Wasted Words by Staci Hart

Kyle ran onto the field through the arches, past the cheerleaders, hands in the air. We all cheered for him, Tracey and Casey bouncing and laughing, and he pointed over at us as he ran past, eliciting squeals from the girls, even Cam.

We sat back down when the excitement had passed, and before long, it was kickoff.

Cam and I talked strategy most of the game, with interludes for joking and laughing and drinking. I took every opportunity to kiss her that I could, my hands always finding her, touching her whenever and however I could — fingertips, arms, legs, anything. I didn’t want to be separated from her. Like during halftime when she leaned on my bicep and I couldn’t do anything until I’d placed a soft kiss on her lips, or when the Giants scored and we all hopped out of our seats and I scooped her into my arms. Or once, just in a quiet moment when she peered at me with her lips in a sweet smile — a smile that told me more than words could — and I took her tiny chin in my hand and kissed her.

I felt like a teenager again, pumped full of infatuation and bliss and longing for her. In part, I think it was the understanding that we wouldn’t have sex, not yet. The kiss was a connection to her that anticipated the rest, promised her more. As much as I wanted to sleep with her, I was enjoying the wait.

By the third quarter, the twins were tanked: they went from adorable to slurring so quickly, I almost got whiplash. Cam tried a few times to intervene, first by buying them each a gigantic water that probably cost twenty bucks, then by trying to distract them when the beer guy came back around — and he kept coming back around, either because they were pretty or because they were throwing money at him or both.

Casey was the first one out. She sat down, and the next time I looked over, she was slumped over in her chair with her hat pulled down low, chest rising and falling slowly. Tracey didn’t seem to notice or care, just stood next to Cam, hanging on to her, slurring and talking and telling Cam how cute she was. She even kissed Cam on the lips once, and took about a hundred selfies with her. And Cam endured it all like a champ, entertaining the drunk girl through the end of the game.

The Giants won, and it was a good game, though I tried not to be salty about the fact that I hadn’t been able to talk to Cam as much as I would have liked, since she had her hands full with the twins.

The stadium emptied out, but we stayed put. We settled in, killing time before we’d meet Kyle — showers and talking to the press were top of the list for him. Tracey was still talking Cam’s ear off, until she announced, loudly, “I have to pee. Come with me to pee, Cam.”

“All right,” she said as she stood, but when Tracey stood, she teetered and almost fell over. She grabbed Cam around the shoulders.

“Whoa,” she said.

Cam shot me an alarmed look as she buckled under the taller girl’s weight.

“Hold up, there,” I said, moving to Tracey’s other side. She grabbed my arm gratefully.

“Thanks,” Tracy said, grinning. “You’re sweet. He’s sweet, Cam.”

Her ankles were like rubber when we tried to walk, and she wobbled, putting all her weight on Cam, who looked worried.

“I don’t think I can get her there alone, Tyler.”

I nodded and took a little more of Tracey’s weight. “No worries. I can take her.”

Tracey pouted. “Cam, come have girl time in the bathroom with me. Don’t make me go alone.”

I pictured her passing out on the can and agreed. “You should probably come with us.”

“What about Casey?” Cam asked.

Tracey made a chuffing sound. “She’s fine. She always passes out. I swear, I can’t take her anywhere.”

“Think she’s okay by herself here?” Cam asked, seeming unsure.

I glanced around the stadium, which had mostly cleared out. A man and his wife sat across the aisle.

“Excuse me,” I said to them, “Do you think you could keep an eye on our friend while we help this one to the restroom?”

They nodded, smiling.

“Thanks,” I said, relieved. “All right, let’s go.”

“Thanks, guys,” she cooed. “You’re the best, you know that?”

Cam chuckled. “I mean, we try.”

We climbed the stairs without anyone dying or breaking an ankle, and once we got Tracey to the bathroom, Cam helped her in. I heard their voices echoing in the empty bathroom.

“Don’t leave me, Cam.”

“I’m right here, Tracey.”

“You’re so pretty.”

“So are you. You have the prettiest hair I’ve ever seen,” Cam said, and I could hear her smiling.

“Nuh-uh. Your skin is amazing.”

The toilet flushed.

“Promise you’ll friend me on Facebook, Cam. We need to be friends on Facebook.”

Cam laughed. “We already are. You friended me earlier, remember?”

“Oh, my God. Duh. I’m so glad we’re friends.”

“Me too. Come here, let’s wash your hands. Oh, your lipstick is a little out of whack. Let me fix it up for you.”

“I want to put you in my pocket and carry you around with me. You’re like the best taker-carer of people in the world.”

I laughed to myself, leaning on the wall outside the bathroom. When they reappeared, Tracey grabbed my arm and hung her weight on me.

Her eyes were glassy, and she smiled lazily. “You’re so tall. And strong.”

“Thanks,” I said, amused.

We made our way back to our seats, but as we descended the stairs, I scanned the empty rows, looking for Casey or the couple we’d asked to watch her.