ary ’s Reviews > Rolls and Rivalry > Status Update

Then he dips me backward with a flourish. I can feel the
smile on his lips when they press against my own. Shouts and
hoots of delight reverberate around us.
For the first time ever, we’re both winning at the end of a
band performance.

“But…you said that was your strategy for winning?”
“I didn’t have a strategy—I just couldn’t look away.”
“I needed you to look back at me. Just once. And then you did.”
“There’s no way that’s true. You’d never voluntarily lose a game against me.”
Max’s hands slide down my neck.
“That was me winning.”

Even if I could get past everything
else, I don’t think I’m strong enough to be his secret
anymore, or the girlfriend all his friends despise. I want to be
with someone who’s proud to be with me.

That’s all it takes to make my pulse skitter. No matter my
hesitations or worries, there’s no denying how Max makes
me feel. I could lose out on our bet, the MVM award, even
state, and I’d still be happy as long as Max was with me. But
could he say the same? I know he really cares about me. He
just cares about band more.

There was a tiny part of
me that was worried about how things would go today. What
if yesterday hadn’t meant as much to him as it had to me?
What if he’d had his fun and now he was over me? But the
realization that we both have the same worries allows me to
take a breath. I lean into him, and he pulls me to his chest
without hesitation.

“We’re
competitive and stubborn, but it worked between us anyway.
We’ve always worked, Hazel.
”

I remind myself that everything will be
fine no matter what. The worst-case scenario is that I tell
him how I feel—how I’ve always felt—and end up leaving the
forest with a broken heart and never-ending embarrassment
and misery and then have to run an hours-long D&D game
across from said heartbreaker.

“Wow, I really thought we
were about to get into a huge fight. I was preparing a whole
speech in my mind about why you should forgive me.”
“I’d like to hear that.”
He steps closer, and his nearness sends sparks up my
spine.
“I could still give you the speech. It includes a lot of
pleading, in case that’s of interest.”

Is there a version of reality where Max and I could ever act like that?

“No, I think it’s cute, I’m just not getting involved in
anyone’s love life. If there’s something between them,
they’ll figure it out.”
“Maybe.” He leans forward.
“But sometimes people never figure it out,
even when all the evidence is right in front of them.”
Suddenly, I’m not sure if we’re talking about Li and Felix
anymore.