“Oh.” Her disappointment was obvious.
He looked disappointed in himself.
He tried again. “Yeah. I like Jane Austen. Just because I hateJane Eyredoesn’t mean I have no taste. Jane Austen was way ahead of her time. And she knew how to grip an audience. EspeciallyPride and Prejudice.”
Tally seemed unconvinced like he was just messing with her. “Really? What’s your favorite line?” It was smart. She was right next to him. He couldn’t google anything. And if he truly liked the book, he’d know some quotes.
I held my breath, praying for his sake that he did.
I could see him carefully sorting through the quotes in his mind, trying to decide which one to pull out.
When he took too long, Tally said, “And you can’t use, ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged.’” She busted out a fairly impressive British accent. “Everyone knows that one. It’s the first line in the book.” Then she let out a scoffing laugh. “No, wait. You don’t need to tell me. I’ve got it.” She held her hands up for dramatics. “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.” I had to hand it to the girl—if her voice hadn’t been so high, I would’ve sworn Matthew MacFadyen had been in the car with us. Too bad her face was put out, like Ashton was as big a butthead as Darcy had been at that moment. And like he didn’t actually know anyPride and Prejudicequotes. “You’ve probably said that to some women’s faces, admit it.”
Ashton’s brow was raised to the ceiling. “Are you done?”
She waved a hand at him as if to say be my guest.
“I knowPride and Prejudicequotes. I was just trying to decide which is my favorite. Maybe this one.” He held her stare and paused for dramatic effect. Brooklyn and I traded a look. “‘But that was only when I first knew her, for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance.’”
The way he said it, eyes burning, his expression honed in like he and Tally were the only ones in the car…whoo, buddy. Yeah. If I hadn’t known before, I was positive now. He had it for Tally. Had it bad.
Tally’s mouth parted slightly, and she froze, unblinking, clearly shook. Brooklyn squealed so quietly that only I heard. I looked back at the road, breathing it out.
“Or…” He shrugged like the back seat hadn’t suddenly become a tinderbox, ready to burst into flame. Brooklyn, who was goose-necking in the rearview as hard as me, reached over and gripped my hand. I squeezed back. Because I knew the quote he was about to say. Would’ve bet Stella’s pink slip on it, if that was a thing. Then he tilted forward a little, all joking gone from his expression, even more serious than before. “‘In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and l-lo-love you.’”
My jaw dropped. Because my uncle, who’d been in love with her since the first time he saw her, had just confessed his feelings to my best friend, full-on Fitzwilliam Darcy style. And she was completely oblivious.
“So. Much. Rizz,” Brooklyn fanned herself.
Tally looked like someone had blown scalding hot air right in her face. Dazed? Confused? Slightly smitten? I couldn’t quite tell. But Ashton had most definitely knocked that out of the park.
At least I thought he had. But then Tally shrugged. “That was pretty good. Next time try it with an accent, Gramps.” She unhooked her seat belt. “Oh, and if you don’t trim your beard soon, you’re going to start looking like those guys from Duck Dynasty. Not attractive. Girls don’t like that.” And then she patted him on the knee before reaching up between Brooklyn and me, turning the music up even louder than before. Then she sat back and snapped her seatbelt in place.
Now Uncle Ashton appeared dazed and a little frustrated. Poor guy. His wheat-colored beard that matched his hair was neatly trimmed and short. Truthfully, he looked really good with it. Older though. Maybe if he wanted Tally, he should shave. Then again, he was her professor so I suspected that wasn’t something he was going to pursue no matter what he felt for her.
But then I caught a glimpse of Tally that left me smiling on the inside. As Ash jammed the AirPod back in his ear, she peeked over at him and her cheeks turned red, in full-blown blush mode.
Too bad Uncle Ashton hadn’t seen.
CHAPTER 5
blue
The team bus came to a slow roll as it pulled into the stadium parking lot. Home game or not, Coach always made us all stay in a hotel the night before. He didn’t want any hanky-panky going on, as he liked to call it. Lights out at ten p.m. We’d had breakfast and lunch together—carefully balanced between protein and carbs by the team’s dietician. Now we were finally at the stadium.
As I reached down and grabbed my duffel off the floor, my phone dinged. I picked it up, praying it wasn’t Dad.
Mom
Don’t hurt yourself out there today just to make your dad happy. You’re never going to please a narcissist. And getting an NFL deal is not the end-all-be-all in life. If anything happens to you, I will never get over that. Remember that before you do anything reckless.
I laughed, my stomach relaxing. She gave me this same speech before every game.
Got it. I promise to make smart decisions on the field—if I can even move. Ate way too much at the team lunch. Love you.
I closed my eyes for a second as the yearning to be back in Seddledowne with Mom and Colt washed over me. I’d only visited on occasion for the past four and a half years. But it had never been the same since I’d left. The urge to be home was always present, but along with it came the hurt. Any time I left Mom’s house—every backroad I drove down, every store I entered, every friend I ran into—all I could do was hope Anna was somewhere around the next corner.
But she never was.
