Page 99 of Keep Me Never
Before I can respond, a white golf cart pulls up, a young caddy hopping out with a smile as I instantly move to the back of his little ride. “Good afternoon, everyone,” he says casually and starts pulling things from the chests on the back.
Prescott and my grandfather are both handed drinks, the caddy clearly well versed in their country club cocktail of choice. I don’t realize Prescott asked for a second of his orange-colored drink for me until he turns, holding it in my direction.
“I think you’ll like this one,” he offers.
“Oh.” Crap. I didn’t plan to drink, but I don’t want to be double rude, so I accept with a tight smile.
Prescott and the caddy chat for a moment as payment or a tip or however it works is covered, and I glance toward the large fountain about fifty yards away.
“Pretty, isn’t it?” My grandfather steps up.
“Gorgeous,” I agree.
“The whole bottom is made of these shimmery white rocks and there’s a bunch of flowers on the back side,” he says. “I can’t tell you how many weddings I’ve witnessed out here.”
My head yanks his way, the liquid in my cup sloshing over the side slightly. I expect him to be giving me a pointed look, but I’m met with his profile, small tension lines visible along his temples as he stares out at the fountain, lost in thought.
The group ahead of us is just finishing up their turn, slowly making their way to the next hole, so Prescott orders another round, but when he glances my way, seeing mine is still full, he raises a brow.
“Not a fan of day drinking?” he asks, but there’s a playfulness in his gaze. He’s not mocking me; he’s mocking, well, himself and this place.
It loosens the tension in my shoulders, and a low laugh leaves me. “I am quite a fan of it, actually. College student, remember?” I tease, but then lift my drink. “I just have plans with Chase today and I don’t want to get that guaranteed need to nap that would most definitely follow.”
In my peripheral, I catch my grandfather’s head whip my way, but Prescott continues before I turn to him.
“Ah.” He chuckles lightly, motioning to the glass in my hand, and I pass it back. “See, once you get to be my ancient age and business meetings are held over afternoon cheese and wine or whiskey and dessert, you get used to it and then you pass out by eight.” He smiles.
“You act like you’re much older than me. You’re, what, thirty?”
“Give or take a few years.” His grin spreads wider and I laugh, shaking my head.
“Well, looks like I’m up.” Prescott sets his drinks down on the back of the cart and steps up to take his shot, or whatever they call it in golf.
“So.” My grandfather steps closer. “Plans tonight, hmm?”
I squish my lips to the side, biting back a smile at how he’s trying to act casual and failing. “Yes. Tomorrow is a really important game for him, so tonight is just about…” I take a deep breath, glancing toward the tree line. “Mindset, I guess.”
“Ah, yes. I saw the announcement on theAvix Inquirera few days ago. Rivalry game, isn’t it?” His eyes slide my way briefly.
“Yeah.” I nod, chuckling lightly. “You read theAvix Inquirer?”
“I do now.”
“It’s an Instagram account.”
“Yes, sweetheart. I am not that old.” He chuckles, passing his empty glass back to the caddy, who waits for Prescott to return and grab his drink before driving over to the next group. “Besides, I like to be aware of things in your life. And the people that are in it. Makes me feel like I’m not missing out when I’m stuck behind my desk.”
Prescott catches the tail end of the conversation and grins. “Oh, come on, old man. You wouldn’t know what to do with yourself if your day wasn’t work from sunup to sundown.”
“True. But one day I’ll have a little great-grandbaby to distract me. I can bring him to golf lessons and teach him how to drive the cart.”
Prescott laughs, but I shake my head.
“No way. Football practice maybe.” The words leave me before I realize it and my cheeks blaze when both men face my way. “Or, you know, dance or something.”
“Hmm” is the only sound that my grandpa makes, and he turns away.
“I saw some highlights on ESPN the other night.” Prescott meets my gaze. “They mentioned Chase a few times, and there was talk about the quarterback already being a guarantee for the draft in April. Johnson, I think his name is?”
