Mandi scoffs. “Why would he feel sorry for me? He practically begged me to wear it. It happens all the time though.”

“You’re so full of it. He wanted me to wear it, but you were too busy acting like a two-year-old over Rhett giving his to Kinsley. So, if there are any charity cases or desperate people at this table, it would be you.” Becca stands up with her half eaten lunch still on her tray, her mouth set in a firm line, and storms out of the cafeteria.

Jake stays in his seat, but gives a big, “hoorah,” to Becca’s work. He even points at her as she walks away and says, “That chick is badass.”

I can’t argue with him there. Although my girl doesn’t look as amused as Jake and I do. I can tell she’s worried for her friend on top of her own disappointment. Mandi knows how to ruin a lunch period.

“I should go make sure she’s okay,” Kinsley says, not even waiting for me to respond before she gets up and leaves.

I’m pissed Mandi ruined the little bit of time we have together, but confronting her again won’t do any good. It will only piss her off more and the last thing I want to do is make Kinsley’s life any harder than it already is.

Neither Becca or Kinsley are in the hallway outside the cafeteria, so I peek my head around the corner of the girls’ bathroom, and I can hear them talking.

“I don’t know how you deal with this stuff every day of your life, Kinsley. It sucks and it hurts.”

“After a while you start to get used to it. Eventually, it hurts less and you become numb.”

“I don’t want Jake to know I was crying.”

“I won’t tell anyone. Go find him. You’ll feel better after you talk to him.”

“He’s really hot and he might even like me, but Kin, I don’t want you to think I’m disrespecting Wyatt’s feelings for me by talking to Jake. I know Wyatt likes me, and I don’t want to put you in a bad place with your brother.”

“I get it. Wyatt’s long distance. It would make being together hard. You don’t have to explain it to me.”

“Thanks. Oh, and Kin. I’m happy for you. If anyone deserves Rhett, it’s you.”

Becca almost runs into me on her way out, the glassiness of her eyes still noticeable from her tears. Jake will know she was crying even if she doesn’t want him to. I stop her before she leaves, hoping to ease some of her worries. “Your comeback was killer, Becca. Don’t sweat it.”

She gives me a warm smile—the first one I’ve gotten since we were ten. “Thanks. Kinsley’s inside. It’s empty.”

I never doubted her support, but I’m glad I have it. Unfortunately, Kinsley isn’t as nonchalant about me being where I’m not supposed to, gasping the farther I walk inside the girls’ bathroom. “What are you doing? You can’t be in in here.”

I point to the wall, shaking my head in disgust. “This says to call me for a good time. That’s not even my number. It’s false advertising.”

She rewards me with her gorgeous smile, forgetting about the added stress I’m giving her. “I’m glad it’s the wrong number.”

“You mean that?”

“Yes. I don’t want other girls finding out how good a time you are, or even calling you.”

I take her heavy bag off her shoulder, holding it for her while we talk. “I’m a really good time, ya know.”

She rolls her eyes at my cheesy flirtation, but she’s not really mad. Not at all. She even looks a little curious when she says, “I can only imagine.”

“God, I’d love to show you.” I move closer, wrapping my arms around her waist. My lips are only a few centimeters from her neck, and I know she can feel my breath on her skin when I inhale the sweet smell of her hair. “You smell like coconuts. It makes me want to go to the beach instead of algebra.”

“You and me both.”

I would be content holding her in my arms for the rest of the afternoon, but the bell ending our lunch period ruins our cozy moment. This has been the closest I’ve been to her since we shared our first kiss. I want nothing more than to kiss her again, but I get the impression she’s not quite ready for that yet. I’m hoping she tells me why after school when I have her all to myself.

“You okay?”

“She cried. Becca doesn’t cry much—she’s usually tough as nails.”

“Mandi’s jealous—that’s why she’s acting the way she is.”

Kinsley turns around in my arms, giving me a sad smile. “It’s not easy being replaced. I get it, but I don’t want to fight with her every day. It’s not worth it.”

“I’ll talk to her again. I don’t want to lose you, Sunny.”

“It’s been a crazy couple of days, but I don’t want to lose you either.”

“No matter what, that’s your spot next to me. Becca, too. Okay? And if you ever need anything and I’m not around, you can trust Jake. He’s loud and a little bit over the top, but he’s a good person.”

“I like him—he’s good for Becca.”

“Even though Wyatt could be, too?”

She shrugs her shoulders. “I can’t get involved in that saga. Whether they end up together or not, it’s their call. I just want them both to be happy.”

I tap the tip of her nose with my finger. “And I just want you to be happy. I’ll see you in a bit, my Sunny-girl.”

“See ya.”

I turn around one last time, tossing the black marker I still have in my pocket from art class at her. I point to my name and number on the wall. “Scratch that out before you go. This good time is reserved for you.”

THE LAST HALF hour before the bell rings, every Friday afternoon, the pep band walks every inch of the hallways, pounding out their school spirit in the form of music. The starters from the team join the band as they run through a medley of upbeat songs sure to put the entire student body in the mood for a big win.

Most of the time, I block out all the noise when I’m on the field, focusing solely on the play calls and nothing else. But this is what gets me in the right mindset to kick some ass on the field. I could go out there right now and run a mile without getting winded—that’s how amped up I already am. There’s always something a little extra special about the home opener—especially considering this is the last one I’ll have at Central.

Led by the cheerleaders, students from every classroom clog the doorways, cheering as we walk by. I spot Kinsley in her study hall, waving to me. I’m able to cut around a few of the guys to grab her hand, and pull her out of her room toward the center of the pack.

“Rhett!” She yells over the sound of the drums pounding wildly in front of us. “I have to go back. I’ll get in trouble.”

I don’t let go of her. I simply smile, and spin her around in a circle while we dance to the beat of the music. “Don’t worry so much, Sunny. Just live it up. You feel that?”

She shakes her head. “Feel what?”

“We’re going to kill them tonight, and my girl’s going to see every second of it. Doesn’t get much better than that.”

“You’re crazy!” she says, with wild eyes, but she feels it too. I know she does.

These are the moments I never want to forget. When we’re in our fifties, working the daily grind, day in and day out, I want to look back on high school with a smile knowing these years were as good as it gets. That I didn’t waste a single second of the best years of my life.

Hoisting Kinsley on my shoulders, she yelps in surprise, but squeezes her thighs around my neck. I can feel her laughter as she bounces on top of me, enjoying being on top of the world.

It’s only after the final song ends that I lower her to the ground. “What’d you think?”

“That was incredible!”

My smile stretches wild from her excitement. “I gotta get you back to class before your teacher figures out you’re missing. Come on.”