Page 67 of Comeback
He keeps right on grinning at me.
“So, somewhere nice-ish,” he says, playing along.
“Right, but no clubs or bars because those are primarily where people go to hook up.”
“Which leaves?”
“I don’t know,” I say honestly. “Bowling?”
He nods along. “Or paintball?”
“I don’t look cute in goggles.”
He huffs another laugh. “Movie theater?”
“Most people don’t like it when I talk during a movie.”
“Me either,” he says in a voice that tells me he’s also been shushed many times. “I don’t get it.”
“Same.”
We’re smiling at each other, and it feels good, like this is a moment we might have shared a million other times if we’d grown up together.
“We’ll probably end up going out to eat or something,” I say, returning to mine and Olivia’s plans for tomorrow.
“There’s that new bar and grill with pickleball courts.”
I make a face. “Sweating off my makeup isn’t my idea of fun either.”
“You don’t have to play. Grab dinner and drinks and just hang out. It’s always packed, and guys love to show off for pretty women.”
I consider it. I don’t have any better ideas.
“Thanks.” I stand from the stool. “I better get ready for work. See you later?”
With his schedule, I see less of him than I thought I would living here.
“We have a home game Sunday,” he says as he pushes away from the counter.
“I already told London I’d be her plus one.”
His lips pull apart in a wide smile.
I start for my room and then stop and turn back. “Thank you for the flowers.”
After I confided in him about my mom being sick last winter, he sent a dozen white roses.
“Oh.” His face takes on a slight blush. “It was nothing.”
“It was nice, and it meant a lot.”
He continues to look embarrassed but also a little proud.
“If you want, I’d love to introduce you to my parents sometime.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I mean, if that’s not too weird.” It feels like every move one of us makes is careful and too considerate. Someday I hope that won’t be the case. “It might be a while before they’re up to traveling, but I know they’d love to meet the brother I’ve been talking about for almost a year.”
