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The thing about loving Conrad Fisher was that Belly never really got used to it.
Not fully.
There were still moments — random, ordinary moments — where it hit her all over again. Like when he called her just to tell her about a sunset he saw walking back from class because “it looked like Cousins.” Or when he remembered tiny things she’d mentioned months ago without even trying. Or when he looked at her sometimes, quietly and intensely, like he was memorizing her face.
It still startled her sometimes, how much he loved her.
And maybe even more shocking was the fact that nothing had ruined it yet. No heartbreak. No almosts. No losing each other. Just Belly and Conrad. Together.
Easy.
Well — easy for them. Everyone else still acted like their relationship was some kind of miracle.
“Are you listening to me?”
Taylor’s voice cut through Belly’s thoughts as she slammed her locker shut.
“Hm?”
Taylor narrowed her eyes immediately. “You weren’t listening.”
“I was.”
“What did I just say?”
Belly adjusted the strap of her volleyball bag onto her shoulder, trying to look convincing. “Something incredibly insightful and beautiful.”
Taylor scoffed. “I said Jenna Peters keeps staring at you because she thinks your boyfriend is hot.”
Belly nearly choked. “Taylor!”
“What? It’s true.”
“She’s never even met Conrad.”
“She’s seen pictures.”
Unfortunately, that was enough.
Belly tried not to smile as they started down the hallway together, weaving through students rushing toward late-afternoon practices and buses. Outside the windows, rain clouds stretched across the sky in soft gray streaks.
The game mattered tonight.
Not because Belly didn’t trust herself — she did, mostly — but because everyone else suddenly seemed to care too. Her coach had spent the entire week talking about scouts and rankings and opportunities like Belly’s entire future depended on one volleyball game.
She hated that feeling.
Her phone vibrated in the pocket of her hoodie.
Immediately, instinctively, her heart reacted before her brain did.
Conrad.
Just his name lighting up her screen made something inside her soften.
Conrad: how’s my favorite volleyball star?
Belly smiled despite herself.
Belly: stressed
The typing bubble appeared almost instantly.
Conrad: impossible. you’re scary good.
She leaned against the wall outside the gym while Taylor continued talking beside her about homecoming decorations or spirit week or something Belly definitely wasn’t listening to anymore.
Belly: you’ve literally never seen me play a real game
Conrad: i’ve seen enough
That stupid ache bloomed in her chest again.
It happened constantly with him.
Conrad never flirted in a way that felt casual. Everything he said sounded honest enough to keep forever.
Taylor watched Belly carefully from beside her. “There it is.”
Belly glanced up. “What?”
“That look.”
“What look?”
“The Conrad look.”
“I do not have a Conrad look.”
Taylor gave her a long stare. “Belly. You literally smile at your phone like a suburban mom.”
Belly shoved her shoulder. “Shut up.”
Her phone buzzed again.
Conrad: good luck tonight, bells.
The smile on Belly’s face faded just slightly.
Because suddenly the reality of him not being there settled heavily in her stomach again.
Brown was almost two hours away. He had classes. Labs. Football workouts with intramural friends half the time because apparently Conrad Fisher still missed playing sports even after quitting competitive football.
Adult things.
She understood that.
She did.
Still…
Belly: thanks. i’ll miss you though
This time his response took longer.
Long enough for Belly to glance down the hallway absentmindedly.
Long enough for Steven to appear carrying two Gatorades and looking suspiciously out of breath.
“There you are,” he said.
Belly frowned immediately. “Why are you acting weird?”
“I’m literally standing.”
“You look guilty.”
“I always look guilty.”
Honestly, fair.
Steven handed Taylor one of the Gatorades before looking at Belly with an expression that almost looked like he wanted to say something. Then he stopped himself.
“You’ll do great tonight,” he said instead.
Belly narrowed her eyes slowly.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You guys are being weird today.”
Taylor nearly snorted.
Steven looked at the ceiling like he was asking God for patience.
Before Belly could question either of them further, her phone buzzed again.
Conrad: i’ll make it up to you this weekend
A tiny flicker of disappointment curled in her chest.
Not because she was mad.
Just because she always wanted him there.
Which was pathetic, probably.
Taylor’s expression softened briefly as she watched Belly stare at the text. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” Belly answered quickly. “Obviously.”
And she meant it. Mostly.
Because even when Conrad couldn’t be there, he still tried harder than anyone else ever had.
That mattered.
It mattered a lot.
—
By the time Belly arrived at the gym, Laurel was already there sitting halfway up the bleachers with a coffee in one hand and her laptop bag beside her.
Belly smiled immediately.
“You made it early?”
Laurel looked up from her phone and smiled softly. “Mothers occasionally support their children.”
“Wow. Emotional growth.”
Laurel rolled her eyes affectionately. “Go warm up before your coach yells at me personally.”
Belly laughed, leaning down quickly to hug her before jogging toward the court.
As she passed the bleachers, Laurel caught Taylor’s eye.
Taylor immediately looked guilty.
Laurel narrowed her eyes slightly. “You’re all being suspicious.”
Taylor pressed her lips together. “I genuinely don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Steven appeared beside them seconds later carrying popcorn.
“You’re both terrible liars,” Laurel informed them calmly.
Steven nearly dropped the popcorn.
—
The gym was loud by the time warmups started.
Music echoed off the walls while students crowded into the bleachers in waves of noise and school colors. Belly normally liked the energy of game nights. Today it just made her feel jittery.
She bounced the volleyball hard against the polished floor, trying to shake the nervous energy out of her arms.
Focus.
Just focus.
But every few minutes her eyes drifted toward the entrance doors anyway.
Out of habit more than hope.
Which was ridiculous.
Conrad wasn’t coming.
She knew that.
“Belly!”
Coach Martinez pointed sharply toward the court. “Earth to captain.”
“Sorry!”
Taylor jogged beside her during drills, bumping their shoulders together lightly. “You’re in your head.”
“I know.”
“You need to relax.”
“That’s easy for you to say.”
Taylor smirked. “Actually no. I’m stressed too. I just look hotter doing it.”
Belly laughed despite herself.
Across the gym, students continued pouring into the stands. Parents. Friends. Teachers.
Then suddenly Taylor went very still beside her.
Not dramatic still.
Actually still.
Belly frowned immediately. “What?”
Taylor grabbed another volleyball too quickly. “Nothing.”
“That was definitely not nothing.”
“Focus on your game.”
Now Belly was suspicious.
Very suspicious.
Her gaze flickered toward the entrance automatically.
People moved in and out constantly beneath the fluorescent lights.
No Conrad.
Obviously.
Still, something weird tugged at her chest anyway.
Like anticipation.
Like standing at the top of a rollercoaster right before the drop.
On the opposite side of the gym, Steven had just appeared in the bleachers beside Laurel.
And for some reason, both of them looked way too pleased with themselves.
Belly narrowed her eyes.
Steven immediately looked away.
Laurel tried to hide a smile behind her coffee cup.
“Oh my God,” Belly whispered.
Taylor coughed to hide a laugh.
“You all suck at acting.”
“We literally haven’t done anything,” Taylor said innocently.
“You’re smiling.”
“I’m a happy person.”
“You’re evil.”
“Also true.”
Coach Martinez blew the whistle again.
The game was starting.
Belly inhaled slowly and forced herself to focus as the team gathered near the bench for final instructions. The gym lights felt too bright overhead. Her pulse thudded hard in her ears.
Then, without meaning to, her eyes lifted one last time toward the entrance.
And this time—
Her breath caught.
Because standing just inside the gym doors, slightly damp from the rain outside and scanning the crowd like he was looking for someone, was Conrad.
For one suspended second, Belly genuinely thought she imagined him.
Dark curls slightly messy. Navy sweatshirt pushed up at the sleeves. Backpack hanging loosely from one shoulder.
And then his eyes found hers.
Instantly.
Like they always did.
Everything inside Belly stopped working at once.
Taylor looked down immediately to hide the massive smile threatening to expose everything.
Steven physically covered his face with one hand.
Even Laurel looked unbearably pleased with herself.
Conrad’s expression softened the second he saw Belly.
Not a huge smile.
Not dramatic.
Just that quiet Conrad look that always felt more intimate somehow.
Like relief.
Like there you are.
Belly stared at him from across the gym, completely frozen.
Her heart was beating so hard now it almost hurt.
He came.
He actually came.
Taylor leaned closer beside her, grinning. “Okay, now you can freak out.”
“You knew?” Belly whispered.
“All of us knew,” Steven called from the bleachers proudly.
Laurel lifted her coffee calmly. “I helped coordinate the timing.”
Belly looked personally betrayed.
“You’re my mother!”
“Yes,” Laurel agreed. “And I wanted you to be happy.”
Across the gym, Conrad finally smiled wider when he realized Belly still hadn’t moved.
Then, very subtly, he lifted one shoulder in a tiny shrug.
As if to say, well?
That snapped Belly out of it.
Without thinking, she started toward him immediately.
“Belly!” Coach Martinez shouted.
The entire team turned.
Belly froze.
Coach crossed her arms. “Unless your boyfriend plans on subbing in for varsity volleyball, get back over here.”
The gym erupted into laughter.
Belly covered her face with both hands while Conrad ducked his head, laughing quietly to himself near the entrance.
Red-faced, Belly backed toward the court again, trying — and failing — not to smile like an idiot.
Unfortunately, half the gym had noticed Conrad now.
“Oh my God,” one of Belly’s teammates whispered. “That’s Conrad Fisher?”
Belly grabbed a volleyball before she could throw it at someone.
“Relax,” she muttered.
Another girl blinked rapidly. “Your boyfriend looks like he belongs in a Ralph Lauren ad.”
Taylor sighed dramatically. “Thank you. I’ve been saying this.”
Meanwhile, Belly could physically feel Conrad watching her from the bleachers.
And somehow that made everything worse.
Or better.
Definitely worse.
Probably better.
The game started fast.
The first set stayed close enough to keep Belly’s nerves alive, but every time she looked toward the bleachers, Conrad was there.
Watching her.
Completely focused.
Like nothing else in the gym mattered more.
Midway through the second set, Belly scored on a hard cross-court kill that sent the crowd exploding into cheers.
Instinctively, her eyes darted toward the bleachers.
Conrad was already standing.
Clapping harder than anyone.
The proud look on his face hit her so hard she almost missed the next serve entirely.
Taylor noticed immediately.
“Oh my God,” she groaned beside her. “You two are disgusting.”
Belly shoved her lightly, laughing breathlessly.
“You’re smiling during the game,” Taylor accused.
“Shut up.”
“No seriously. It’s horrifying.”
By the third set, Belly was unstoppable.
Every serve landed exactly where she wanted it. Every hit felt clean. Adrenaline buzzed through her veins while the crowd grew louder and louder around them.
And every single time she glanced toward Conrad, he looked at her like she hung the moon.
By the final point, the gym exploded.
Belly’s team had won.
The whistle shrieked overhead as her teammates screamed and tackled each other into chaotic hugs near center court.
Belly was laughing so hard she could barely breathe when Taylor grabbed both sides of her face dramatically.
“Your boyfriend is good luck,” she announced.
Belly laughed. “That’s not how sports work.”
“Counterpoint: yes it is.”
Across the gym, students slowly started filtering out, but Conrad stayed exactly where he was near the bleachers, waiting patiently while Belly celebrated with her team.
And somehow that got her more than anything else.
He never rushed her.
Never made her choose between him and everything else she loved.
The second Coach dismissed them, Belly immediately looked toward him again.
Conrad stood the moment she did.
And then Belly was moving before she could stop herself.
She practically collided into him near the bottom of the bleachers, still flushed from the game and breathing hard.
“You came,” she said again, like she still couldn’t fully believe it.
Conrad smiled softly down at her. “Yeah, Bells. I came.”
“You lied to me.”
“I know.”
“I was sad all day!”
His expression immediately turned guilty. “Okay, that part wasn’t ideal.”
Belly tried to stay annoyed for maybe two more seconds before failing completely.
Conrad reached up automatically, tucking a damp strand of hair behind her ear.
“You were incredible,” he said quietly.
The sincerity in his voice made her stomach flip.
“You really watched the whole thing?”
“Obviously.”
“You drove all the way here just for my game.”
“Well,” Conrad said lightly, “you act like I missed every one of your games growing up and I’m trying to fix my reputation.”
Belly laughed immediately.
“Also,” he added quietly, “I wanted to be here.”
That got her.
Completely.
Behind them, Taylor walked over with several teammates trailing after her.
Every single one of them immediately stared at Conrad.
Not subtly either.
Conrad noticed instantly and straightened slightly, suddenly looking awkward in the way he always did around new people.
Which, unfortunately for Belly, only made him more attractive.
Taylor clapped her hands together dramatically. “Okay! Formal introductions.”
Belly groaned.
“Guys, this is Conrad,” Taylor announced. “Conrad, these are the girls who listen to Belly talk about you constantly.”
Belly’s jaw dropped. “Taylor!”
“What? You do.”
One of Belly’s teammates blinked at Conrad for a full second before speaking. “I’m sorry, you’re like… real?”
Conrad looked genuinely confused. “I think so?”
The entire group burst into laughter.
Another teammate leaned toward Belly. “I get it now.”
“What does that mean?”
“I get why you’re insane about him.”
Conrad choked on absolutely nothing while Belly nearly died on the spot.
“Okay!” Belly grabbed her bag aggressively. “Everyone leave.”
Conrad reached over automatically. “I got it.”
Before she could protest, he had already picked up her volleyball bag along with her backpack like it weighed nothing.
Several girls visibly melted.
Taylor whispered loudly, “Oh, he carries her stuff too? Belly won at life.”
“I hate all of you,” Belly informed them.
“You love us,” Taylor corrected.
As the team slowly headed toward the parking lot, Belly fell naturally into step beside Conrad while he carried all her things over one shoulder.
Rain tapped softly against the windows near the gym entrance. Outside, the pavement reflected gold from the overhead lights.
Laurel caught up beside them near the doors.
“You skipped class for this?” she asked Conrad knowingly.
Conrad looked mildly embarrassed. “Maybe.”
Laurel smiled softly. “Good choice.”
Belly looked between them suspiciously. “How long has everyone been conspiring against me?”
“Since Tuesday,” Steven answered proudly from behind them.
“You’re all insane.”
Conrad glanced down at her then, smiling quietly.
“Worth it though.”
And the worst part was—
It absolutely was.