Jesse laughed again, the sound full and hardy. “Estelle? Isn’t she like seventeen?”
“Eighteen. Hence the age conversation.”
“Yeah, that’s a little much. I’d prefer someone my age.”
“I’ll be thirty-two on Christmas day.” Before the words were even out of my mouth, heat pricked at my neck. Why did I volunteer that information right then? Essentially, I’d said,“I’m your age, Jesse! Pick me.”I wanted to slip under the bleachers and shove my foot into my mouth.
But he stole away the awkward. “Really? I was a New Year’s Eve baby.”
“That’s so funny we both have a holiday birthday.”
“Is that why your parents named you Hollie?”
I cackled. “I’ve asked them that. But they just said they thought it was pretty. My dad calls me Jolly-girl though.”
“What’s your middle name?”
“Lynette.”
He softly repeated it. “Hollie Lynette.”
My name on his lips sent chills down my arms.
“What’s your last name?”
Itsked. “Do you always ask this many questions?”
He frowned, considering that. “In general, yes. I’m nosy.”
I giggled. “Alright, fine. It’s Aldridge. Now, you have to tell me yours.”
“Jesse Alan Holmes.”
“That’s a strong name.”
He shrugged. “It’s worked fine all these years.”
In the silence that followed, I bit down on my lip as a lame attempt to stop beaming. Every time we talked, I worried about where the conversation might turn, but it always ended great—on a high I could only describe as euphoria. Or a stress release. I was thoroughly hooked on the dopamine hit.
Even though his eyes were shadowed, I could feel his attention. I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “Well, thanks for letting me practice on you.”
“Anytime.”
I stood from the bench. “I hope you’ll be able to head to bed soon.”
“I will. I’m almost done.” He stood too.
“Next time, I’ll drop a plate at the cabin for you.”
As we turned back toward the arena, I got a good view of his smile in the yellow light. “Or…” He held out the word. “You could bring it out to me again.”
“Youprefereating in the dark, late at night?”
“No, but I do like talking with you.”
My pulse jumped as I flicked my nail over my cuticles again then caught myself. “I enjoyed talking with you, too.”
“Here, I’ll walk you back.”
