For a long moment, she didn’t move. “A few days ago, my answer would have been no.” She set her hand in his.
“But then I calmed your niece’s crying fit.”
“And bought me sliders.”
“I knew those sliders were a good investment.”
Wordlessly, they two-stepped around the courtyard. No music this time, just the distant sound of the crowds, birdsong, and the hum of the river pouring over rock.
He twirled her and she spun beneath their joined hands. She came up against him, her palms against the fabric of his T-shirt. His profile was just a few inches from hers. Her body felt feminine and lean in his arms.
Heat rushed through his bloodstream. His breath came fast and uneven.
At this point, they’d kissed the last time. He simply stared at her this time, waiting to see what she’d choose. What she wanted.
He saw desire and conflict and worry in her.
He willed her to care about him more than she cared about her rule or the fact that he’d be gone in January—
She stepped back, breaking the contact between them.
He held himself still.
“Thanks for the sliders and tea!” she said. “Good day to you.”
Then she lifted her packages and hurried down the corridor. He watched her go, unsure whether she was fleeing from him, the pleasure he offered, or the pain that would come as part of the bargain.
Chapter Seven
Herding cats had to be easier than coaching second grade boys’ basketball.
On the evening of July fifth, Eli led the Sharpshooters’ practice. He ran drills, taught, ran drills, taught, then finished with a scrimmage. Several times, he stopped their scrimmage to explain or act out a visual example he wanted them to follow.
“Okay, guys,” Eli said when they had just five minutes of time left. “Grab a drink, then bring it in.” The boys, red-faced and sweaty, located their water bottles and plopped onto the court’s floor in front of him.
Creighton, who’d spent the practice sitting on the sidelines swiping and punching his phone’s screen, had informed Eli earlier that the next team they were playing also had zero wins. This meant Monday night’s game was the best chance they’d have all season of coming out on top.
“I know you guys usually get to the games fifteen minutes early, but I’m going to send out an email to your parents, asking them to bring you to the game on Monday twenty minutes early because I have a surprise to give you.”
That caught their attention.
“What is it?” the shortest kid asked.
“You’ll have to get there twenty minutes early to find out. So. What two things did we work on the most at practice today?”
“Pooping and farting,” the class clown answered with a snicker.
Eli pretended he hadn’t heard.
“Defense,” one boy said.
“Rebounding,” another offered.
“Yes.”
Creighton appeared at Eli’s side. He clapped three times. “Hustle out there, guys.Hustle!”
“Does Coach Theo ever bribe these kids?” Eli asked Creighton.
