Page 14 of The Perfect Catch

I stuck a hand in my jeans pocket, giving her a one-shoulder shrug. “I could help you with it if you want. Math comes pretty easily to me.”

She turned her head, unable to hide the surprise from her expression. “Really?”

“Yes, really. I know, everyone thinks I’m a screw-up, but I do have some redeeming qualities,” I said, trying to give her a smoldering look but failing.

“I never said you didn’t,” she said, grinning up at me. The way she hadn’t hesitated to say it caused tingles to travel up my spine.

We worked for several minutes before the posters were ready to be hung. As we left Ms. Shiels’s room, I could smell a scent of vanilla coming from Kate and leaned a bit closer, hoping to catch another whiff. There was something about this girl that went against everything I’d ever learned about the popular girls. She wasn’t into appearance as much as I’d always expected, given the fact that she’d asked me to the dance. And she didn’t seem to have many troubles. Then again, that was just me on the outside looking in.

I liked this girl—had a crush on her since before our mystery kiss. I just had to keep my guard up. With my luck, I’d be the one to end up with a broken heart.

Chapter 10

Kate

Iheld out another long piece of tape, and Dax took it from me, our fingers touching for a second in the transition. His eyes locked onto mine, and for several seconds, I was buzzing with energy.

“Are you serious about helping me with math?” I asked to break the connection between us. I was beginning to feel things for Dax that I didn’t have time for. So much of my life felt scripted that a hint of excitement ran through me at the thought that he would be spending more time with me if he helped me out.

“Of course. I just have to find a time. I work a lot when baseball isn’t going on.”

I tilted my head to the side and debated whether or not to ask him about it. “Where do you work?” It was a safe enough question.

“McGreevy’s Garage. I’ve been working there since I was fifteen.” He stepped down off the small ladder and picked it up, moving it to the other side of the paper we were hanging.

I was impressed. It wasn’t something I’d figured a guy like him would have done, especially since he was so arrogant in bigger crowds. But glancing at his fingers, I could see a hint of black grease in his cuticles.

Before I could stop myself, my mouth kept asking questions, this one what I’d really wanted to ask since he’d come into the studio with his sister.

“How come your mom didn’t come with your sister?”

From the look of pain slicing through his expression, I wanted to grab the words and swallow them back. He’d been nothing but nice to me, and here I was, asking very personal and painful questions.

“She, uh, passed away a year ago. My dad drives a truck, so he’s on the road a lot. I do a lot of the shuttling of my brother and sister to their activities—when I’m not working, that is.” He gave me a small smile and grabbed the corner of the poster before stepping up on the ladder.

“I’m so sorry. So, so sorry. I didn’t know you’d lost her.” My cheeks were on fire, and now would’ve been the perfect time to go hide somewhere far, far away. I was usually so under control, knowing when to push and when to stay silent, but it seemed like anytime I was around Dax, those senses were out of whack. Almost like I had to know the answers to my questions so I could figure out why I was starting to crush on him.

He shrugged and grabbed the piece of tape from me again, hanging the poster up against the light-brown brick of the commons area. I hurried and put a piece of tape on the lower corner and then stepped back, waiting for him to come back down.

“It’s not a big deal now. Just my life, I guess.” His voice was strangled at the end, and a shadow passed over his handsome features.

I bit my upper lip as we walked down the few stairs and over to another spot where we would hang the other poster we’d made. Trying to think of something to say, I turned to him and smiled, handing him one end of the rolled-up poster to spread out.

“Well, if you need help picking out her dance attire, let me know. It’s one of my favorite things.”

Dax raised an eyebrow, and the corner of his mouth quirked up. “Picking out dance clothes? I thought she’d just need a cheerleading uniform?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “That’s for competitions. Does she have a white t-shirt and black shorts? That’s for the practices at the beginning.”

He paused and then shook his head.

“Maybe you can help me with my math before or after we shop for your sister’s stuff.”

He nodded, setting the step ladder up against the wall where I pointed. We were near one of the entrances to the school. This time the brick was white.

“How about tomorrow afternoon?” I said when he didn’t say anything.

“I have to work tomorrow. Can you do Wednesday? Then she’ll have her stuff for the first class?” His expression was unsure, as if everything connected to dance was some great mystery and totally new ground. Then again, I was usually just as lost when it came to baseball. Thank goodness for Penny’s advice and slight coaching for the games I had to attend during the school year.

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