Almost Perfect - Brian Katcher [55]
“Dude,” he wheezed. “Three o’clock.”
I looked over at the aluminum bleachers. Even from the other side of the field, it was impossible not to recognize the tallest “girl” in school. Though there was still a bite of cold in the March air, Sage was wearing shorts. Her long, long legs stretched down across two rows of bleachers.
I waved as I passed, and she smiled. She must have been there to watch me. Just like Brenda used to. It wasn’t the same, of course, but it was kind of nice having a friend who’d sit out here in the chilly weather, just to see me run.
My next round, I made it a point to pass Jack and a couple of other guys. You know, just so Sage wouldn’t be disappointed. But the round after that, I realized she was no longer watching me. She wasn’t alone.
Phillip Myers. He was a junior, and that was about all I could tell you about him. He had spiky hair, had a wispy mustache, and had worn the same Members Only jacket since the fifth grade. He was sitting next to Sage, talking to her.
Sage was talking back. And laughing. I was watching them so intently I nearly missed my turn and ran into the fence.
The next go-round Sage and Phil were still chatting. What did I care? Why shouldn’t Sage have other friends? I sure as hell wasn’t jealous. It’s not like I assumed I was the only guy in all of Boyer Sage would want to hang around with. But guys only started conversations with random girls for one reason. Sage needed to be careful.
On the following lap I tried to make myself not look in their direction, but failed. Phillip sat alone, staring at his feet. I glanced around, trying to locate Sage. I finally saw her trotting to the parking lot. Where was she going in such a hurry?
I nearly knocked Jack over in my rush to follow her. Through the gate, around the teachers’ parking area, and right up to her truck.
She knew I was following her, or at least didn’t show surprise when I collapsed at the driver’s door. She had a grim look on her face, as if she’d just been unexpectedly insulted.
“Back off, Logan.”
“Hey, I just wanted to see if you were okay.” What did Phillip say? Did he suspect the truth?
She opened the door. “I’m serious, Logan. You smell like a jockstrap.”
That would have been funny, except she still wasn’t smiling. Finally, she rolled her eyes.
“Get in.”
I sat, gasping for air, as Sage toyed with the radio. Though I tried to avoid looking at her legs, I couldn’t help myself. They were long and shapeless, with freckles on the knees, large (though not huge) feet, and a couple of shaving nicks.
“Catch your breath, Logan, then leave me alone.”
After what she’d put me through recently, I was starting to get pissed at this attitude. What had happened to the girl who’d said she needed my friendship more than anything?
“Just checking on you,” I said, failing in my attempt not to sound pissy. “You ran off in a hurry.”
She turned to me with a haughty smirk. “You know what that guy Phillip asked me to do? Right there? Right where anyone could hear him?”
I was afraid to ask. “What?”
“He asked me if I wanted to go for a walk.”
My calf muscles were beginning to seize up from stopping so abruptly. I waited for Sage to finish, then realized there wasn’t any more to her story.
“Go for a walk? That’s all?”
She shook her head, disgusted with me for some reason. “Logan, do you know how many guys have asked me out since I came here?”
“Two?”
Her frown deepened. I think I was supposed to guess a much higher number.
“Yes, two. But this is a small school.”
My sweat was soaking into the upholstery. “What’s your point?”
“Nothing. Forget it,” she huffed. Apparently, I was supposed to be clueing in to something.
“Sage …”
Sage placed her head on the steering wheel as if she was cuddling a pillow. “Logan, I just realized. I’m never going to have a date. Ever. In my entire life.”
“What are you talking about?”
And then it hit me. She would never be able to date. Not me, not Phil, no one. She wasn’t a woman. And she wasn’t a man, either. Too masculine for a straight guy, far too feminine