Playing For Keeps

23| Chapter 20-TAYO

''So I can't go...but my friends are willing to take you if you're interested,'' Lola says, as she wipes the sweat off my face.

Since the kiss, a lot of things had changed between us. There's the bashful gaze, her removing her hand whenever our fingers touched and not meeting my eyes.

It had been cute at the beginning, watching her stammer under my eyes, and wring her fingers together. Now, it was just annoying.

We'd kissed, and it was nice (read: amazing) but that wasn't meant to change our dynamics this much.

Now she didn't let me get close enough to kiss her on the forehead. I had to be okay with a hug, that came after much resistance.

''You're not coming to the party?''

She shakes her head. Lola leans against her friend's car before popping a wad of gum into her mouth and blowing bubbles as big as she can.

''Nah. We don't celebrate Halloween.''

I raise my hand to my chest, sharing a look with her friends before shaking my head. She rolls her eyes, pulling a leaf from my head before blowing it away. Lola still wears my scarf that I had promised to collect from her but can't find the strength to pry it off her.

She makes it look good.

And it fills me with a strange desire to have more of my things on her.

Maybe it's what Ian called the girlfriend effect. Wanting her to wear everything I owned just to show she was mine.

At least for how long she was going to be.

It was crazy.

''But...who doesn't celebrate Halloween? Plus, it's just a party that's on Halloween. You don't have to wear a costume,'' I say.

London shakes her head. ''Don't bother explaining it to her, Tayo. She'd tell you to have a lovely time and don't drive drunk. No matter how hard we try, we can never get her to come.''

''I don't try forcing you guys to join me at church, do I? To each their own. Now, we need to go. See you guys on Monday,'' she says, and pulls me to my car.

Switching my bike for the car is painful, but it's the safe thing to do.

Lola was pleased when I pulled up to the parking lot getting out of my dad's car and flashed me a triumphant grin. It was so cute, her cheeks puffed up, her eyes disappearing the higher the smile went and the way she hopped into my arms.

Until she became embarrassed and ran away.

''I'm coming over tomorrow. Hockey practice?''

I nod.

''Well, it might be time that I see what you guys are up to. What kind of girlfriend would I be if I don't spend time getting to know your friends?''

Shrugging, I open her door, throwing her bag in the back before rounding to the other side and getting in. After switching on the engine, and ensuring the heater's working, I pull out of the parking lot and merge to the road to take Lola home.

''I wouldn't know. Never had a girlfriend. Remember?''

''Yeah, I still find that strange. I mean, you're objectively hot, play a good game, got great grades and seem nice. Why couldn't you have gotten an actual girlfriend?''

She rolls down the window and lets her hand hang outside. Lola runs her fingers through her locs, blowing air and shivering on the seat. Despite knowing it was cold and having the heater on, she still wanted to hang her hand outside and shiver inside.