Page 2 of Lemon Cake

She took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Gemma.”

“Can you sign it?” Dan asked and held out his picture with hopeful eyes.

“Only if you have two so your aunt can have one too.”

He quickly pulled another one out of his bag along with a pen. Rider signed both, leaving his number at the bottom of Gemma’s. He wasn’t sure if that came off cocky or not—he’d never done anything like it—but she intrigued him enough to at least try.

He handed each of them their picture before offering his award-winning smile. “Dan said you used to play ball.”

“Oh, that was ages ago,” she said barely able to hold his gaze.

“Maybe we can meet up one day and you can tell me all about it.”

Dan, oblivious to the conversation happening right in front of him, beamed down at his signed photo, then held his new treasure to his chest. “Thank you.”

“Hopefully we’ll meet again.”

His words were directed more to Gemma, who looked down at her photo with her cheeks darkening again. Not wanting to make this more awkward than it already was, he walked back to join his teammates.

“Are you going to tell us what that was all about?” Braiden asked, waggling his eyebrows.

“She used to play ball. I was curious.”

“And when is the date?”

“Whenever she wants.”

“Ah, the waiting game begins,” Jake chuckled.

“I guess.” And with a shrug he walked off and got into his truck.

Rider

After a week, Rider assumed that he wouldn’t hear from Gemma. He replayed their conversation over and over, wondering how he could’ve done it differently—maybe even less creepy.

He was just getting into his truck when his phone chimed with a message from an unknown number. He opened the text, and his heart dropped to his guts.

Hi,

It’s Gemma. Sorry I didn’t message sooner!

He froze in his position, one foot poised on the truck step as he stared down at his phone. What did normal people say when they texted one another? He was about to google how to talk to a girl when his brain kicked back into gear. It had been far too long since he’d had a proper conversation with anyone—especially a woman.

Hi,

No problem.

How are you?

Good and you?

You really made Dan’s day by signing that picture.

Then a picture came through: The photo he’d signed in a hand-painted, patriotic frame.

He made me frame it.

Love it.

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