“Now that I think about it,” Grant contemplated, “that dude they called Ox reminds me of a much smaller version of Billy Wayne.”
“That is so mean!” Hailey laughed. “But…yeah…I see it!”
“I liked that one episode during which Zack was apparently a star on the basketball team,” Grant added, “though we never heard mention of his prowess on the basketball court before or after that episode.”
Hailey giggled.
“What about his band… The Zack Attack?” Grant laughed.
“Jessica so wanted to be in their band!” Hailey exclaimed.
Thunder boomed, and Hailey snuggled close to Grant.
“Remember how Screech’s curly hair looked after he got struck by lightning; I wonder if that’s how yours would look?” Grant said for no other reason than to prove his theory that Hailey was especially cute when she got all riled up.
Hailey pounded Grant’s chest. “Don’t make lightning jokes! I’m scared!”
“But it’s better in this room, right?” Grant said softly.
“Yeah,” Hailey admitted.
“I can go sleep in the living room if you want me to,” Grant offered after a moment.
Hailey frowned. “Unless you plan on sharing the couch with my dad, I’m guessing there isn’t too much room in there. I’ll just make myself a pallet on the floor.” Hailey doubled the quilt and laid it next to the bed. She took one of Grant’s pillows and fluffed it before dropping it into place.
“You take the bed, and I’ll take the floor,” Grant smiled.
“You sure?” Hailey asked.
“Believe it or not, I do know a thing or two about being a gentleman,” Grant scoffed.
Hailey crawled back into bed, and Grant stretched out on the floor.
“Goodnight, Grant,” Hailey smiled, her arm dangling off the bed.
Grant wove his fingers into Hailey’s, and, bringing her hand to his lips, kissed it gently. “Goodnight.”
Hailey and Grant were already sitting in the bleachers waiting for the rest of the team to arrive when Paul walked in flanked by Joe John and Billy Wayne.
“Well, if it isn’t Athos, Porthos, and Aramis,” Grant quipped.
Hailey looked at him and raised her eyebrow.
“The three musketeers,” Grant rolled his eyes.
“And that would have been too simple to say, huh?” Hailey shrugged.
“What’s the deal?” Paul asked as he dropped his backpack to the floor. “We got the message that Coach doesn’t want us to dress out for practice.”
Coach Nelson walked in as the rest of the team slowly straggled in behind him. “Glad you could all make it to practice today,” he announced. “Go on and have a seat. I’ve been talking to your teachers, and today, instead of scrimmaging, we’re going to take some time out to get caught up on our studies.”
“Dad,” Hailey sighed, “all day while we’re doing school work, we look forward to practice where we’ll finally get to let loose and do what we love.”
“And we’ll get back to that tomorrow,” Coach Nelson nodded, “but today, we are going to exercise our minds.”
“You’re joking, right, Coach?” Joe John laughed.
“No,” Coach Nelson shook his head, “come-on, guys, stop wasting time and get out your homework. I’m going to pair you off, so you can work with a partner.”
“What if we prefer to work by ourselves?” Grant rolled his eyes.
“This is an exercise in teamwork, Grant,” Coach Nelson said evenly. “Why don’t you and Billy Wayne start out working together?”
“Coach, are you freaking kidding me?” Grant grumbled. “Bubba ain’t got both oars in the water.”
“Grant, be nice. He’s not stupid,” Hailey rolled her eyes.
“You’re right. He would have to get smarter just to be considered stupid,” Grant smiled.
“And you’d have to get nicer just to be considered a cold-hearted grump,” Hailey declared.
Grant winked back at her, and Hailey couldn’t help but grin.
“That’s enough,” Coach Nelson waved his hands. “Hailey, you turn around and get to work with Paul.”
“I didn’t fare so good on my vocabulary quiz this week,” Billy Wayne frowned as he pulled the test paper from his backpack. “I guess I just don’t get it,” he said, examining the paper cluelessly.
