She laughed. “We can talk about other things. I’m curious about you.”
He looked pleased. “Oh?”
“Well, tell me about the Grant who left Hope’s Turn and became a big time ball player.”
“I told you that already. Weren’t you listening?”
She poked him in the side. “No. I mean, what do you do for fun? Do you like TV or movies? Books? You did like to read a lot as a boy. I remember.”
“I remember having a huge crush on my babysitter.” He grinned. “She was so pretty and fierce, just like Wonder Woman.”
Piper blushed. “Is that why you drew me into your comic?”
“Sure, why not.”
“Huh?’
He steered her around a pair of teenagers wrestling near the water. That would not be fun to fall into.
“Well, I don’t know what all to tell you. I’m actually kind of a boring guy when not on the ballfield. I like to draw. I like to read, mostly science fiction or fantasy books. You used to read, as I recall.”
“Romances and mysteries.”
“Love and death. You’ve got it all.”
“Even superheroes falling in love. You wouldn’t believe all the subgenres you can find in romance.”
“Oh yeah?”
To her surprise, they talked about fiction and nonfiction books for the next hour, just strolling, arm in arm, in their own little cocoon of togetherness.
Then she spotted the ice rink. “Grant?”
“Yeah?”
“Can we go skating? I haven’t done that in years.”
“I’m game. But I have to warn you. If I’m around a lot of people, I could get recognized. Not that I’m a big deal, but I mouthed off a few years ago, and that kind of made me stand out. Then of course I’m an amazing catcher and hitter, so baseball fans know me.”
“Should I not stand too close, you know, so that your fat head doesn’t knock me over when fans come up to tell you how great you are?”
He snickered. “That would be good, yeah.”
“Such a dork.”
“Such a pretty nerd.”
She flushed. “That’s gorgeous nerd to you.”
“Yeah.” He kissed her before she could protest, a clever move considering the way he had to angle because of his hat. “Okay, let’s go skate. But don’t blame me if I get mobbed.”
Not having seen that side of him, she hadn’t been prepared for him to be right.
Not ten minutes after getting their tickets and skates, Grant got recognized. He smiled and took a few photos with the teenagers that recognized him. After pulling her onto the ice with him, she surprised him by skating right past him.
He laughed. “Oh, it’s on.” Then he surprised her by being as competent on the ice as he was on a ballfield or kitchen counter.
Annoyed, because what couldn’t the man do, she skated faster.
