoulders were a little wider. And his hair was cut a little shorter. I just stared. The same way I’d stared at him for so long before he’d noticed me all those years ago.
I didn’t want to be in my head about what happened back in high school. But I clearly was. I’d tried so hard to shut that door. The distance made that easy. But standing here right now staring at him?
I didn’t expect to feel so…hurt.
Or happy?
Maybe I was happy that he looked so happy? Sometimes happiness made your heart beat weirdly, right?
He was coaching the Empire High team. That was good. That meant he wasn’t as haunted by the memories here as his friends seemed to think. He spent afternoons and weekends here. He was fine.
And I was fine.
But my heart was pounding so hard, it was all I could hear over the roar of the crowd. And my palms were all sweaty.
I took a step forward instinctively. Like I was being drawn to him.
But my foot froze on the step when I saw Kennedy run up to him. In an Empire High jersey with Matt’s old number on it. Matt wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they talked to the team.
I stared at his number on her back. I stared at her smiling at him. They were a couple. Matt and Kennedy. It sounded strange in my head. Because we’d always been Matt and Brooklyn.
No, not always been. Just for a short while. So long ago, it barely even felt real. But Matt and Kennedy? That was real. I could see it.
“She’s the assistant coach,” Felix said. “I was trying to tell you earlier.”
I nodded.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I was fine.
Because I had to be.
I’d told Kennedy it was okay. I was happy for them. I truly was. But my heart wasn’t listening to my head. It ached. It physically hurt staring at them. I was happy for them. But I don’t think I wanted to see it.
I watched him turn his head and stare down at her.
She tilted her gaze up.
