Chasing Red (Chasing Red 1)

“I have to go back to practice,” he said when the coach whistled. “I want to impress my girl. My only girl.”

Before I could tell him I wasn’t his girl, he was already back on the court. He was good—really, really good. No wonder he was the most valuable player on the team.

I was so engrossed in watching Caleb that, before I knew it, practice was ending. Caleb motioned to the locker room, indicating he was going to get changed.

I looked around and realized Kara hadn’t been back in a long while. Worried, I got up to find her. I checked the washroom, but all the stalls were empty.

She must have left. I instantly felt guilty. She probably couldn’t stand seeing Cameron around other girls. I left the washroom and pulled out my phone to text her just as two girls went in. I thought I heard Kara’s name.

“Cameron is with that Flat Board again. I thought they broke up. What’s he doing with her?”

“Maybe they got back together,” the other girl answered. “She looked pretty shaken up.”

My steps faltered, eyes widening in anger at what I was hearing.

“That Kara needs to stay in her lane. She keeps throwing herself at him.”

“I don’t know. He looked like he wasn’t over her.”

“Please. She’s a ho ba—”

I couldn’t take another word. I was ready to go to war when Caleb suddenly grabbed my arm. He shook his head. I gritted my teeth, fighting the urge to scratch out that girl’s eyes.

“I just got a text from Cameron,” he said. “He’s with Kara.”

“What?” I was shocked. Kara wouldn’t even talk to Cameron, let alone leave with him. “I have to find her. Why would she be with him?”

“I know they’re not on good terms right now, but trust me, Cameron won’t let anything bad happen to her. You can talk to her later, give her a call.”

I nodded, worried. He squeezed my hand, and I looked up into his eyes.

“I wish someday you’d care for me that way,” he whispered. “More.”

I held my breath.

“I wish you’d…” He cut himself off, shook his head, and straightened. “Still up for the movie? It’s starting soon.”

“Actually, Caleb, I had a long day,” I admitted. “Maybe we should just go back to your apartment.”

He gave me a silent nod. I could see in his face that he was exhausted too. I’d also seen him rotate his left shoulder a few times, massaging it with his hand.

Besides…a date with Caleb Lockhart in an enclosed space would fall on the girlfriend-boyfriend list of things to do, wouldn’t it?

“What do you want to eat?” I asked, changing the subject.

I had made chicken potpie for dinner, but if he wanted something else, I’d cook it. When he didn’t respond, I looked at him. The gleam in his eyes was telling.

“Do you really want to know?” he asked, his voice heavy with meaning. “I don’t think you’re ready.”

My heart began to pound.

He stared at my lips before his eyes flicked up to mine. “Or are you?”

I held my breath. He was too much to handle.

“Pancakes,” I choked out.

Whenever we said pancakes, we neve