Page 24 of Thunderstruck
“A pretty one?” Gramps asks.
If I answer that honestly, it’ll only make things worse, so I gloss over that question and explain to the best of my ability. “She’s young and inexperienced, and I’m worried the guys are going to cause problems for her.”
“Hmm.” Gramps rests his head in his hand and studies me the same way he studied game tape back when I played football. He tries to do the same with rugby, but he doesn’t fully understand my new sport yet. He does understand me, though. He practically raised me alongside Dad and has seen me through my highs and lows. “I thought your teammates were decent fellas.”
“They are,” I agree. “But even the best of men turn into idiots when around a beautiful woman.”
“Aha!” Dad says. “Sheispretty!”
I curse under my breath, then flinch when Gramps smacks me in the side of the head and warns me to watch my language. “Sorry,” I grumble, glad they stopped using a swear jar a couple of years ago. I’m pretty sure I fully funded the cruise they went on a couple of years ago thanks to that jar. “No matter how pretty Carissa is, I have no desire to see her as anything but a colleague.”
“Why not?” Gramps leans in close, dropping his voice to just above a whisper. “Is she crazy?”
Dad whacks his arm. “Don’t call people crazy, old man. But tell me, why have you already discounted this Carissa as an option?”
Why am I sitting here having this conversation with two men who haven’t dated in nearly thirty years at minimum? That’s a better question, but I answer Dad anyway. “Even if she and I were bothsingle—which she isn’t—it wouldn’t mean we’re a good match. And I’m not interested in dating anyone.”
“For now,” Dad prompts.
I shake my head. “It’s a bad idea to let myself get attached to someone, and you know it.” And this conversation is going to go in circles if I’m not careful. “Can we get back to the fact that Gramps has taken up kickboxing?”
I can see in both their eyes that they don’t want to change subjects, but they also know that if they push me too hard, I’ll drop the conversation and leave. I love them both, but sometimes I’m convinced they’re invested in my love life only because they don’t have their own. Like me, I don’t think they have plans to change their single statuses. Doing so would be…dangerous.
Evanson men and happily ever afters don’t mix.
“I think I’m getting the hang of the roundhouse kick,” Gramps says, catching hold of my evasion. But he shares a look with Dad, and I know deep down I’m only going to be able to avoid the dating conversation for so long.
Hollywood Hot Scoop
Gowns, Grumps, and Gorgeous!
Talk about beautiful! SageMorrow, fiancée of the Portland Badgers’ star tight end, was seen trying on an absolutely stunning wedding gown this morning. No word yet on if this is the one, but I’m sure we all can agree that Javier Gonzales will be blown away no matter what she wears at the altar. She’s a catch, no doubt about that!
I know what you’re all wondering, and yes, we have updates on her jilted ex, rugby’s favorite scrum-half, Cole Evanson. One of our sources caught him looking surly after yesterday’s practice. While that’s nothing new, check out the mystery woman who has come onto the Thunder scene. Is this a new love interest for our brokenhearted hero? If it is, Cole’s going to have to put on a smile now and then or she’ll realize she can do way better than a surly scrum-half.
If I were her, I’d hold out for an introduction to someone like Derek Riley, who was seen surfing the waves on Huntington Beach last week. If you missed the slideshow, check it out here!
We’ll keep you updated on Cole’s broody day-to-day, as well as give you all the scoops on the wedding of the century as it draws closer! Hit that subscribe button, and we’ll see you for the nextHollywood Hot Scoop! XO
Chapter Eight
Carissa
A car would bereally nice right about now. Or, you know, all the time.
While I thought I had the bus schedule all figured out—I got to work yesterday just fine—I’ve been standing here at the bus stop for more than half an hour. Not only am I stuck in the blistering California sun, but I’ve been hit on by no less than three skeevy men, one of whom might have tried to grab hold of my arm if a kind old man hadn’t been walking past at just the right time. He stayed at my side until the creep left, then continued on his merry way.
Right now, I’m blissfully alone, but I don’t know how long that’ll last. I’m two minutes away from calling a rideshare even if it’ll cost an arm and a leg to get me to the practice fields from here. Yes, Houston got me an apartment in a decent neighborhood, but it’s so far from the Thunder stadium that I’m starting to think it might be a good idea to look for somewhere closer.
Sighing, I look down at my phone. I’m running out of time if I don’t want to be late, but I’m also realizing I’m going to run out of money far sooner than I’d like if I miss the bus like this too many times.
Right as I’m opening the app store to download a rideshare app, a silver Prius pulls up to the curb right in front of me. Alarm bells start ringing in my head—stranger danger at its finest—but then the back window rolls down to reveal none other than Cole Evanson.
“Need a ride?” he asks.
I shield my eyes with my hand to see him better. “Um. No. I’m sure the bus will be here any second.” It’s a lie, and I’m pretty sure he knows it. I also don’t know why I’m bothering, since the car he’s in is exactly what I was about to order for myself anyway, and we’re going to the same place. I think it’s because he doesn’t like me, which is not something I’m used to.
Glancing to his left, he lifts a single eyebrow and pushes the door open, scooting to the other end of the seat.
