“What’s got you looking so serious?” I asked with a yawn, peeling back the blanket and sitting up. At least I was starting to feel slightly human again.
“Nothing. How was your nana nap? Have a nice snore?”
“I needed that.”
“Oh, is poor baby paying for his bad decisions?” Claire teased.
“Keep that up and you’ll be paying for my bad decisions,” I replied with a wink. “So, you going to tell me what’s got you studying so hard, nerd girl?”
“Nerd girl?”
“Seems fitting. Now, spill it.”
“If you must know…”
“I must…”
“Well, I’ve been researching salons and trying to find one that fits what I want not just be that pathetic, desperate woman knocking on doors begging for a job.” Claire’s cheeks turned pink as she spoke. I hope she wasn’t embarrassed. She had absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. Seeing her so determined to do this was hot as hell.
“I think it’s a great idea.”
“You do?”
“Absolutely. Now talk to me. What have you found?”
For forty-five minutes I listened to her gush and fangirl over various salons trying to keep my face neutral. Some of them, most of them weren’t anywhere around here. In fact, some were in completely other towns and cities. While I wanted Claire to get her dream, I was kinda hoping it was a lot closer than her searches were leading.
“Well, tell me how I can help? I’m all yours,” I offered genuinely, swallowing the lump of unease that was building inside me. I wasn’t ready to let her go yet. I’d only just found her.
“Enough about me, what about you? What are we going to do about getting you that starting jersey?”
“We don’t need to talk about me,” I dodged maybe a little too harshly.
At first, Claire recoiled at my words before straightening her spine and pushing on. I never knew determination was so fucking sexy. I had a feeling whatever it was that came out of her mouth next, whatever she suggested, I was going to be agreeing with immediately.
“We do, and we’re going to. I’m sick of putting up with your sour puss attitude you have each week. What’s it going to take to get you there?”
Scrubbing my hand over my face, feeling the stubble on my jaw, I grimaced and rose from the couch, heading straight for the fridge. “Want a drink?” I offered, grabbing a can of Coke.
“Seth!”
I stood there with the door open waiting for her answer. I know it wasn’t what she wanted to hear, and I was stalling, but I was also thirsty. At least that was my story, and I was sticking to it.
Yanking the pen out of her hair, it fell about her face like a curtain. “I’m fine.”
Heading back over, I flopped into the couch and cracked open my can with a hiss.
“Finished avoiding yet?” Claire eyed me. Damn, this woman was going to make a kick-arse mother one day. She was giving me that look. The one that Mum gave me when she wanted to kick my arse but knew I was twice her size and it’d probably hurt her foot more than my butt.
“No.”
“Come on, Seth. I want to help you. I just don’t know how.”
She was telling the truth. It was written all over her beautiful face. “I know, but honestly there’s nothing you can do. I don’t even know what more I can do.” Those words hurt to say. They tasted horrible on my tongue, but they were the truth. Every painful word.
“Would kicking Luca in the nuts help?”
“You’d do that?”
