“A little. I didn’t even think to bring a towel to sit on like I usually do when we play games in the rain.”
“It’s okay. Seriously.”
Kendall feels the chill working into her system too, now. “Okay. Yeah. Thanks.” Gingerly she pulls her sodden sweatshirt up over her head and drops it like a rock to the porch. “I’ll need a plastic bag for my clothes.”
“No problem.” He takes off his shoes, peels off his socks, and squeezes out the hems of his shirt and shorts, trying to get as much water out of them as possible so he doesn’t drip all over the house. “You remember where Marlena’s bathroom is upstairs? ‘Cause you’re going to have to make a mad dash.”
“Yep.” She does the same with her clothes and footgear. Thanks to the sweatshirt, her shirt is only wet, not soaked, but it’s still sticking to her. When Jacián glances at it, she blushes. “Okay, I’m going to make a run for it.”
“Don’t forget to bring your clean clothes with you, or you could have another problem,” he teases.
Kendall’s face turns hot. “Good point.” She opens the door and runs nimbly through the house, grabbing her backpack as she goes, and then dashing up the stairs.
A shower never felt so good. Even being alone in the house with Jacián, knowing he’s naked in another shower somewhere nearby, doesn’t mess with her brain. “Thank you, soccer,” she says reverently. She feels terrific. It’s been too long. She lathers up and thinks about how much better she feels now than she has since. . well, since the last time she played soccer with Jacián.
“I wonder if I could get him to dance,” she muses out loud as she runs her fingers through her wet hair, trying to comb it.
She emerges, hair still wet, back in her school clothes, and it feels awkward now. She wonders what she’ll find when she gets back downstairs. She creeps down and hears something in the kitchen. She slips into the room and sees Jacián standing at the counter in jeans and with a towel around his neck.
There’s no denying the guy works out. He’s listening to a message on the answering machine from
Mrs. Obregon, saying they’re staying in Bozeman for dinner and not to wait to eat. He deletes it.
“Hey,” Kendall says.
He reaches into the refrigerator and pulls out two Granny Smith apples and a hunk of cheese. “You hungry? I’m starving.”
“Yeah, sure.”
He pulls a jar of peanut butter from the cupboard and a knife from the drawer and starts slicing apples.
“I should probably get home soon. .,” Kendall says. “I’m sure you have stuff to do.” She can’t stop looking at his chest.
He pauses in his cutting. “You need to go now? I’ll drive you.”
“No! I mean, no hurry. And not unless you want to. I can call my mom.”
“It’s okay. I want to.” He continues slicing and moves on to the second apple, and then opens the block of cheese and slices that. Hands her a plate. “Here. Apple. Peanut butter. Manchego. Take your pick.”
She takes some of each. “So, ah, I’m not sure if you know this, but you’re not wearing a shirt.”
“Distracting, isn’t it?”
“You’re pretty sure you’re hot, aren’t you.” It feels more comfortable when they are at odds, somehow.
“You said it.”
“And I’m sure I’ll regret it. Do you always walk around like that?”
“Yeah, always. You mean this is the first time you noticed?” He drags an apple slice through a glob of peanut butter and takes a bite. “No. Just on laundry day. I’m out of shirts.”
“Oh! Crap. Laundry. I need a plastic bag.” Kendall jumps off her bar stool. “I left my wet stuff hanging in the shower.”
Jacián reaches for a drawer and pulls out a trash bag. “Here.”
“Be right back.”
She returns moments later to find all the food gone. “Wow.”
“I was really hungry.”
“Apparently.”
He grins. “I’m a growing boy. What do you want from me?”
“I don’t know, maybe the rest of the food that was on my plate?”
“Dude, you left.”
“Next time I’ll take my plate with me.”
“Next time.” He raises an eyebrow. “Tomorrow?”
She looks at him. So conflicted. She knows her parents could use her help, but harvest is almost done.
And if she begs off, she knows her mother will say yes. After the relief her brain is experiencing right now, she wants to get back out there and continue playing until she collapses.
And then there’s just one more nagging feeling. One that she pushes back every time she has a pleasant conversation with Jacián. She knows it’s stupid. But when she thinks about how much Nico might have suffered, or might be suffering. . How can she do anything fun — especially with another guy — and feel good about it?
It just feels wrong.
“I didn’t know it was such a loaded question.” Jacián is leaning on the counter now, looking at Kendall intently during her silence.
She swallows hard. “It’s not. It’s. . I don’t know. I’ll have to see.”
Jacián nods. “Okay.” He goes into the adjacent laundry room and comes out wearing a Phoenix Suns sweatshirt.
“My dad’s a big fan,” he explains, rolling his eyes. “You ready?” he asks. He pulls his truck keys from his pocket.
Kendall nods.
He drives her home in silence. When he gets to her driveway, he says, “You know, if you ever want to talk about it, I. . I could listen. Or, you know. Whatever.”
“Thanks. I don’t know if. .” She grabs her backpack, which weighs a ton because of the wet clothes.
“Thanks,” she says again. And because of his sincerity, she reaches over and squeezes his hand. And then she slips out of the truck and doesn’t look back.