Page 63 of Tumbleweed Temptation
“You—want to go with me, though?”
“You want to go?” She sounded surprised.
“Yeah, I, ah, I might. I went to the games at Baylor.”
“Well, Baylor’s good. I don't think our team is.”
“What about the band?”
“Not as good when you and I were in it.”
He laughed. “Yeah, almost made it to regionals. In a very small region.”
“We were good. More people came to see us march than to see the game.”
“You know that’s not true. This is Texas. People here cheer for the worst teams, just because they love football.”
“Well, that’s true. But people didn't go to the concessions when we were marching. They saved that for during the football game.”
“What did you play again?” he asked.
“Well, about half the girls wanted to play flute, and no one wanted bass clarinet, so that was me.”
“Never taking the easy road, are you?”
“That’s what my grandpa said. But I was first chair, and indispensable.”
“That’s what I remember,” he said, holding the door to the building for her and allowing her to lead the way up the stairs. “I played saxophone because Mom knew someone who had one I could use. She wanted me to have a group of friends, you know, so she really wanted me to be in band. I still kept to myself most of the time.”
“That’s what I remember,” she said, echoing him, and walking ahead of him into the apartment.
“Didn’t help that I was a scrawny kid.”
“And smarter than the next ten people in class put together.”
“That’s not true. Not smarter than you.”
She grunted as she took the containers out of the bag. “Yeah, sure. You’re the one the town wanted to send to college.”
He looked at her a long moment. “Did you—I didn't know that you felt weird about that.”
“I mean, I didn’t.” She opened a drawer to get forks. “You knew what you wanted to be, and had made that known. I didn't really know what I wanted to be, where I wanted to go. You had it all figured out. Plus that was something the town needed, a doctor who would come back. It made sense.”
“Doesn’t mean you weren’t smart.”
“I wasn't trying for a compliment here, Austin.”
“No, I know. But the reason I wanted you working with me is because you’re smart, and a creative thinker, and fast on your feet. And you showed that the other day when you filled in for Melissa. I think we’re going to be a good team.”
She opened the containers and slid his in front of him, hoping to shut him up with food, he thought. So he obliged her.
“So, homecoming Friday, church talks on Sunday?” he prompted when they finished eating. “Some time this week we need to check in with Mrs. Lopez and see if she’s going to order those groceries, or if we need to go to pick it up ourselves in the city.”
“I don't suppose there’s a place online you can order produce for delivery.”
“Not for the money I’m willing to spend.” He’d already looked into it. “I’ll pay Mrs. Lopez’s prices, but not the online prices.” And she still hadn’t answered him about homecoming. He wasn't going to let her leave tonight until he had an answer.
Maybe he was making it too easy for her to deflect.
