Page 81 of Wild Love
I look through the books on the floor in front of him. Space, US history, math, and finance. “Well, aren’t you a barrel of fun?” I lift the one on finance that’s as thick as a textbook.
“That one is mine.” He snatches it from me. “I was hoping I could disappear and study for a test I have tonight. I’m trying to finish up my degree.”
I nod. Leo came to the Wildcats after his sophomore year of college, like me.
“That’s cool, man.”
He shrugs it off, so I don’t press. “Go.” I tilt my head to the study room across the library. “I’ll cover for you.”
“Thanks, Rook.”
All the kids are occupied for the moment, so I sit back and watch the chaos around the library. This is pretty cool.
I extract myself from the bean bag chair and circle around until I’m back with Tyler. He’s still working those puppets hard. He tosses me one, and we slip back into action, acting out scenes from the books.
Dakota steps up next to me with her phone. She smiles as she aims it at me and takes a picture.
“Miss me?” I whisper, using the puppet as a decoy.
“I’m taking some behind-the-scenes pictures for the social media pages.”
“Mhmm.”
“I am,” she insists and takes another.
“Then maybe you should take pictures of more than just me.”
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t try to deny it. “You’re good with kids.”
“Yeah, I guess. They’re pretty cool.”
“I can see you with a minivan full of them someday.”
“Me? A parent?” I shake my head. “I’m more the fun uncle. What about you?”
“Do I want kids?” she asks.
I nod.
“Definitely. Not a whole minivan full, but a couple.”
“You’ve got the death glare for it. No kid is sneaking out on your watch.”
Tyler finishes the book, and the kids grab the puppets and entertain themselves. I step closer to Dakota. We’re quiet, watching the kids around us.
“Seems like a lot of work.” The mom with the baby and kid pulling her around looks exhausted.
Dakota leans down to say hello to the kid, and the mom gives her a thankful smile. “Do you like dogs?” She points to the book in his hand. It has a pug on the front.
The kid nods enthusiastically.
“You know who else does?” She turns to me. “Johnny Maverick. He’s a big dog fan. Do you want him to read this to you?”
My palms sweat as his chubby little hand holds up the book.
She snaps another picture as I sit on the floor beside him. “Don’t underestimate yourself, Johnny Maverick.”
From the library, we’re bused back to the arena. Tonight instead of getting to go home and rest, we’ve got scheduled team bonding time.
