How To Find Your Future

11 - Boys and Ice Cream

Olivia

Sasha's team won. Which isn't really a surprise.

What did surprise me was Nick. He had told me he wasn't sure if he was coming to the game or not and then when Charlie was in the bakery he said we were going. And then he sat right beside me! And, I'm not sure if I was just imagining it, but I'm pretty sure he kept brushing against me, on purpose everytime we stood up and cheered.

Now we stand outside the gym waiting for Sasha. She might be coming straight home with me or she'll be going to her teammates house for a sleepover. She hasn't decided yet.

"Sasha did really well," Nick says.

I nod. "She's always really good. When she isn't at the bakery or at school or practice I find her out in the backyard a lot shooting hoops."

"Do you help her practice?"

I laugh. "I'm not that kind of sports girl. Or, well, any sports."

"What do you do then?" Nick leans against the wall. He one leg up against it.

God. He's so hot.

"I mostly just run and do yoga."

He raises a brow. "Like downward dog?"

I nod. "But there's more moves than that one."

"Is that so?"

I nod.

"Maybe you can teach me one day."

Me and Nick? In tight fitting exercise clothes? Butts in the air? My face goes red and hot. "I'd like that," I choke out. I duck my head to try and hide the redness on my face.

He grins.

The doors to the gym fling open and the girls all rush out. They cheer and scream and hop around. I don't understand how they're still so full of energy after how they just played. I watch as girl by girl runs past us. None of them are Sasha.

Where is she?

Finally, she walks out of the gym. She seems the least excited and most tired but there's still a big grin on her face. Her gaze moves around and when she spots me her eyes widen. She walks over to us.

"Good job," I say when she's closer.

"Thanks."

"So, what's the plan?"

She shrugs.

"What's wrong?" I ask. I wrap my arm around her shoulder.

"Nothing. I'm just really tired."

"Are you sure?"

She nods and purses her lips. "Can we go home?"

"You don't want to go to your friends?"

She glances over at where her teammates are bundled together and still cheering. She shakes her head.

I squeeze her closer to me. "Okay." I look over my shoulder at Nick. "Are you still good to give us a ride?"

He nods. "Of course."

We walk down the halls in silence. Sasha under my arm and Nick on my other side. I don't know what could have happened between winning the game and now to have her so upset that she doesn't want to go to her friends. But I won't push her. I know I hate it when anyone does that for me. We push out the school doors and make our way through the parking lot to Nick's jeep.

"Do you maybe want to get ice cream?" he asks. He looks at Sasha when he asks.

I glance down at her in time to see her nod.