“I can’t help that I’ve recently discovered my love of selfies.”
Frida snorted. “You don’t have to explain it to me, you know. You’re allowed to have a crush.”
Em really wished everyone would stop using that word. What was going on between her and Grant wasn’t a crush. It was more like low-key flirting. Something just between them. They didn’t have to acknowledge anything was happening—because nothing was—but it was nice to know that there was a guy out there who thought about her every once in a while.
“So, I was thinking about coming to the game tonight,” Frida said, changing the subject.
“You are?” Her eyes went back up to the stage as their principal started listing the prizes for the top sellers. The kids all cheered loudly. When they quieted down, she turned in her seat toward Frida. “You’re not going to say anything to Grant, are you?”
“I told you I wasn’t going to embarrass you. I just feel like getting out today, and I know Finn gets free tickets.”
All the players did. They got a couple box seats and then a few general admission tickets. “I can ask if Finn gave all his tickets away.”
“Awesome. Since I don’t have any Storm shirts, should we make homemade Grant jerseys? You know I’ve got all kinds of supplies at my house.” Frida laughed loudly enough to get the attention of a nearby teacher.
Em gave them an apologetic smile for the disruption, before she glared at her friend. “Don’t you dare.”
She pouted. “Come on. You know I like any excuse to get dressed up.”
It was true, all part of Frida’s creative nature. “If I lend you one of Finn’s jerseys, will you promise not to make a Grant shirt?”
“Of course. But I want the one you just won.”
Em had spent a fortune on it and only worn it once. But lending it to Frida was a much better option than Frida wearing one with Vaughn on the back. She sighed. “Fine. I’ll bring it when I pick you up.”
“I didn’t know this was the O’Brien cheering section,” Miriam said as Frida and Em found their seats beside her, both wearing Finn’s jerseys.
While Em wore an old one loose over her denim shorts for an easy casual look, Frida had taken a more creative approach to wearing hers. She tied the one-of-a-kind jersey at the waist and wore a black miniskirt that showed off her killer legs. The ensemble was topped off with homemade soccer earrings that dangled from her ears.
She looked like a sporty version of Ms. Frizzle without the bright, orange hair.
Being next to the boards, they were sure to be in a lot of the live footage of the game and, as Miriam pointed out, they looked like a bunch of fangirls.
Though being accused of being part of her brother’s cheering section was better than talking about her “crush” on Grant. Since Em would be sitting between the two women who had accused her of having a thing for Grant, she would gladly take the alternative.
She smiled at Miriam. “Maybe he’s feeling left out after seeing the way you fawn all over Silas.”
Miriam rolled her eyes. “Like I’m fawning over him. Silas has enough adoring fans that I don’t need to feed his ego anymore.”
Em lifted a brow.
“Exhibit A is sitting two rows behind me. Dark hair, Storm jersey, gorgeous. Even after Silas told her nothing was going to happen between them, she comes to all the games and screams his name the entire time.”
Em made a show of reaching her arms above her head and spinning in both directions like she was stretching her back. When she turned around, she let her gaze go up to the stands behind them. Two rows up was a girl matching Miriam’s description—though she wasn’t nearly as pretty as Miriam had implied. “Does it bother you?”
Miriam shrugged. “It used to, but Silas made it obvious that he doesn’t care about anyone else but me. It gets a little awkward at Storm events, but it’s mostly just funny now.”
That was good. Em was happy that Miriam was able to trust Silas after everything that had happened between them. She wondered what it must be like to be hurt so badly and forgive someone—more than that, love them.
Just then, the lights dimmed. The game was about to start.
The announcer called out the names of the Washington Orcas. There were a few scattered fans in the stands who’d made the trek to Florida to cheer on their team, but their clapping was barely audible. Em always felt bad for the visiting team. Not only were they fighting against the home field advantage, there were so few people cheering for them.
She started clapping as the rest of the Orcas ran onto the field. This earned her puzzling looks from both Miriam and Frida.
She shrugged. “What? I feel bad for them. Finn has told me how hard it is to be the visitor.”
“Bleeding heart.” Miriam bumped her shoulder. “As long as you cheer louder for the Storm.”
She rolled her eyes. “Well, obviously.”
Spotlights started moving across the stands. “Let’s get ready to welcome your Florida Storm!”
The announcer’s voice boomed through the arena, and Em snuck another glance back at Silas’ super fan. She was jumping up and down and yelling through cupped hands.
“You really weren’t kidding about that girl,” she said to Miriam.
She gave Em a sly smile. “Just wait until he scores a goal.”
Em giggled and turned her attention back to the field where Storm players were called out one by one. She clapped and cheered for each one as they joined their teammates at midfield.
“Now for your starting lineup. Team captain and keeper, number one, Finn O’Brien!”
Em yelled as loudly as she could—loud enough to get her brother’s attention. When he looked her way, she and Frida turned around to show him the back of
