Looking away from Becks, trying to smile, I said, “No, that’s okay. I think I can manage.”
Ash sighed loudly. “Well, alright, if you’re going to play hard to get.” Then to Becks, “I’m glad you let her go, man. Otherwise, I might’ve suffered in silence, burying my feelings down deep forever. It’s crazy how much I love her already.”
He was such a bull-shitter, it made me smile for real.
“Bye, Spitz,” he said, voice low, intimate. “I’ll see you later.”
Grinning at Becks, Ash lowered his head and then did the unthinkable. He placed a kiss, the briefest brush of lips on skin, just behind my ear. Becks’s spot. He’d just put his mouth directly over Becks’s spot.
I was wide-eyed as he straightened, looking carefree as a clam. Becks wore an expression similar to mine. Completely gobsmacked.
“Thanks again, man.” Ash lifted his chin. “Sal’s a great girl.”
I wasn’t sure if it was the kiss or the ‘Sal’ that did it, but between one blink and the next Ash and Becks were on the floor, rolling around like a pair of angry cats. Becks had the upper hand. I could tell that much. Ash wasn’t much smaller than him, but Becks looked like he had the most rage. Coach Crenshaw was actually the one who broke them up. As he tugged them to his office, I heard him saying, “What is wrong with you two idiots? Don’t you know we’ve got a game? Save that aggression for the field.”
I didn’t know what to feel. Two guys fighting over little old me. It was every girl’s dream, right? I wanted that zing of happiness to overtake me, but there was too much worry for that. I was nervous for Becks and Ash; I was pretty sure Crenshaw wouldn’t bench them—they were the best he had. But I didn’t want either of them getting into trouble, least of all on my account.
Hooker found me at lunch, nearly buzzing with excitement. She was sprinting as fast as she could, bouncing a little more than usual, making the male population in the cafeteria stare.
“Is it true?” she asked, out of breath as she collapsed into the chair next to mine. “Did Becks seriously try to stab Ash? Did Stryker kick him in the balls? Tell me, Spitz. Hurry up, I’m dying over here.”
For a second, I couldn’t speak. What she’d said was that out there.
“Spitz, tell me.”
“Hooker, none of that is true.” I couldn’t help but laugh at her disappointed expression. “They just had a disagreement. That’s all.”
“A disagreement?” she deadpanned.
“Yeah.”
“One that ended with them duking it out on the ground?” I didn’t answer. “What were they fighting over anyway?”
“Well…” I blushed, coming up short. There was no way I could tell her what Ash had done—or how Becks had reacted. No. Way.
“No,” Hooker said, eyes widening, a crooked smile sitting on her face. “No freaking way.”
Was she a mind reader or something? I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “What?”
“Spitz!” She slapped me on the arm, sharp and unapologetic. “You’re with Ash now, aren’t you? I can’t believe you’re trying to keep it a secret. Have you forgotten that me and Martha were the ones who set this whole thing in motion?”
“Yeah, congratulations,” I mumbled, rubbing my abused biceps. If this thing with Ash bombed, at least I had two other people to blame. Besides my stupid self that is.
“Ah, don’t be like that.” Hooker was still smiling. “So…who’s the better kisser?”
“Hooker.”
“What?” she asked, all innocent. “I can’t tell just from looking. Ash has better lips, but Becks looks like he has skills.” Her gaze turned pensive as she rested her chin on her hand. “Actually, they both look like they could make a girl happy. Real happy.”
“Jeez,” I said, hand over my eyes. “Stop, Hooker. Please, you’re freaking me out.”
“Huh, why? It’s perfectly natural to compare kisses.”
Yeah, well, I couldn’t exactly do that since I’d only kissed Becks. But what freaked me out more was how much thought Hooker had obviously given thought to how good a kisser Becks would be. It was just wrong. And there was no way Ash had better lips than Becks.
“Okay, then who was your best kiss?” I asked.
She didn’t even hesitate. “Wade Weathersbee, seventh grade, behind the gym. Weathersbee had a lot of enthusiasm and could do this really cool rolling thing with his tongue. Naturally gifted.” Hooker waggled her eyebrows. “If you know what I mean.”