The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden(71)

Callie

There is something about someone trusting you enough with their secrets that it makes it easier to trust them. It’s like they’re opening their heart and in return yours should open up to them, too.

Kayden opened up to me and I wanted to open up back, but I couldn’t. Not completely anyway. I want to. I want him so much that I don’t know what to do with myself.

I want him. I want him. I want him.

No matter how many times I write it, it still doesn’t feel real. None of this does, because I never believed it would happen.

Someone knocks on my door and I climb off the bed to answer it. Kayden is on the other side with a football cradled under his arm. Instead of wearing his uniform, he’s dressed in a nice pair of jeans and a grey t-shirt. His brown hair flips up beneath a black baseball hat.

“I have a favor to ask you.” It’s been a couple of weeks since he told me about his father and we’ve hung out a lot as friends, but there’s something in his eyes tonight that’s different, lighter.

“Okay…” I back away from the doorway and let him in. His eyes instantly go to the open notebook on my bed. I lunge for it and tuck it under my pillow.

“Was that the journal?” He grins as he switches the balls position to beneath his other arm.

“Can you pretend you didn’t see that?” I put my hands out in front of me, overlapping my fingers. “Pretty please.”

He smiles. “Is there stuff in it about me?”

I pretend to itch my eye to conceal the blood rushing to my cheeks. “No.”

“Callie, you’re blushing,” he teases, taking a step forward so he can withdraw my hand from my face. “Don’t hide it. It’s cute.”

I roll my eyes, more at myself, because his comment only makes my cheeks heat more. “So what’s the favor?”

“I need you to come help me practice.” He wanders around the room, taking in everything, passing the ball back and forth between his hands. “Luke’s busy with some girl he’s been dating for a week and he won’t come with me.”

“I can do that,” I say. “But you don’t look dressed for practice.”

“This will be a mild practice.” He faces me. “Just a little throwing.”

“And you think I can help you?” I question, my gaze scaling up his very sturdy body.

“I saw you at the store. It looked like you were more than capable. Besides, you were bragging to Ben at that party about how awesome your football knowledge is.”

“I did not. Did I?”

He nods. “You did.”

It makes me wonder what else I said. Sometimes it feels like I said stuff to him that he keeps from me.

“Alright.” I grab my keys from my desk and slip my feet into my converses. “I will do my best to challenge you.”

He chuckles under his breath as he turns for the door and I wonder if he’s thinking about the night we kissed like I am.
***
When we get to the stadium, the lights are shining down across the green field. The bleachers are empty and the only sign of anyone is the janitor out front emptying the garbage cans.

We walk into the center of the field and I spin in a circle, looking at all the bleachers, feeling small because of the massive size of my surroundings. The sky is dark, the stars are out, and the moon orbs fully.

Kayden tosses the football up in the air as I button up my jacket. “You know, ever since that day at the store, I’ve been really curious to see you throw again. I’m wondering if it was a fluke.”

I position my hands on my hips and target a glare in his direction. “Hey, what’s with the insulting?”

“I’m just trying to get you worked up.” He starts to run backwards with the ball in his hand. “It’ll make you play better.” He launches the ball at me and I catch it, wincing when the leather scrapes my palms.

“That stung.” I pretend to be hurt, cradling my wrist.

His arms fall to his side and he strides toward me. “Callie, I’m so—”

I fling back my arm and throw the football as hard as I can in his direction. He runs backward, jumping just in time to catch it.

When his feet touch the grass again, he shakes his head. “You play dirty.”

I shrug, not arguing. “It was how I was taught. My dad takes the game very seriously.”

“Oh, I know that. Do you know how many times he chewed my ass off for messing up? It was a good thing, though.” He throws the football to my side and I have to move quickly to catch it. “He kept me on my toes and pushed me. If it wasn’t for him, I probably would have never gotten the scholarship.”