He’s crouched beside Malik at one point, breaking down a math problem by drawing tiny hockey nets on the paper.“See?Three shots on goal, one goes in.That’s one-third.Boom.Fractions.”
Malik rolls his eyes but writes it down.
Later, CJ sits at a table with Bea, listening intently while she explains her story about a dragon who runs a bakery.He doesn’t interrupt, doesn’t laugh; he just nods and asks, “What’s the dragon’s favorite pastry?”like it’s the most important question in the world.
And I… I can’t stop watching.
I can’t stop wanting him.
If I’m honest with myself, I’ve been intrigued by him since the first time he walked into my office, and that feeling has only grown.It’s not simply intrigue or curiosity anymore.Ilikehim.I might even be falling for him.
No!I scold myself.That’s crazy.You barely know him.
After the kids are picked up and the gym is quiet again, we’re left stacking chairs.The clatter echoes too loudly in the empty room.
“So,” he says casually, “we should probably plan the follow-up.”
I glance over.“Follow-up to what?”
“The fundraiser.PR wants us to keep the momentum.Social media posts, interviews, maybe another event.”He sets a chair on the stack with a clang.“Also, our second date.Why don’t we go grab dinner and talk about it?”
My stomach flips, half of me dreading it, the other half excited to spend more time with him that way.“That wasn’t the deal.”
“Hey, I’m just the goalie.I don’t make the plays, I block the shots.”He shrugs.“But… it could help the center.More donors, more visibility.”
He’s right.Damn him.
I run a hand through my hair.“Fine,” I say, trying with all my might to keep things between us as the status quo.
“Great!What are you hungry for?”
“I’m not,” I tell him at the exact second my stomach growls, proving me a liar.
“Pizza or burgers?”
I sigh.“Burgers.”
“Great!Let’s go.”
He takes my hand and drags me out of the center, pausing long enough for me to lock the center doors, and then we’re off again.
He pulls me over to his car and opens the passenger door for me.
“Thanks,” I mumble, and he nods.
The burger place is just around the corner, and we could have walked, but it’s cold out, so I don’t argue as he steers us down the street toward the restaurant.We park, and he hurries to open my door again.
“You’re laying it on a little thick,” I tell him as he takes my hand and helps me out of the car.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.My parents raised me to treat a woman with respect.”
“Uh-huh.”
“They did!”he insists.“They’d be rolling in their graves if I didn’t open your doors and kiss you goodnight.”
“They did not say kiss her goodnight!”
“Okay, maybe not that.”
