Page 5 of Leo and His Love Bunny

I took a lower salary than what I could have made in order to play for the team in Stowe Town, just so I could live in my hometown.

Come to think of it, Nora lives in my apartment building too.

“Leo Lipinski, we’re excited to see you here on our live-action broadcast today. Would you like to say a few words?” Some dude sticks a microphone in my face and mouths, “We’re on the air,” at me. Like I’m stupid and maybe really all I have are biceps.

I want to shove the microphone away, but before I can, he continues to talk. “What do you think about the owner of the bakery having a huge crush on your biceps?”

He says the question like I should be honored. Or my biceps should be honored, or something should be honored.

I want to tell him that I’m not impressed at all, but I don’t want to make Nora’s day any worse. That’s not what I’m about.

Plus, as I look over the heads in front of me toward the counter, I see Nora standing at the cash register, her lip pulled between her teeth, her eyes worried as they watch the broadcaster trying to interview me.

I’m not totally naïve. I know that my presence here could bring her a lot of business. Of course, I’m not sure even my biceps can compete with her cupcake breasts.

Did she do that on purpose?

I hardly think so. Her face is all red, and she looks like she wants to drop through the floor and perhaps land in the middle of a herd of alligators.

Ryan waves his microphone under my nose. I have to think fast. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Nora is onthe verge of getting run out of town by Mrs. Higginbotham, and there’s something inside of me that wants to help her. There is also something that wants her to realize that I’m more than a dumb jock. But still, despite all that, I don’t plan the words that come out of my mouth.

“I say whatever Nora likes about me is A-OK with me. Because I like everything about Nora.”

I don’t think that’s too suggestive. But I can hardly compliment her cupcake breasts. I definitely am not going to compliment the real things. I’m not stupid. But biceps, breasts, what’s the difference? If you’re only being admired for something that isn’t about your personality or character, it doesn’t really make you feel very good. Of course, I spent a lot of time in the weight room building my biceps, but that’s mostly because I want to be in all-round top physical condition for my team.

Ryan looks confused for a minute before he says, “I didn’t know you and Nora were a thing. In fact, the gossip around town has you labeled as a single man. For the last five years. After the big debacle—”

Oh, no. He is going to go there? I don’t have a problem interrupting him. “Yeah. Nora and I are a thing.”

I didn’t mean to say that, but I would say pretty much anything to get him to not talk about the big debacle that happened five years ago. No one wants to hear about that.

Actually, everybody loves hearing about that. That’s about the most exciting thing that happened in Whisker Hollow in forever. And of course, I was front and center, although I didn’t mean to be.

I want to be famous for what I do, not for what I look like. But there you go.

“Well, I don’t know how she feels about you personally, but she sure likes your biceps,” Ryan says. Ryan has shown up atvarious team events for the local radio station and we are casual acquaintances.

Not too many towns have a local radio station anymore. Whisker Hollow is unique in a lot of different ways.

“Yeah. I heard that,” I say, feeling lame. I’m used to standing in front of a microphone, but typically it’s to talk about hockey, which I can do with no problem. Talking about my biceps, and talking about Nora, is a lot different.

“We’ll be seeing more of you two around town, I’m sure. Tell our listening audience what you think of Nora’s cupcake breasts?” Ryan intoned.

I have to think fast for this one. “I think anything Nora makes is delicious. And the town is lucky to have a cupcake shop of this quality. Especially considering how small we are. So I hope everyone can come out and support it so our downtown continues to thrive with locally owned and operated businesses.”

There. I put in the best plug I could for her. I feel like I’ve done my good deed for the day. Except, I really put my foot in my mouth saying that we are a thing. We’re probably going to have to have a talk about that at some point.

I look over his head and see that she’s been watching the entire exchange, with her assistant having taken over the cash register.

She’s boxing cupcakes up and running back and forth from the kitchen to bring more out, but her eyes are glued on me.

I’m glad things are going so well for her. I really do love my town and want to see businesses succeed. In fact, it’s about time for me to hang up my skates, and I’ve been thinking about opening my own business. A 24-hour public gym.

I suppose my biceps are a good advertisement for that.

I should thank her, instead of being a little irritated about it.

But first, I have a speaking and writing career I’m trying to get off the ground. The gym is my backup plan. In case I don’thave the brains to speak and write. Maybe Nora hit on one of my deepest insecurities.

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