Page 9 of The Interception
I chuckle and take a few more sips of coffee. “You call it groveling, I call it ensuring I’m in your good graces before I shove you into this competition head-first. Are you really ready for this, Layne?” I arch an eyebrow in question.
She takes a deep breath and her emerald eyes scan the setting sun. “Honest answer? No, not really, but I’m a hard worker and I’m willing to do what it takes.”
When she looks back at me, the sunlight catches her hair and lights it up with golds and purples, grazes her slender nose, and bounces off her eyes, igniting them with sparkle that captivates me. She knows I’m staring at her, and her lips flutter into another soft smile.
My heart kicks again.
“Um…” I shake my head clear. “It’s okay. I can work with that. It’s a little different this year, so everyone is a little thrown off. If you’re that wide open schedule wise, then why don’t you come bythe field tomorrow morning? I have early practice, but after that, we can use the facility kitchen.”
“At the stadium?”
“Yeah. I use it every year to practice. Does that work for you?”
“Yep. You tell me when to be there, and I’m there.”
I don’t know what it is right now, but there is something about Layne that makes me feel…different. Comfortable, less on guard. Almost like she’s an old friend I just haven’t seen in a long time. Whatever it is, I think it might be dangerous for me.
Chapter Five
Layne
The last thing Iexpected yesterday was for Ender to show up on the front porch and ask me to be his partner. Okay, maybe that’s not accurate. Thelastthing I expected was for him to repeatedly insult methenask me to be his partner. Who cares at this point? My best chance at winning is my brand-new partner, who happens to be on board with trying some new twists to common meals. Given his propensity for making meals fit for tailgating and my heavy Italian influence, we might be able to wow the judges with things never before seen.
Andrew’s truck is as much a beast today as it was yesterday, but I’m getting the hang of it. Ironically, Ender drives the exact same make and model, but in an ever-so-slightly different shade. I’m not sure why that piques my interest, but it does. Perhaps he and my brother have more things in common besides truck style and their pro athlete status. If so, it might make working with him that much easier. I’m used to the cocky athlete persona.
I pull into the massive parking lot at the address he gave me. Ender wanted to get started planning recipes last night, but I was too exhausted to think about food. All I wanted was to crashand let my dreams take me to new culinary heights, namely to my own restaurant where I decide what goes and stuffy chefs can’t push me around and insult me.
I’ve been insulted a lot this week.
He told me he would be at practice, so I’m not surprised to see him and his team on the practice field across from the lot. I’ve been around athletes all my life, so the idea of trudging across the open parking lot and taking up residence on the bleachers doesn’t bother me like it might some women. Of course, I don’t know much about football players, but I figure the fandom is all the same. I’ll pull up a chair and wait for Ender to finish, then head to the massive kitchen at the stadium to test some things.
I’m not sure how he convinced the owner to let him use the kitchen, but I’m not complaining. Having use of such a large space will allow us room for multiple things at once. Plus, who doesn’t love working in a state-of-the-art kitchen?
I’m so lost in my thoughts, planning out the final details of some ideas, that I don’t pay close enough attention when I step foot onto the field. One would think the sidelines might be safe enough for a woman in a dress and heels to walk down to the seating area, but one would be wrong.
Devastatingly wrong.
I’ve never been hit by a linebacker before, but the difference between that and getting hit by a freight train cannot be much different. A blur of black and green fills my vision before someone yells, “Watch out!” This does me no good since I have no clue what I’mwatching outfor. Truthfully, it wouldn’t have mattered much if Ihadwatched, because that blur of black and green hits me so hard I see next Tuesday before a flurry of blurred color takes my vision.
I land hard on my back and blink several times as I wheeze, desperate for a full breath. My lungs seem too angry to inhale fully, so I continue with small breaths while my vision clears.My tote bag with a few supplies plops beside me, but I can’t be bothered to make sure nothing broke. I’m staring up at the cloudless sky, wondering what happened to me when Ender’s face comes into view.
“Layne! Are you okay?” He presses his hand to my forehead, which is the most illogical thing to do after a woman is leveled. Even I know that, and I’m still not sure I can add two plus two properly.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you there.” A man I don’t recognize joins Ender in staring down at me.
“It’s okay,” I say and offer a thumbs-up. Still, I can’t consider sitting up just yet. My stomach is working through its emotions, and I’m pretty sure any attempt at getting upright will end in something akin to the rotten pickle overdose of only a few days ago.
“We should probably let the team doctor check you out,” Ender says.
“No, no. I’m fine.” I wave him off and push into a seated position. The world tilts and I sway. “Nope. Not okay.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Ender winces and supports me with his arm behind my back.
“Ugh, we don’t have time for me to be out today. Wehaveto start planning and testing for round one.”
“Come on, hotshot. Let’s get you checked out and we’ll go from there. I’m sure we’ll still get something accomplished today.” He tugs my arm around his neck and slides his other arm under my legs before hoisting me into his arms. Up off the ground, I notice the entire team has surrounded us, including the coach.
“Well, that’s embarrassing,” I say and cover my face while Ender carries me off the field and toward the main building.
