We did in fact, beat Grove Hollow four to one. I wish I could say it was because we were better players, but honestly, it was mostly because Grove Hollow's team were freshmen, with only one or two senior girls.

Usually Mom comes to my games, but since chemo we both agreed it would be better to pass on them until she got stronger. So I knew she wouldn't be in the stands, among the handful of people. Lacrosse gets no love, not like football of basketball, and we get even less because we're the girl's team. It's not fair, but we're used to it.

What I didn't expect was to see Eddie there. He was slouching near the bottom corner of the bleachers, and when the game was over I waked over to him, every step a little quicker than the last, until I reached him.

"Fi," he murmured, and pulled me into a hug.

"Ew. I'm all sweaty!" I protested, pulling off my goggles.

"It's girl sweat, tastes good," he told me, and licked my forehead. I pulled back and glared at him.

"Seriously? That's gross. I'm not a kitten, needing to be cleaned!"

He grinned at me. "Annnnd that's an image I could get fond of, right there. You won, right?"

"We won," I assured him. "So, I do need to shower . . ."

He nodded. "I told your mom I'd bring you home."

I stared, and Eddie gave a little embarrassed shrug. "She called to grill me about my beat-down, and wow, she does not pull punches on those questions, man. I've never had to discuss my genitals with someone's parent before!"

"Shit!" I had to bury my face in my hands. "Really?"

"It was . . . thorough," Eddie snorted. "But . . . I dunno. She cares. Not really used to that."

"She's a great nurse," I agreed. "One of the reasons she takes the ER rotation. Okay, give me twenty and I'll meet you out front."

I rushed through my shower and lugged my gear out within fifteen, still feeling that weird surge of emotion rolling around in my stomach. Eddie loaded the Lacrosse stuff in the trunk, and I climbed in the passenger seat, feeling clumsy and dumb.

"So . . . talk to me, Fi. I'm like, waaaay out of my league here, but I don't think I'm by myself on that . . . am I?" Eddie was studying the road and avoiding my eyes. I realized he was just as nervous as I was.

"Yeah, you're not. I just . . . I don't know what going on here, and it's not like anything I've done before," I sighed. "But it's crazy good, too, and I like it. I like YOU."

I saw his shoulders relax at that, and he flashed a grin my way. "Same. I was worried I was just . . . a charity case."

"WHAT? Oh hell no!" I snapped. "Eddie! How could you even think that?"

"My uncle makes in a year, what Carver's dad makes in a month," Eddie intoned, his voice flat. "I live in a fuckin' trailer, Fi. I spend every summer loading appliances at Bradley's Big Buy, and if I don't graduate this year, I'll be locked into that Godforsaken gig forever. If that's not enough to make you scream and run, it oughta be." He wasn't smiling.

"No," I told him. "Not screaming, not running. Not like my prospects are much better right now. If I don't get some sort of sports scholarship, I'll be either selling popcorn at the Cinema, or bagging groceries at Sav-a-Lot come summer."

Eddie shook his head. "Nope. You've got the grades, you play Lacrosse and what? Track?"

"Cross country," I corrected him. "I run. A lot."

"Ahh those legs," He waggled his eyebrows briefly at my Lacrosse shorts. "Still, I am no catch, but . . . I want this. I want this and I don't know how to . . . DO this."

"You've had girlfriends before, right?"

Eddie pursed his mouth, trying not laugh. "A few," he admitted, making a turn on Roan Road. "Nothing serious, and not for a while."

"And Chrissy?"

"Cunningham?" He took his eyes off the road to stare at me. "Are you out of your gorgeous little mind? Let me remind you that she's dating Jason 'The Asshole King of Hawkins' Carver, who would not take kindly to any competition, let alone yours truly." He shook his head, laughing cynically. "No way."

"But you have a crush on her," I muttered.

He laughed again. "Fi . . . Chrissy and I got paired off as lab partners back in Mr. Clark's sixth class in middle school. She was nice, and yeah, I crushed on her a bit that year, but our paths have barely crossed since then, and . . . nice as she is, she's never gonna get me. Not the way you do."

I drew in a breath, a little stunned and a lot relieved. Then I felt bad for feeling relieved because now I had the good guy and Chrissy was stuck with Jason.

"You sure?" I couldn't help asking.

"Oh, hell yeah," Eddie replied, his voice soft. We made it to my house, and he helped carry in the gear while mom hugged me and asked about the game. She invited Eddie to stay, but he shook his head.

"I've got a gig at the Hideaway in a few hours," he fiddled with his rings. "Not much, but it keeps me in cigarette money."

"You should drop the smoking," Mom chided and then sighed. "Sorry Eddie, it's not my place to nag."

"No, no, I've been cutting down," Eddie admitted. "Speaking of ah, smoking . . ."

Mom looked coy. "I've gained three pounds so far."

Eddie grinned and I hopped up and down, thrilled. "That's fantastic!"

"It's . . . looking good," Mom admitted, and when the phone rang, she got it while I walked Eddie out to his car.

We kissed again, and this time it wasn't as frantic, but the intensity was still there, and I lost track of time, leaning against his car in the twilight, tasting him, being tasted, feeling a rush of happiness from toes to the roots of my hair.

"Oh babe . . . gonna have to stop," he told me with extreme reluctance after a while. "Very into this, VERY, but I need to get my ass over to the Hideaway." He was still nuzzling the side of my neck, and I was enjoying it.

"I know," I admitted a little grumpily. "So. Are we . . . a thing?"

He pulled back, and brushed my hair with his fingers, smiling at me.

"Geez I hope so. I never thought you'd even notice me, despite my many efforts."

I stared at him. "You were trying to get me to notice you?"

He told gave a little lift of his eyebrows. "Please tell me you noticed, and this sweet, sweet result is because you did?"

I burst into giggles, and Eddie joined me, giving me a strong hug and shaking me a little.

"Yes, yes, I noticed. Totally. Got it from day one!" I lied.

"Suuuure you did," Eddie splutters back. "Okay, the old ego just took a critical hit, but I think I'm gonna make it. Kiss for luck?"

I planted a good one on him, and worried his lower lip with my teeth, which made him groan. Eddie let me go, giving a little growl.

"Luck reloaded," I told him. "Plenty more where that came from."

"Return engagement," he agreed, climbing into his Valiant and starting the engine with a rumble of exhaust.

I watched him drive off, feeling lighter than helium.