Page 34 of The Red Zone
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Oh no, it looks like I have plans that da—"
“Fine,” I grumbled, crossing my arms across my chest.
I wasn’t keen on agreeing with him, but right now I needed to choose my battles. And since I had to finalize the model list to send to Aera by tomorrow, my options were just about as thin as the list of men I knew who’d be willing to participate.
“Say the words,” he prodded. “I want to hear them.”
“I, Mae Elizabeth Garten, find October Calhoun to be moderately attractive,” I mumbled begrudgingly.
We turned both of our attention to the screen where last night’s game between the Las Vegas Lions and the Arizona Avalanche was coming to an end. The Lions were winning by three, but the Avalanche came in with another touchdown in the final few seconds of the game to win it all. I wasn’t well versed in football, but it seemed like quite the way to kick off The League’s first game of the season.
“You could’ve thrown better in that charity game a while back. I saw where you missed that throw to Fortune.”
Out of my peripherals I could see October twisting his head to look at me. “Watching my games, are you?”
“Again, with the vast ego.” I clicked my tongue. “If you must know, I went with Scarlett to watch Abel… you just happened to be playing too.”
“You’re totally watching my games.” He smirked. Granted, I didn’t know for certain because I refused to take my eyes off the screen to confirm, but I could sense it. Any time October felt a modicum of joy it was like an alarm went off in my brain, which was immediately followed by a laundry list of things I should do to ruin it for him.
Only this time, I was too flustered by all of this strange friendly hatred thing going on between the two of us right now that I couldn’t come up with anything worthy of saying out loud. Which was a damn shame, because I would’ve loved nothing more than to wipe the smug grin right off of his face.
“Leave me alone,” I said with a huff.
“If you need a jersey, I’ve got one with your name written on it.” He turned his attention back to the game. “Well, my name… if we’re being technical.”
“I’d rather sit through the entire game naked with every seat in the stadium filled than wear your jersey.”
“Even better.”
“Fuck off. I actually have a second proposition for you… I need you to drive me to the grocery store.”
“You’re twenty-five… drive yourself.”
“I can’t. I went to the eye doctor today and they tricked me into getting one of those glaucoma tests and now I can’t operate a motorized vehicle until lunch time tomorrow.”
Okay, so maybe that was a tiny white lie. I completely consented to it, filling out the form approving it and everything. But only because the white-haired lady with enormous, red cat-eye glasses was an exceptionally convincing sales woman. What could I say? She reminded me of my late grandmother. How on earth was I supposed to say no to her after that? Hopefully she was earning commissions, because she was missing her calling selling luxury timeshares if not.
“Not my problem. Have Scar take you.”
“Her and Abel went on a date to that Italian place they like.”
“Ahhh, is that the reason she canceled tonight’s dinner? Tell her to bring me back some tiramisu.”
“Even better idea.” I perked up. “Get this, you take me to the grocery store… and you can get tiramisu there instead.”
“What’s in it for me?”
“Aside from my pleasant demeanor and dazzling looks?” I turned to October, batting my eyelashes like an innocent angel sent from heaven above.
Too bad he wasn’t buying it.
That was one thing I hadn’t anticipated when October waltzed back into my life—him having far greater comebacks and tiny annoyances than he did when we were kids. I held in a laugh remembering all the times he used to sputter profusely until he eventually huffed and puffed away with his fists balled at his sides.
Weirdly enough, it was almost like he’d been holding this new set of snide remarks in an offshore arsenal waiting for the perfect time to use them. Frankly, I found that entire possibility a bit strange. Had he really spent the last seven years thinking up tasteless insults for the next time we saw each other again? How embarrassing for him. Especially since the only time I was ever reminded of his existence was whenever Scar brought him up in passing.
