There was silence on the other end. A very prolonged silence.

“Corin?”

“Uh…”

Crap. She had told me about her parents. I knew they had both died when Corin was younger, even if I still didn’t know the specifics.

Way to be sensitive, Beckett!

“If you can’t, that’s fine—”

“No, I’ll go. We can head over together?”

“Of course, Corin.” I liked saying her name. It sounded right on my tongue.

“All right. Yeah. I should go. Geoffery was a nice man. I should pay my respects.”

“Okay. Well, I’ll pick you up around five-thirty? The service starts at six.”

There was another silence. “Maybe we can do something afterward. Go see a movie or you can come over to my place and we can watch a movie,” I suggested. I didn’t want her to be upset.

I hated the thought of it.

“Are you euphemizing again? Because I liked the way that turned out last night,” she replied, her voice pitched low and husky.

And now I had a semi that I was going to have to deal with.

“We can do whatever you want to do, baby,” I said softly. The things this woman did to me…

“Sure,” she said finally, and I groaned.

“You just ‘sured’ me again, Corin. You really need to come up with a better response when I ask you out.”

“Sure, Beck,” she repeated, and I knew she was messing with me.

“Beckett, I’m going to come over there and dry hump your leg! Get off the fucking phone!” Aaron hollered.

“That was a serious threat. I think you should go.” Corin laughed.

“I wouldn’t put it past these guys. So I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow,” she agreed.

“Bye, Corin.”

“Bye, Beck.”

“Was that a girrlll?” Bryan sing-songed, grabbing my phone after I had hung up.

“Give me my phone, or I’ll knee you in the junk. You may be bigger than me, but that just means you’ll go down harder.” I tried to swipe my phone out of his hand but he held it out of reach.

“Corin? Who’s Corin?”

“She’s a woman, obviously.” Just great, I had opened the door on this one. My friends weren’t known for their maturity. I prepared myself for at least fifteen minutes of debased humor and high school antics.

“A woman you’re totally boning,” Bryan guffawed, and I rolled my eyes.

“I’m not boning anyone. Grow up, Bry.” Bryan was laughing so hard that he had doubled over. At least he was amusing himself.

I walked over to the soccer pitch with my friends, seeing the rest of the guys from our parks and rec team warming up. I hated the stab of jealousy I felt at seeing them running laps and kicking the ball around.

Watching instead of doing was going to suck. But I had told Aaron I’d come. I couldn’t become a shut-in. I’d lose my fucking mind.

I had taken my camera out during my lunch hour today, and it had been pretty great. I got some amazing shots of the skyline.

But photography was a solitary hobby. I still needed to interact with other people.

Bryan jogged over to a few of the others, bouncing a ball off his head when they threw it in his direction. Maybe circus seal could work for him if all of his other life goals didn’t pan out.

“So now that dumbass is gone, you wanna tell me who this Corin chick is? And more importantly, is she hot?” Aaron asked.

“Are you up for a heart-to-heart? I don’t want you hurting yourself,” I remarked blandly.

Aaron made a face. “I wasn’t aware we were heading into feelings territory. If that’s the case, let me back up a sec and rephrase. Is this Corin chick hot and if you’re not banging her, can I?”

“You don’t even know what she looks like,” I protested. Even though my friend was fooling around, the thought of him, or anyone, with Corin made me want to hit something.

Really fucking hard.

“You’re not the kind of guy to waste his time on fuglies. I trust your judgment.”

“Seriously, Aaron, shut up,” I bit out testily.

Aaron punched me in the shoulder. “Shit man, you’re getting pissy. She must be grade A ass. So you are boinking some new meat.”

I should have known that I’d never be able to talk about Corin with my friends in a way that didn’t involve the words ass, tits, or boinking.

“Forget it. I think they’re waiting on you.” I pointed toward the two teams congregated on the pitch.

“Yeah, I should get over there. God knows without you, we don’t have a fucking prayer of winning. You gonna hang around for beers afterward?” he asked.

I shrugged. “We’ll see how bored I get watching you lose.”

“Trash talk. I like it. Pop a squat and take it all in, my friend. See how badly we suck.”

I laughed and sat down on the bench off to the side of the soccer field. It was chilly today so I blew on my hands and tried to warm them up.

My friends started kicking the ball around in something that resembled soccer. Aaron was right. They sucked.

But man I missed it. My feet itched to run. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my body.

I bounced my legs up and down and I became fidgety and restless.

Sitting and watching other people play sports was my version of hell.

I ran my hand along the bump under my skin, hating it. Wishing I could claw it out.

But after a while I was able to get into spectating. I yelled at my buddy Sam, who was the ref. I whooped when Aaron actually made a goal and cursed three ways to Sunday when Bryan missed a pass and all but handed the ball to the other team.

By the time they broke for half time to take a water break, I found I was actually enjoying myself.

Sure I was wistful and still felt way too sorry about my situation, but I didn’t feel depressed the way I had a month ago.

I walked over to my former team while they talked strategy and guzzled water.

“Not bad, guys,” I said as I approached them.

“Beck! Man, it’s good to see you!” Cameron said, patting me on the back.

“Sorry I haven’t been around,” I apologized.

“We get it. No worries. Just glad to see your ugly mug back on the pitch. Even if it is just to play cheerleader. Though you could try wearing a cute little skirt next time. Show off those legs,” Jimmy goaded, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Next time, man. Promise. I know how you like to check out the goods.” I made a kissy face in his direction and he grabbed his nuts.

A guy named Justin kicked a ball at my feet. “Come on, Beck. For old time’s sake.”

Aaron glared at Justin and kicked the ball across the pitch with force. “You know he can’t, ass wipe. You don’t need to rub his fucking nose in it.”

I was feeling pretty good. Better than good. Better than I had in a long time. What would it hurt?

I jogged across the grass and dribbled the ball back to my former teammates. “I’ll take you on, fucker.” Justin gave me an uneasy grin and Aaron frowned.

“Dude, that’s not the smartest thing I’ve ever heard you say. It’s definitely up there with just one more tequila shot from between the stripper’s tits.”

“I’m fine, man. Stop being a grandma. I haven’t done anything in months. A quick kick around the pitch won’t kill me.”

At least I hoped not.

Aaron didn’t look convinced but Bryan let out a whoop and thumped me on the back. “All right! Let’s go!”

He took the ball from between my feet and sped off toward the goal. I ran after him. I didn’t go all out the way I would have before, but I was still pushing myself more than I had in a long time.

Soon my face was flushed and my heart was beating in overtime. I caught up with Bryan before he reached the goal and effortlessly took the ball, heading toward the opposite side of the pitch.

Damn, it felt good too. The burn in my calves. The air freezing my face.

I was rusty. I fumbled the ball a few times and Bryan swooped in and took it from me effortlessly.

After a few minutes, when I didn’t keel over, the others joined in and soon we were all playing together the way we used to.