I think I might be into Abby Thompson.
I think I might bereallyinto her.
A fact that is all too obvious when she turns toward me, her gray eyes meeting with mine as a slight flush enters her cheeks. Her blond hair is pinned back away from her face, making her open expression all the more noticeable. And I am certainly noticing. I’m noticing all sorts of things I haven’t let myself linger on in the months since we’ve met.
Like the way the apples of her cheeks become more prominent when she smiles, as rare as it is. The way her lower lip is slightly fuller than the top one. The way her long neck slopes into delicate shoulders. I’m noticing so many things that make me think I was an utter fool for ever thinking she was only pretty in anIanway.
Abby is fucking beautiful all on her own.
She averts her gaze when I approach the counter where Dee is cleaning some dishes, organizing things and taking stock before her next play day—an event she organizes once a year for the kids at St. Michael’s, where the Druids players come out to put on an exhibition game—in a few months’ time. I was happy to see that Ian invited his mom today, too—mostly because of her friendship with Abby and how much I know it means to her.
“What are we doing over here?” I say as I skate up, leaning over the counter.
Dee gestures toward an empty pot. “Just making sure there’s nothing that needs replacing.”
“And that takes three of you?”
“It could take four if you want to get back here and help,” Abby says with an arched brow.
I smirk back at her. “I’m doing important teacher work out here, in case you didn’t notice.”
“I noticed you doing a lot of daydreaming,” she points out.
My eyes round, my lips quirking. “Yeah…My bad. I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.”
It has the desired effect; the flush in her cheeks spreads down to the pale expanse of her neck, and there’s a strong desire inside me to lick that heated skin, to feel it give against my tongue.
“Oh, get along, both of you,” Dee chides. “I swear, you two are like kids sometimes.”
I want to tell her everything that’s wrong with that statement, but I keep my lips firmly shut. I remember that Abby and I agreed to keep this…thingbetween us a secret. Something that I agree is the best course of action, but then again—there is some smallpart of me that would enjoy the hell out of all their shocked expressions.
“I saw your shot out there, young man,” Christine says to Kyle, reaching to ruffle his hair at the edge of the counter. “That was great.”
Kyle beams up at her. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Ma’am,” Christine scoffs good-naturedly. “Have I gotten so old?”
Ian pats Kyle’s shoulder. “He’s just being polite. Isn’t that right?”
“Yessir,” Kyle says immediately, looking up at Ian like he’s the sun.
It really is cute, how much the kid worships my best friend.
“You’d probably better head on over to the main building,” Ian says then. “Ms. Gulley will be looking for you.”
Kyle nods stoically. “But you’ll be back next week?”
“Of course I will,” Ian promises.
Kyle gives another toothy grin, and Ian ruffles his hair before he skates off toward the exit. Dee and Ian both watch him go, and it isn’t until he’s off down the chute carrying his skates that my sister speaks quietly.
“We’re going to try to adopt him.”
My mouth drops open, and everyone around us goes deathly quiet. It takes several seconds for my brain to catch up to my mouth, but when it does—
“The fuck? Really?”
Dee beams, nodding. “We’ve already been talking to Ms. Gulley about it. There’s a lot of paperwork, but…we’re optimistic.”