Page 17 of On Merit Alone
“Could’ve fooled me,” he said, looking pointedly down at my hands and the phone clutched in them.
“Jesus.” I winced and forcefully shoved my hands out to return his phone. He must really be weirded out by now. It was a miracle he wasn’t calling security?—
Large shoulders started to shake as his quiet laughter filled the space. Arms uncrossed, his big hand coming to rest over his chest while he chuckled at my expense.
Oh.
He was joking…
And now he was laughing at me.
If I thought I was embarrassed before, I was beyond that now as the sting of getting laughed at snuck under my skin. Suddenly, I had no desire to be there. I actually lost all recollection of why I had waited for him in the first place. And nothing sounded better than exiting this building and going home.
Turning on my heels, I started toward the other end of the hall.
“Woah, hey,” I heard him call, accompanied by the soft thump of large feet jogging behind me. He overtook me in seconds, slipping into my path and holding out a hand to stay my escape. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I was just kidding around.”
“Funny,” I said. I wasn’t laughing, though. I was still trying to escape, sidestepping him in an attempt to get by.
He just stepped with me, giving me an intent look. “Don’t you ever kid around, Six?”
Bitterness stung my heart at his question. It was a much harsher question than he would ever know. It wasn’t uncommon for people toask either. But to answer something likedon’t you ever lighten up, don’t you ever take a break, “don’t you ever kid around?”I’d have to first answer, with who? Which set me down a dark and lonely tunnel I had no desire to take a trip through. At least not without a therapist present.
So, instead of answering that, I went with, “My name is Merit, by the way.”
He looked at me, his gaze appraising. “I know.”
“Oh,” I said, looking away from him. Picking at the bottom of my shorts, I mumbled out, “Well, I saw those pictures of you because of Sunday’s game. I just thought they were kind of cool.”
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me,” he said and by the ease of his voice, it sounded like he truly meant it. Which gave me the courage to look at him again. His mouth raised up in a one-sided smile. “I was just poking fun. I know they gave everyone in the complex those shoes. Even the hockey team walked around with them for a while.”
I nodded, looking away from him as this strange feeling engulfed me. I guess the situationwaskind of funny. It didn’t mean I was going to laugh or anything, but it was funny.
“Well, thanks for watching the game,” he said slowly, filling the silence.
“I only saw the highlights,” I said, kicking at nothing. “We had a game too.”
“Oh yeah.” He nodded. “Good job, by the way. You guys are on the board, only a matter of time until you turn it around.”
I wrinkled my nose. That was awfully optimistic of him. Yet somehow, it was fitting of everything I’d learned about him so far. Risking another glance his way, I said, “I tried out what you said in the gym the other day.”
“Yeah?” he asked. My stomach flipped.
I nodded. “Yeah. It worked.”
Sneaking a glance at him through my eyelashes, I was unsurewhat kind of reaction I was looking for when I told him this, but whatever I received was unsatisfying. Whatever that even meant.
Nodding, Ira slid his hands into his pockets as he smiled politely. “That’s good.”
Disappointed and not sure why, I nodded too. “Okay, well, I better get going. Great work out there, um?—”
“Ira,” he said, filling in where I paused.
I snorted. “I know your name.”
He smiled wickedly. “Well,of courseyou do. You’re obsessed with me.”
Oh my God. I just glared, which had him laughing in that same easy way he’d done before. And then he was turning his shoulders and heading back toward the other staircase that led to the lobby.
