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Words attempt to leave Jethro’s mouth, but all that escapes him is inarticulate gibberish.
Tenley spins on her heel to walk away before turning to him once more. “Oh, and Jethro?” His eyes pin to hers. “Next time you want an update, all you have to do is ask.”
If I wasn’t crazy about this woman then, I am now.
“Gus, if you don’t marry that woman, I will,” Briggs chimes in.
“Well shit. You went and pissed TT off real good, Jethro,” King bellows, his laughter growing louder and louder.
As much as I despise him for what he said to her, that’s the hottest thing she’s ever said about me. Sadly, it took someone else to pull it out of her.
But still a solid win.
Mom:Sorry. Didn’t mean to worry you. Things are good at home. Levi has something he wants to show you.
I can breathe again.
I feel immediate relief knowing everything is okay at home. When it’s been days since I’ve heard from Mom, I start to panic.
But the picture that pops up on my phone has me feeling an entirely different realm of emotions. Maybe it makes me weak and a pussy to get emotional over something as simple as this, but I don’t care.
It’s monumental and worth raising excitement about.
“Seeds.” A bag of dill pickle sunflower seeds lands on my lap, with a pretty voice to follow.
I glance away from my phone, eyes locking on Tenley’s pretty blues.
“I’m good. Thanks, though,” I answer.
Her eyes sear into me with a seriousness I can’t place. “What’s wrong with you? You never say no to seeds. Dill pickle, to be specific.”
I laugh because she’s not wrong, but I’m a little caught off guard she noticed. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned anything about them. “I mainly eat them on the field. Calms the nerves.”
“You get nervous? Am I speaking to the right August Graves?” she teases, making me laugh even more. “August Graves…third baseman for the Strikers, notorious playboy, and quite possibly the cockiest guy known to mankind?”
Well, I was laughing until she threw the playboy label at me again. That’s not me anymore, and it’s frustrating she can’t see that yet.
Why can’t change happen overnight?
But today is not the day to bring it up.
Ignoring the jab, I answer, “Sure. I get nervous. Nervous for the other team, I mean.”
“There he is.” Her smile feels contagious, almost making me forget her last comment.
Tenley takes the seat beside me on the charter bus. We’re headed to the airport to fly home and have a bit of time to spare before we get there.
“I forgot to ask, but who’s watching Zion while we’re away? I know you said your parents are in Africa.”
“Penelope is in town. She’s staying at the house with her until we get back. My parents usually keep Zion when I have to travel with the team, but obviously can’t since they aren’t here. Lucky for me, Penelope happened to be in town again this weekend.”
“Cool. Just wanted to make sure the little mama wasn’t fending for herself all weekend.”
I never thought to ask until now. Maybe I’m growing a liking for the furry friend.
“You were smiling pretty big before a bag of seeds fell on your lap. Someone send you a nude?” she teases me again.
Funny.
