Page 35 of Full Coverage (Boys of Fall)

“Exactly,” Teresa said. “Though how any of the girls who’ve spent their lives here think they can compete with New York City and San Antonio is laughable.”

“It really is,” Monica agreed.

“You ready to go?”

Randi watched numbly as her mother slid into the booth across from her.

Did Nolan want to show off his success because she hadn’t paid attention to him romantically in high school? Was that really what this was about? But it couldn’t be. If they’d stuck to tequila sex and he’d hit the road, maybe. But he’d stayed. He’d made love to her. He looked at her like she really might be the answer to everything he wanted.

He couldn’t be faking that, could he?

“Randi?”

She shook herself and focused on her mother. “Yeah?”

“You ready to go?” Katie repeated.

Yeah, she felt like she might throw up her breakfast already. She couldn’t stomach any more of Teresa Winters’ conversation.

Randi slid from the booth and took a breath. She was going to have to walk by Teresa’s table to get to the door. She could only pray that Teresa didn’t know she was the one going to the party with Nolan. Otherwise, this could be very awkward when Teresa realized who was sitting right behind her.

Randi turned and smiled, first at Monica, then at Teresa. “Good morning,” she greeted.

“Good morning, Miranda,” Monica said.

“Hello,” Teresa returned.

And Randi felt her smile die. She saw it in the other woman’s face. Not only did she know Nolan had invited Randi to New York—but she’d known Randi was behind her for the whole conversation.

“Come on, sweetie. I’m about to fall asleep standing here,” Katie said, nudging Randi toward the door. “Hi, ladies,” she greeted the women.

Monica and Teresa smiled at her as if they hadn’t just stomped on Randi’s heart.

In front of the diner, Katie and Randi hugged. “Talk to you soon,” Katie said. “Love you.”

“Love you too.”

Randi headed off across the square toward the shop, her thoughts spinning. Was Teresa right? Was Nolan just wanting to show off with the New York trip?

And if so, so what? Hehadgone on and made something of himself. She was already impressed, but if he wanted to really hammer home the point, she’d take the free trip to New York and ooh and aah over the bright lights, big city and the big important author who’d brought her. What did she care if there was a sliver of revenge to the whole thing? A dash of “look what you passed up”. A hint of “you should have been nicer to me in high school”.

But that was what tripped her up. She’d been nice to Nolan in high school. Always. There was no bad blood between them. He’d never asked her out, she’d never turned him down, they’d never fooled around, no one’s heart had been broken.

No, he wasn’t taking her to New York to rub in what could have been.

But it did leave the question—whywashe taking her to New York? If he needed a date, there had to be a dozen other women he could have asked who would have been better choices, who knew how to dress and handle themselves at a big, fancy party.

If he’d done it to get her naked, he could now save a bunch of money on that plane ticket.

Chapter Five

Something was up with Randi.

Nolan watched as she rolled underneath the car she was working on until only her legs were showing.

“We were approaching halftime. We were up, but only by three, and were only to midfield on fourth down with inches to go. Coach had to make a decision. He could punt. That would have been the safe thing. We had the lead, we had the best kicker in the state and with only a minute to go, it would be hard for the Tigers to score once Wade put the ball on the opposite end of the field.”

Nolan nodded. He should be taking notes, but he couldn’t pull his gaze from the strip of bare skin that showed as she lifted her arms over her head and her shirt pulled up. “But he didn’t punt.”

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