Page 49 of More Than a Spark

“Got that right.” Gabe rubbed his belly and smirked.

“Okay boys, now that we’ve solved Milo’s boyfriend issues, let’s get started on practice.” Caleb’s lips quirked.

* * *

On Wednesday,I strutted across campus with my backpack slung over one shoulder. I was between classes and had an hour to kill before my visual communications class started. With my gaze landing on the campus Starbucks, I made a beeline for it and stepped inside. The cool air conditioning washed down my heated skin. It was still so dang hot outside.

I ordered an iced caramel macchiato and after picking it up at the counter, sank into a little wooden table for two at the window. With a sigh, I gazed around the small coffee shop filled with students working on laptops, some with books open. The vibe in here was always cool, a little modern mixed with retro. I could maybe use something like this as a backdrop for the graphic I wanted to work on for my advances in website design class.

After sipping my drink, I slid my laptop out of my backpack and started it up. I should check my emails and the band Instagram account in case anything new had popped up.

The screen came up and I typed, logging in, then clicked on my emails.

My gaze snagged on one, reading,Job Inquiry at AllAction.

With a hard swallow and my pulse kicking, I clicked on the email and read it.

Hi Milo,

Thank you for your application to our new college grad graphic design position. We’ve taken a look at your portfolio and would like to invite you to our on-campus event on September 15. It will be held in the student center at 3pm. This will be an opportunity for you to meet with some of our staff and learn more about our company. Please let me know if you can make it.

Best Regards,

Lynda McDermott

HR Specialist AllAction

“Holy fucking shit.” I stared at my screen and reread the email a few times more. Okay, so it was an invitation to meet with them, not really a job interview, right? But still, there was no way I’d get lucky enough to be picked for a position with them. And even if I did, could I leave everything behind and move to Seattle? What about Ryder and the band?Fuck, what about Ryder?

I had to at least go to the event. Would Dice Recker show up? No way. I typed my response.

Hi Lynda,

Thank you so much for considering me for the position. I’ll be at the on-campus event. I look forward to meeting with you.

Sincerely,

Milo Richardson

After hitting send on the email, I tugged my phone out of the front pocket of my shorts. I should talk to Ryder. He’d be excited for me. Plus, I’d wanted to know how things went with his dad. Funny, he’d never said anything over the couple of texts we’d sent to each other the last few days. He must be super busy though.

Milo

Hey, call me when you get a chance. I have news.

My phone lit up, Ryder scrolling across the screen. “Damn, that was quick.” With a grin, I answered the call and pressed the phone to my ear. “Hey, babe.”

“Oh my God, I love hearing you call me that.” He let out a low chuckle.

My heart fluttered with warmth. “Good, you on a break or something?”

“I am.” Clanking sounded through the phone. “Stop it, Russ. This is a very important phone call.”

“Who’s Russ?” I drank my cold, sugary coffee. Ryder was already making friends in the fire department. No surprise there.

“Hang on, let me get away from these guys.” The clopping of steps carried through our connection. “Russ is a recruit I’ve been assigned to help out with. The dude’s only nineteen and a little on the cocky side.”

“Oh.” I slowly nodded, then inhaled deeply. Was I making too big a deal out of the on-campus event with AllAction? It probably wouldn’t lead to anything, but?—

---