didn’t miss Lex’s performance. Hell yeah. Hell yeah .
Someone touches my arm. Mom. “Grab a seat, Elvis.”
I don’t move my eyes from the stage as I look for a seat. I want to make sure Lex sees me. She needs to know I’m here.
The Sharkettes walk on stage. They place their poms before them on the floor. I immediately pinpoint Lex from the other girls. Her black hair is tied in a high ponytail, twirled in this curl that is cute and sexy. Like the others, she’s got glitter around her eyes. Look at me, T. Rex. Please look at me .
Her eyes sweep the audience. She bites her bottom lip. I wave. She doesn’t see me. I wave again. Some other girls notice me. One—I think the captain, Holly—nudges Lex’s side and nods in my direction. Lex’s eyes land on me. Her whole face washes with joy. Pure joy that makes every cell in my body want to do some lame happy dance.
The track starts. The girls do their thing. I’ve said this to Lex many times, but I think she is the sexiest and most talented Sharkette on the team. I can’t take my eyes off her. She’s like an angel. Her moves are graceful. The way her ponytail hits the back of her neck. The way the bottom of her uniform rises just a bit as she twirls. The way her toned arms catch her poms. The way she shakes her little behind.
I love this girl. So, so much.
Two minutes later, they’re done. Chests puffing, big smiles on their faces. The audience roars. I jump to my feet and am about to clap, but then I remember my arm. I wave my good one around in the air instead. Lex, cheeks flushed, jumps up and down in her place, waving at me. It makes me feel real good to make her this happy.
She sweeps her poms off the floor and runs off stage. Heads for me. I get out of my seat so I can meet her halfway. She sprints toward me and flings her arms around me. Her warm lips kiss me all over the face. “Cruiser.” She breathes, then kisses my lips. “You’re here.”
I bury my face in her hair and wrap my good arm around her waist. “I told you I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Thanks so much. You just left the hospital?”
“Yeah.”
She squeezes me tight. Kisses my lips again. “I love you, Cruiser.”
“I love you, too.” My hand strokes the back of her head. “So, so much.” I gently pull her head back so I can look into her eyes. “You were amazing on stage.” I kiss her again, this time more intense than the last. I feel her soften in my arms. If it was up to me, I would stand here and just kiss her. But we’re in public. In front of my family and her school and teammates. Reluctantly, I step back.
She takes my hand and holds it tight. One more school performs before they announce the winner. I squeeze Lex’s hand. I know they did well. They were amazing. She lays her head on my shoulder.
The gold and purple team wins third. The Sharkettes place second. I hug Lex with one arm as she jumps in her place. “Congrats, Lex!”
She buries her face in my chest.
Holly and some of the other girls walk over. I pat Lex’s back, and she lifts her head. “We’re going for pizza to celebrate. Coming?”
She stares into my eyes. Looks like she’s lost in them. I’m lost in hers, too. I blink and say, “Go, darlin’.”
She shakes her head. Wraps her arms around my middle. “I want to stay with you.” She looks at her teammates. “Next time, okay?”
They nod, giving her this knowing smile. Like they don’t blame her for ditching them for me. They walk away, giggling.
I touch her cheek. “You coulda gone with them. I wouldn’t have minded.”
“We go out for pizza all the time. I want to spend every second with you.” She squeezes me again and puts her face back on my chest. I just hold onto her.
After a few minutes, Lex steps back and looks up at me. “Are you going home?” She looks out at the audience. “Rey and your parents are here, too.” She waves. They head toward us.
“I need to get to work,” Mom says.
Right, she’s working
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