“I’ll call you back.” And then he ends the call.
Crap! I’m going to kill him.
“You made it tough to find you,” I hear a voice behind me say. I spin around and there’s Leo.
A flare of giddiness rushes through me at the thought that he was looking for me. I keep my smile in check. Small, to show I’m happy to see him, but not so big I give away more than I want.
He’s still somehow fresh and clean, while I’m sure I look a hot mess. My hair has been blown in every direction from being in that golf cart with no windshield. And it’s hot. Really hot. There’s a good chance I stink.
He nods to where my box is sitting on the ground. “Lunch break?”
“Oh yeah. Thirty whole minutes!”
He moves closer to me and I resist doing a quick smell check under my arms.
“Are you on a lunch break, too?”
“No, just finished the first nine holes. We’re moving faster than the group in front of us, so I have a few minutes to get something to drink,” he says, shaking the white Styrofoam cup in his hand with the club’s logo on it.
“So how is it going today?” I ask him.
He shrugs. “Hanging in there. This is a tough course and so we’re all struggling a little. It’s fine, though, if we’re all off our game. How’s your day going?”
I roll my eyes. “I’m driving the hall monitor around. Not only is he making sure no one is doing anything wrong, he’s hoping they have the most miserable time in the process.”
“Yeah, that guy sucks. I’ve done tournaments with him before and there is no gray area with him. At all.”
“I hope this isn’t what I’m doing every day. Although it’s better than stacking those balls into pyramids. Whoever came up with that idea is dead to me.”
He laughs and I really like the sound of it. He’s even cuter when that big grin breaks across his face.
“A lot of courses I’ve played at just hand you a bucket of balls. I thought you were here working with the tournament people, but I guess you’re with the club if they’ve got you putting out range balls.”
I put my hands on my hips. “Is this your less-than-subtle way of asking me why I’m here? Our first conversation and you’re already breaking the rules.”
He can tell I’m not too serious. Leo holds both hands out in front of him, cup and all. “No, not our first. I actually waited until the second conversation today. And no, I’m not breaking any rules. I’m not asking why. It’s more of a what. I thought since you were driving Williams around, you were here with the tournament.”
The first part of his sentence catches me off guard. And clues me in to the chance that he texted me and Charlie responded. I’m thankful I didn’t put his real name in my phone but terrified about what that conversation entailed.
Although he came looking for me, so it can’t be too bad.
“I’m sure you saw Mr. Williams has his arm in a sling. I’m his chauffeur.” I do a bow/curtsy thing that really doesn’t make sense.
The heat is definitely getting to me, but thankfully he’s still grinning.
Leo glances toward the course and then back to me. “I’ve gotta get back out there.” But something about his tone and posture makes me think he’s not ready to leave, and that makes me happy.
“I’m sure I’ll see you when we make our rounds. But I’m not allowed to talk to you, so just know I’m not ignoring you on purpose.”
That smile. Was it always this cute? Or maybe I’m just noticing it now because back then it would have never been directed at me.
“I know. Lots of rules at these things.” And then he’s gone. I drop back down on the ground so I can finish my lunch. I think about asking Charlie if he’s texting “L,” but all that would do is make sure he does. With my social life in his hands, I just have to hope it’s not as bad as it could be.
Phone Duty:Charlie
“I should have made Wes come with me,” I say out loud. To no one. Since I’m in the car by myself.
A couple of girls I know walk up the long driveway toward Danlee’s house and I sink a little farther in my seat. I feel like such a creeper. Danlee lives right outside of town on a big chunk of land and there’s nowhere to hide.
