Chapter Twelve

College

As much as Darcy hated bus rides, she loved road trips. The entire team together, watching movies, talking, spending time together. It’s where the team solidified. During her senior year, it was her job as the captain to make sure that happened quickly. She was already a front-runner to win the player of the year award, but what she really wanted was a national championship. And she would do anything she could to make it happen.

While the rest of the team bonded in the rows behind her, Darcy sat in front with the coaches and stared out the windshield to keep from throwing up.

Darcy stood so she could see over the rows of seats all the way to the back of the bus. Half the players were sitting in their seats, while the others were lingering in the aisle or leaning over the back of their seats to talk to the person behind them.

No one sat behind Darcy. No one else wanted to be that close to the coaches.

Carpenter climbed the steps and paused next to her seat. “Hey, Cap. What exciting thing do you have planned for the ride?”

“Mostly my plan is not to get sick.”

She shoved her hands into the pockets of her sweats. “Solid plan. Sorry you can’t sit back with the rest of us.”

Darcy shrugged. “Yeah. It sucks but if I moved back, I’d have to take so much Dramamine I’d pass out and miss all the fun, anyway.”

Natalie stood there like she was weighing whether to say something else.

“Move, Carpenter.” Hinch stood behind her on the steps.

Carpenter gave Darcy an unreadable look before shuffling down the aisle toward the back of the bus.

Later, when the movie played on tiny screens throughout the bus, Carpenter appeared next to Darcy’s seat.

“Do you mind?” she asked, pointing to the empty seat, looking more nervous than on her first day with the team.

Panic flickered in Darcy’s chest. Did something happen? Was she hurt? Was she pissed? Darcy pulled her books onto her lap and gestured for her to sit.

Nat opened her messenger bag and pulled out a sleeve of saltines, some hard candy, and wristbands. Her eyes stared into her bag and her cheeks turned pink. “I thought these might help you with, you know, not feeling great on the bus. My mom used to keep saltines in the car just in case and my roommate swears these band things work.” She shoved them toward Darcy, keeping her eyes focused on the crackers.

The stuff spilled onto Darcy’s lap when she tried to hold it all. “You brought all of this for me?”

Natalie nodded, her cheeks turning a deeper red. “It sucks that you feel like shit on our trips and I... Anyway.” She swallowed. “I wanted to see if there was anything you needed help with? Like do you need any help reading stuff or anything on the bus? It doesn’t bother me, and it must be hard to get all your homework done if you can’t do it on the bus...” She looked at Darcy, her deep blue eyes meeting Darcy’s for a second before skittering away. “I can help. That’s all I wanted to offer.” She leaned forward like she was preparing to stand up.

Darcy grabbed her arm. “Thank you.” Darcy lifted all the things Natalie gave her, and the sleeve of crackers fell onto her lap. “This is so nice.” Nat’s eyes softened, and her cheeks were deep crimson. “You want to hang out a little bit?”

She nodded and rubbed her palms down the front of her sweatpants.

Darcy bumped their shoulders. “Do I freak you out or something?”

She dipped her head. “No. I didn’t want you to think I was weird or whatever because I brought you...” She gestured to the bundle in Darcy’s lap.

“I don’t think you’re weird for this. I think you’re weird for like a thousand other reasons but not because you’re nice.” Not because you’re surprisingly soft.

She looked at the screen to the left and then back at Darcy. “Does watching make you sick?”

Darcy nodded. “It’s fine. I’ve seen Youngblood like a thousand times. Hinch brings it every time we travel.”

Natalie laughed. “It’s a classic in that not very good but enjoyable kind of way.” She studied Darcy’s face. “You okay? You got kinda gray all of a sudden.”

Darcy closed her eyes and let her head rest against the seat. “Yep,” she said, taking a slow breath. “I’ll be fine in a second.”

“Give me your hand,” she said.

Darcy felt something soft but tight going over her hand. Natalie adjusted it until a hard bead pressed into the soft skin of Darcy’s wrist. “It might take a minute but it’s supposed to help.”

Darcy heard crinkling and opened one eye. “Eat one of these, too.” She handed Darcy a saltine carefully, like it was priceless.

“Thank you,” Darcy said in a low voice. She hated being the center of attention when she was sick. Natalie sat next to her, silent, but Darcy could feel herself being watched. Every so often she handed Darcy another cracker, tucking it gently into Darcy’s outstretched hand.

After a few minutes, Darcy felt human again. She took several gulps of ice water and breathed more easily.

Natalie handed her the sleeve of crackers. “If these don’t help, try one of the candies. Sometimes sugar helps me.”

Darcy couldn’t believe how gentle the concerned look on Natalie’s face was. Her heart tugged, like Natalie had wrapped a string around it and given a little pull, like she was testing the connection. Darcy couldn’t remember the last time she had felt so safe and cared for.

Natalie stood, one hand gripping the seat in front of her for balance. “I’ll leave you to rest. But let me know if you need anything.” She pointed to the seats. “I’m only two rows back.” She blushed, but it was hard to see in the dim light of the bus.

“Thanks, Carpenter.” Darcy smiled weakly and returned to staring straight ahead. Her stomach flipped over, but not from the bus ride.

Shit. I’m in so much trouble.

This couldn’t be happening. Darcy had vowed she’d never date another teammate. Not after it nearly tore her team apart. And now she was getting all fluttery about a freshman. No. She would not be the creepy senior crushing on the new kid. She let her head fall back against the seat.

Too late. She was definitely into Natalie. Goddammit.