Redemption

CHOOSE WISELY

I could hear Sawyer's laughter floating through the hallway. I threw open the bedroom door so quickly I wasn't sure what was faster – how quickly my mind thought about her in the mornings when I woke up or how I raced to her in the mornings when I heard her feet pattering in the hallways.

Seeing her made me think about what happened in the kitchen – how I almost kissed her before Fletcher fucking interrupted us. I didn't realize what I was doing or at least where I was doing it at.

My brain doesn't function around her. Not when she's wearing her workout clothes, and they consist of spandex shorts and an oversized long-sleeve shirt. Except it's her smile alone that brings me to my knees. I have to stop from dropping to worship the ground she walks on every time she steps into the room.

Now I'm leaning against the corridor of my bedroom, watching her laugh with Joey. They're jumping around in their gameday clothes. My girl's curly hair is pulled back into a sleek ponytail that must've taken hours to slick back.

I could barely see the number three on her back from the tight coils cascading over her shoulders, but my eyes kept lowering to the glow of her brown skin. Every inch of her legs glimmered. Every inch made it harder for me to breathe.

I fell against the corridor, losing my breath. My fingers clutched my sweatshirt. It didn't slow the beating of my heart. It didn't even make it easier to breathe.

"Are you going to stand there all day?"

My eyes tore away from the curly-haired girl to find another girl standing on the stairwell in her volleyball attire.

"Are you coming tonight?"

I saw Sawyer turn around as I rolled my eyes. "Yes. I'm coming tonight."

"Maybe we can meet up afterwards?"

I pushed away from the wall. "No."

"So, you're coming tonight?" Joey approached us. "Coach Peterson benched Amanda to play Sawyer tonight!"

"Oh, really?" I cocked my head to look at Sawyer.

"Come on, Taylor," Joey pulled away the blonde. "I need help with something."

I didn't care to watch them disappear down the stairwell. I didn't even care if they were still watching when I turned to Sawyer.

"You still haven't invited me, Sully."

A blush kissed the tops of her cheeks. "Sorry. I was distracted."

I leaned over her, my shoulder pressed against the wall as she rested her hand on my chest to stop herself from stumbling forward. "By what?"

"Well, I thought you were gonna – "

"Sawyer! Taylor is here!"

I ignored the woman at the end of the stairs. "Thought I was gonna what?"

She bit into her lower lip. Her eyes shifted from the space beside me back to my face. "Kiss me."

"Did you want me to?"

Her hazel eyes flickered to mine. "Yes."

"Sawyer!" Joey came up behind me. "We've gotta go. We're going to be late."

"I'll see you at the game," I winked at Sawyer.

Just as she started walking away, I pinched the bottom of her shirt to keep her from moving. Her feet scuffed against the wood.

"Next time we won't be interrupted," I peered down at her. "Good luck tonight, Sawyer."

Just as she disappeared down the stairwell, I shouted for Fletcher. "Get ready! We have a game to go to!"