Rumor Has It (Rumor Has It #1)(56)



“Who?” I reply, still watching the court.

She laughs. “Girl, you’re helpless. Douchey Doucherson.”

Her words bring me back to reality. I totally forgot about Baller. Anxiety builds again, and I scan the crowd, looking for someone with a red headband. I'm not sure why he would be across the court, on the visitor's side, but I look over at the small crowd. Still nothing.

“I don’t see anyone.”

"Yeah, me either. What a sleaze. He didn't even have the balls to show up again."

“Whatever.”

“You’re okay with it?”

"You know what? I am. I was so wrecked that day he didn't show up. But now," I look at her and smile, "I'm not. It's no big deal."

She lets out a loud laugh. “That’s because you’re falling head over heels for Carter.”

I don’t disagree. I don’t even get embarrassed. I just give a small nod and lift my shoulders.

“Holy crap, Emma. Are you really?”

“I don’t know. I like him. And I know he likes me.”

“Are you in love?” She stretches the word in a sing-song and I know she’s joking, but I blush anyways, remembering Carter’s confession.

“What the? Really? You’re seriously in love with him?”

“No,” I say, but it doesn’t feel right. I don’t think I’m in love but quelling it so decisively doesn’t feel right either. “But it’s a possibility. He says he knows me and that I know him. I mean, I know stuff about him. But the way he talks to me, the way he looks at me. I honestly think he really does know me. It’s weird.”

“Weird good or weird bad?”

A buzzer sounds in the gym, and all the players start walking off the court. I watch as Carter scans the crowd and his eyes find mine. He unleashes that smile that warms me to the core.

“Weird good,” I answer, keeping my eyes on locked on him.

She leans over and hugs me. "That's awesome. Come on, I have to use the bathroom. Keep looking for Red Headband though. He's not off the hook yet."

I let out a laugh and this time I don’t get the angst I’ve had all day. If I see him, then I see him. If I don’t, then I don’t. I just want to see Carter again.





Chapter 37





Carter





I grab my phone and the red headband from my locker and shoot Emma a text.

BigBaller27: Running late. I just got to the gym. If you want to meet me, feel free to find me





I seriously hope once she finds out the truth she doesn't scream at me and slap me in the face. In all honesty, I probably deserve it. Maybe I should've just told her it was me back when I met her at the oak tree, but she was so furious. And then she told me off.

When I told Coach I needed to put together a halftime performance, he wouldn’t hear of it. The team we’re playing isn’t in the playoffs either, but they’re at the bottom of the standings. Even so, he only agreed to it if we held a twenty-point lead by halftime. I worked my ass off during the first half and thankfully, by the time the buzzer rings for halftime, we’re up by twenty-three.

“All right, bro.” Matt looks over at me. “You sure about this?”

Putting the phone back in my locker, I put the red headband on. It looks ridiculous, but hey, the things we do for love, right?

I told Matt the plan and got him to help after history class. I'm glad he's my best friend and comfortable in front of crowds since he's going to be on the microphone in front of everyone.

I nod, giving him a confident stare. “Let’s do it.”

Emma





As we make our way to the bathroom, I get a text from Baller. I deleted our conversation and his number, so it doesn’t show his name, but I know it’s him from what he writes.

“Jen.” I grab her arm.

She turns around and looks at the phone. “Oh, forget the bathroom. Let’s find this asshole.”

I want to say no. I want to tell her to forget about it. But now that he’s texted again, I want to know who he is too. Deleting the text as we walk back, I scan the crowd but don’t see anyone.

“Hey.” Jen pulls my arm. I spin around, thinking she sees him. “Isn’t that Empire of the Sun.”

I give her a confused look and then listen. I always play them in my room or her car, so she’s heard most of their songs. The moment I hear it, I know it’s them. It’s my favorite song, DNA.

Jen and I give each other confused looks. They played snippets of music during the game, but all of it was stuff to get the crowd riled up. This is the actual song.

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” someone says through the PA system. “We’ve got a special halftime show for you right now.”

I look over at the announcers' table and see Matt. One of the teachers who was making announcements during the game seems annoyed, staring up at Matt with the microphone.

“Most of you guys know we lost a game last week, so we didn’t make the playoffs. But tonight’s game is a big one. Well, for one player at least.” The music is playing along as Matt looks over at me and winks. What the?

“We’ve got a special performance lined up by a big baller." I gasp at his words. "He's our starting shooting guard. He's our captain, and he's number twenty-seven. Carter Dixon!"

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