“What’s a Hoco?” I ask Jake. Dexter heads to the office to give them an update on George.
“It’s the catchy way to say Homecoming.”
“Ah.” Shit. Homecoming. One of those rites of passage I’ve always dreamed of, except now I don’t have one possible date but four. How the hell do we navigate that?
Another sign accosts me by the lockers.
Vote for King and Queen!
“How does this vote work?” I open up my locker and glance at Jake, who’s leaning against the locker next to mine.
“Homerooms pick a guy and a girl to represent. Then it’s narrowed down from there in a school-wide vote.” He doesn’t seem too interested. He should be. There’s zero chance he’s not a finalist in a popularity contest. “They announce it at the football game.”
“Gotcha,” I say, not sure how I feel about it all. It’s all the social pressures coming together at once. Lucky for me, no one else is that interested in homecoming and just want to know more about George.
“He’s doing okay,” Jake says to a few guys that pass us in the hall. “I think he’ll come home today.”
“Concussion?” a big guy asks. Big is an understatement. He’s massive.
“Probably.”
“You think he?
??s out for the season?”
“I’d count on it.”
We all know it’s not a huge loss to the team—George wasn’t a starting player—but he’s popular too. Funny and goofy. Known for his artistic skills. No one wants to hear he’s out.
“I’ll know more later today,” Jake says, bumping fists with the other guy. “I’ll update everyone at practice.”
I watch him, not fully aware of the smile on my mouth until he raises an eyebrow. “What?” I ask.
“What are you smiling about?”
“I’m just happy you guys have each other and I’m a little jealous of the friends you’ve made.”
“Starlee, we’ve lived here our whole life. Tyler and I have played football together since we were six. There’s no other options.”
“It’s still cute.”
He leans against the locker and gives me a deadly, sexy grin. “You think I’m cute?”
“Stop. I’m not flattering you. Your head is big enough already.”
“Too late. I already heard you say it.”
My heart thuds in my chest and I tear my eyes away from his. Why did he have to be so handsome and charming and perfect?
“I’ll see you later, okay?” he says.
“Yeah, and we need to work on that project you have due Friday, right?”
“Tonight? After dinner?”
“Yep.”
He winks and pushes off the wall and strolls down the hallway, a few of his teammates falling in step.