Linger

N I N E T Y - S I X

After grabbing a quick bite to eat, Katie and I pulled up to the field. 

"Vanilla milkshakes are seriously underrated." Katie took a sip from her plastic cup and reached in the paper bag for one last fry before unbuckling her seatbelt.  "Thanks for the ride, Maddie! And the food!" She gave me a smile as she unloaded her bag. 

"I'm gonna stick around so after finding a parking spot, I'll come watch you." 

Her eyes lit up as she tightened her blonde ponytail. "Seriously?"

I nodded from the driver's seat, giving her a small smile. 

She squealed, reaching over to give me a hug. "Ah!! I can't believe it! I'm going to score so many goals! You're gonna be so happy you're here!!" 

I watched with a smile as she ran off to the field. 

I quickly found a parking space and shut off the ignition before my gaze landed on to my strawberry milkshake sitting in the cupholder. 

Beads of condensation had already gathered around the plastic cup and somehow I found comfort in the way they slowly slid down. Any other day the strawberry milkshake would be impossible to resist, but now I could barely look at it without my stomach twisting into a thousand knots.

I only ordered it to avoid any questions from Katie who seemed to have no problem finding her own appetite. 

Now guilt filled me because it seemed like a waste of a perfectly good milkshake. 

With a sigh, I unbuckled my seatbelt and flickered my eyes up to the mirror. 

The dark sunglasses sitting on my nose stared right back at me. 

Perfect. 

I smoothed my hands over my hair, making sure it was over my neck before opening the door and exiting the car. 

"Hey, I know you." 

I looked up to see Gabe walking up to me. Brandon followed him closely with a small limp, holding a soccer ball under his arm. 

"Maddie, right?" Gabe shot me a charming grin. 

"Yep." I nodded before waving at Brandon next to him. "Hi Brandon!" 

"Hi," he replied softly yet a smile shined brightly on his face as his green eyes sparkled. 

"I'm just bringing Bran here so we can check on the team. Gotta be there for the big bro!" He swung an arm around Brandon's shoulder as we walked across the parking lot.

"Coach Bran!!" a few players exclaimed with excitement as they past by. 

A huge smile broke out on Brandon's face as he waved back at them, his eyes shining with excitement, bringing a small smile to my own face.

"Yep! Everyone loves Bran!!" Gabe exclaimed with a chuckle as he lifted his hand in a wave. He then turned to me. "You're here without the boyfriend?"

I nodded, stuffing my hands in my pockets. "My sister plays on the team." 

"Oh, she does!" His brown eyes widened. "Sorry, this whole coaching thing is still kinda new to me, so bear with me. I'm still trying to get used to everyone's names and faces, you know?"

I nodded with a slight laugh, although I had no clue what he was talking about.

"Hey, I owe you a pizza, right?" he asked suddenly.

I knitted my eyebrows at him. "What?"

"From that time you and Dan were over during the weekend? You left before I could bring it."