MaggieRise and shine, biotch!
MaggieI won yesterday’s bet, so now you have to do three dares of my choosing.
MaggieMeet me in the campus lounge in ten minutes for your first one.
PennyUgh, not today, Mags.
PennyI have a math test in an hour.
MaggieRules are rules: the winner gets to call it in whenever she wants.
MaggieJust WAIT until you hear what I’ve come up with this time 😈
PennyIf you make me moon the janitor again, I’m going to murder you 🔪 😡
Maggie😂😂
MaggieGirl please, that was child’s play.
MaggieThis is MUCH better than that.
I groan loudly as I read her words.
Our little game has been going on since freshman year…
And we’re both too competitive for our own good.
That’s why ten minutes later, I’m in the campus lounge ready for my first dare.
I grab Maggie’s arm, speaking to her urgently.
PennyJust make this fast.
MaggieMy pleasure.
She grins evilly and shoves something cold in my hand.
PennyA milkshake?
MaggieChocolate, your favorite.
MaggieFigured you’d want to drink it after.
Penny…After what?
She points across the lounge.
MaggieSee the baseball team over there?
MaggieSitting around the big circle table?
She takes a second to wave to their catcher, Steve.
PennyUh…yeah, they’re kinda hard to miss.
MaggieWell, in a second, you will be too!
She smiles gleefully.
MaggieI want you to take that milkshake…
MaggieStand on top of their table…
MaggieAnd sing the milkshake song.
I’m silent as her words sink into my brain.
Then my face explodes with heat.
PennyABSOLUTELY NOT!
PennyEthan is over there!
MaggieAnd you’re finally going to get his attention!
MaggieYou have to do it for at least ten seconds!
PennyAre you serious?!
MaggieDead serious.
MaggieAnd I’ll be really disappointed if you don’t do it…
MaggieYou haven’t backed down from a dare in years.
Dang it — she’s right.
I’d hate to lose my streak over a measly ten seconds.
I glare into my best friend’s eyes.
PennyI hate you.
Maggie laughs and air-kisses me over the frozen treat.
I can’t help but smile back.
MaggieSee? You could never hate me.
MaggieGood luck!
MaggieAnd don’t fall!
She shoves me in the direction of the team…
And I know I have to just get this over with.
My pulse is already racing…
This is going to be humiliating.
I try to give myself a pep talk:
PennyAt best, they laugh at me.
PennyAt worst, they stare at me like I’m insane.
As I approach their table, I can’t help but think that I AM crazy.
Strong, handsome athletes, all hot as sin, sit before me.
A few turn to face me with puzzled expressions.
No doubt they’re wondering what I’m doing just standing here.
Well, they’re about to find out…
Quickly, I climb onto the table.
I can sense their confusion.
I don’t waste time.
Holding my beverage high in the air, I sing:
PennyMYYYY MILKSHAKE BRINGS ALL THE BOYS TO THE YARD!
PennyAND THEY’RE LIKE, IT’S BETTER THAN YOURS!
I attempt a sexy hip roll.
I hear laughter.
A few chairs scrape back, but I keep going:
PennyLa la-la la la!
PennyWARM IT UP!
There’s clapping now.
I hear hoots and hollers.
I wave the milkshake around, getting ready for my finale…
But it slips out of my hand.
PennyOOPS!
I gasp and whirl around.
I’m met with a pair of shocked blue eyes.
The rest of his face is covered in milkshake.
NO.
Please god, no.
Ethan Frost.
The quiet and broody boy that I’ve been pining after for two years.
He licks his chocolate-covered lips and gets up from the table.
I jump down and follow after him.
PennyI am SO sorry.
EthanS’okay.
PennyNo, it’s really not.
I hurry to keep up with his long strides.
PennyThat happened because I lost a bet, and uh…
PennyMy dare was to do that dance back there.
PennyI kinda got into it and lost hold of the milkshake.
Ethan keeps walking.
PennyWell, obviously you already know that.
He finally spins to face me.
EthanWhat are you doing in here?
I look around and realize I’ve followed him into the men’s locker room.
PennyOops, I didn’t even notice.
PennyBut since I’m here…
I grab a handful of paper towels.
PennyLet me at least help you.
He raises a brow and watches me attempt to mop his uniform.
PennyI hope I didn’t ruin it.
My heart is racing.
I’ve been wanting Ethan to notice me for so long.
I bend down to get the milkshake off his pants…
And I end up wiping over his crotch.
PennyOOPS!
PennySorry.
I scream inside my head.
EthanThat was your third “oops” of the day.
PennyI know.
PennyAnd trust me when I say I am mortified.
PennyI’ve been wanting to meet you for so long—
I stop myself from word vomiting just in time.
EthanWhat was that?
PennyNothing.
PennyI mean, I admire you.
Uh oh…
PennyYour work on the field I mean.
PennyThe way you run around in that uniform…
PennyYou’re hot.
OH MY GOD.
PennyI mean, your pitching is hot.
PennyNot your body.
PennyI mean, your body is hot too.
I trail off…
So much for stopping the word vomit.
PennyOops.
His eyes are wide with shock as he looks down at me.
PennyWell, I’m going to go scream into a pillow now.
PennyBut I insist on getting this dry-cleaned.
PennyTake off your clothes.
I’m met with silence again…
And when I realize what I just said…
I put my head in my hands and groan.
EthanYou don’t have to do that.
PennyNo, please. I insist.
PennyLet me do this for you.
I look up into his blue eyes.
He contemplates for a moment, then nods his head.
EthanOkay, let me just change real quick.
As he walks off…
I curse Maggie to the moon and back.
This was the stupidest dare ever!
And now it totally ruined my chance with Ethan.
Not that I ever even had one to begin with.
He’s cool and calm and perfect, and I’m a word-vomiting mess.
He eventually comes back dressed in a plain tee and basketball shorts…
His uniform balled up in his hands.
EthanI have a game tomorrow at nine.
I check my phone for the time.
With my math test, I’ll be cutting it close…
But I think I’ll have enough time.
PennyI’ll have this back to you by tonight, don’t worry.
PennyWhere will you be?
EthanAt the baseball house.
I nod, then back away slowly…
His uniform cradled against my chest.
He doesn’t say anything…
But it looks like he wants to.
Just as he goes to open his mouth, I interrupt him.
I need to get out of here before I say anything else to embarrass myself.
PennyOkay, well goodbye for now, Ethan Frost.
I open the locker room door and run for my life.
I’m going to get this uniform cleaned and back to him in time for his game tomorrow…
If it’s the last thing I ever do.
Later
Maggie and I arrive at the dry cleaners a minute too late.
The woman inside is just flipping the closed sign…
And my stomach drops.
PennyNo, no, no, no!
I run up and put a hand on the glass.
The woman gives me an annoyed look…
And points to the sign.
PennyPLEASE!
PennyI have to get this uniform cleaned!
PennyIt’s a life or death situation!
Maggie chuckles behind me, but I ignore her.
The woman points to the sign again.
PennyUGH!
I can’t give up.
Ethan probably already thinks I’m a total loser…
And if I don’t get his uniform to him on time, he’ll definitely hate me.
PennyI’ll pay double!
The woman turns to walk away…
And I slam on the glass.
PennyTRIPLE!
PennyWith a nice tip if you have it in an hour.
That stops her short.
She looks at her watch, sighs…
Then turns around and flips the lock.
PennyTHANK YOU SO MUCH!
The woman rolls her eyes…
Snatches the dirty uniform from my hands…
Then closes the door in my face.
I let out a sigh of relief…
And sit on the curb next to Maggie.
PennyToday was a disaster.
MaggieWhat?!
MaggieTODAY. WAS. EPIC.
MaggieOne of my best dares yet.
PennyAre you kidding?!
PennyI totally embarrassed myself!
PennyYou know I’ve had a crush on Ethan FOREVER!
Maggie continues as if she didn’t hear me.
MaggieYou should have seen his face when you were dancing!
MaggieHe couldn’t take his eyes off you.
PennyEven if that’s true…
PennyI ruined it with my word vomit.
PennyI don’t know how I’m going to face him again.
MaggieYou have to!
MaggieThe baseball team is throwing a party tonight.
MaggieAnd we’re going.
PennyAbsolutely not.
Maggie tries hard to convince me…
But I remain steadfast.
I’m going to drop the uniform off to him and get the heck out of there.
An hour later
Maggie ditched me to go get ready for the party later tonight, so…
I’m sitting alone on the curb when the door to the dry cleaners opens and the woman steps out…
Ethan’s uniform cleaned and pressed in her hand.
PennyThank god!
I pay her what I said I would, then head straight to my car.
15 minutes later
I’m walking up the steps to the baseball house…
Ethan’s uniform in hand.
I knock on the door…
And Steve opens it almost right away.
His face lights up with a grin when he sees me.
SteveIt’s Milkshake Girl!
To my mortification…
He turns to yell over his shoulder:
SteveHey guys! Milkshake Girl is here!
I groan and step inside.
Hoots and hollers ring out…
I somehow endure it…
But I can feel my face turning bright red.
PennyIs Ethan here?
SteveHe’s out back.
SteveLet me go grab him.
PennyNo, no! That’s okay.
PennyI can just leave this in his room.
Steve smiles as if he knows something I don’t.
SteveI think he’d want to know you’re here…
Steve is definitely mistaken.
There’s no way Ethan wants to see the “Milkshake Girl” who nearly ruined his uniform…
Then basically confessed her undying love for him.
PennyI’d rather just leave it.
SteveOkay…
Steve jerks his head to the hallway.
SteveHis room is the first door on the left.
PennyThanks.
I hustle over to the hallway…
Thankful I may be able to get out of here without facing Ethan.
I open the door to his room and step inside…
Unable to stop myself from breathing deep.
Ugh, it smells so good in here — like him.
I place the uniform on his bed…
Then decide it wouldn’t hurt to take a quick peek around.
What’s the harm, right?
I’ve been dreaming about being in his room forever…
And I can’t pass up the chance now.
His things are incredibly tidy.
The total opposite to my disaster area of a room.
His bed is neatly made.
His clothes are color-coded…
And there’s a shelf of trophies by the door organized by size.
Sheesh, I’m lucky if I can find a matching pair of socks in the morning.
I run a finger over his dust-free dresser.
PennyUgh, Ethan…
PennyWe are so wrong for each other.
EthanWhat was that?
I gasp and spin on my heels.
Ethan is in the doorway…
Eyeing me warily.
PennyOh! Sorry.
PennyI wasn’t snooping or anything.
PennyI mean, I was but—
He quirks a brow…
And I let out a defeated sigh.
PennySorry.
PennyPeople tell me I talk too much.
PennyAnd they’re right.
He walks in, looking a bit exasperated.
He definitely hates me.
PennyYour uniform is all set.
EthanThank you.
PennyPlease don’t thank me.
PennyThis was all my fault.
Ethan is looking anywhere but at me.
He goes to speak…
But I interrupt him.
PennyI’ll just be going now.
I start backing toward the door.
PennyUntil next time Ethan Fro—
I wave my hand out…
And send a line of his trophies crashing to the floor.
The sound makes us both jump.
I startle so much…
I stumble backward into his laundry hamper…
Knocking it over and spilling all his dirty clothes on the floor.
PennyOh my god! I’m so sorry!
PennyI’ll clean this up!
I quickly pick up the first thing I see and—
EthanOh um, you don’t have to touch those!
I look and see that I’m holding a pair of his underwear.
PennyCrap! Sorry!
PennyHere!
Instead of putting the underwear back into his hamper like a normal person…
I panic and throw them at his head.
They hit him square in the face.
PennyOh my god!
PennySorry!
For a few seconds, I’m unable to say anything.
I don’t know whose face is more red…
His or mine.
PennyOops.
EthanDon’t worry about it.
Ethan bends down and starts picking up his clothes and the trophies.
PennyI am SO sorry.
PennyI’m a natural klutz.
I bend down to help.
PennyI hope nothing’s broken.
PennyI can pay for it if it is.
Ethan chuckles softly…
Then meets my gaze.
I notice his cheeks are still flushed.
And ugh, his eyes are such a perfect blue.
EthanI don’t think I can get another one of these.
He holds up a trophy from high school, and I groan.
The top half is chipped and cracked.
PennyEthan, I don’t know what to say.
PennyI’m so sorry!
Leave it to me to damage priceless possessions!
EthanIt’s okay.
PennyAnd your room was so nice and organized, too.
PennyIf you saw my room, you’d have a heart attack.
PennyIt’s a mess.
I lean in to pick up another trophy…
He goes for it at the same time…
And we bump heads.
Ethan groans and touches his forehead.
I close my eyes…
Praying for a hole I can sink into and never come out of.
PennyKind of like me.
Feeling like the world’s biggest schmuck…
I stand and head for the door.
I give Ethan — who is still holding his forehead—
One final, apologetic look…
Then run out of his room and into the hall.
Wanting to avoid everyone in the living room…
I try to sneak past…
But a familiar laugh grabs my attention.
I stop short, and peer behind me…
And sure enough…
Maggie is in the living room whispering with Steve.
When she spots me…
Her eyes light up.
MaggieParty is starting soon!
MaggieLet me grab you a drink!
I roll my eyes and walk over to her.
I grab her arm and pull her into the hallway.
PennyI told you I’m not staying!
PennyYou have no idea what just hap—
I hear a door open…
And I see Ethan step into the hallway.
PennyMaggie, I have to go.
PennyEnjoy the party but—
MaggieOh no sweetie, you’re not going anywhere.
MaggieBecause I’ve got two dares left.
PennyYou wouldn’t do that to me.
She smirks.
MaggieOh, I would.
MaggiePenny, I dare you to stay.
I groan, then smack her shoulder lightly.
PennySome best friend you are!
PennyFine, I’ll stay.
PennyBut I’m hiding in a corner.
MaggieOh no you’re not.
MaggieYou’re first up for Seven Minutes in Heaven.