“Shut up, Fitz. Not everyone has to be the dad.”
“Fitz. Danny’s mentioned you too. Says smart people don’t mess with you.” The corner of my mouth inched up. “I can see why.”
“You hear that, Tarvarius? Smart people don’t mess with me.” Having about a foot of height on his friend, he bumped his elbow against Tarvarius’s shoulder.
“It’s too bad Danny plays on my side of the ball. I wouldn’t mind making him look silly in practice.” Tarvarius pouted.
“I don’t work many Saturdays,” Hailey said, horning in on the conversation. “I love watching Wildcats football.”
I wanted to gag at her breathy delivery, but both guys ate it up, especially after she came out from behind the counter to stand near them. From the way she divided her attention between them, it was sort of hard to tell which one she hoped would ask for her social media handle or her number. Watching her with them, I finally figured out her interest in Danny had as much or more to do with him playing for the ’Cats than it did with getting to know him as a person.
“Will you be at the opening game next Saturday?” Tarvarius asked.
She glanced over her shoulder at me, and I subtly shook my head in the negative. It was my Saturday off, and I was thinking about attending a football game.
“Unfortunately”—she shot me a dirty look, and I crossed my arms over my chest in defiance—“I have to work that particular Saturday.”
“That sucks.” Tarvarius sounded genuinely put out. Then he rallied. It seemed the guy was good at rallying. “The party celebrating our first win of the season will be at our place after the game. You should come. Big yellow house on Jock Street.”
When Hailey simpered a thank-you for the invite, I suddenly remembered I had a pitcher to wash. How men who otherwise came across as intelligent could fall for such a transparent come-on drove me bananas.
“You should come too, Danny’s friend,” Tarvarius said. His teasing smile was infectious, and I grinned back.
“I’ll think about it.”
When I went back to cleaning up utensils, I heard the three of them murmuring as they moved away from the counter. Didn’t take a genius to know someone was getting someone else’s number.
After the two football players left the shop, Hailey’s step had an extra bounce in it, confirming what I already suspected: the shameless flirt had made another conquest or two. At least it was Tarvarius and Fitz and not Danny.
?Chapter Fifteen
?Danny
After coming homefrom the bookstore, I tallied up my expenses and acquired a bit of appreciation for how much time Taryn insisted on putting in at the coffee shop. I’d put away a fair bit of money when I was enlisted, but even with Uncle Sam’s help via the G.I. Bill, I was going to need hours at the tire shop if I didn’t want to run through those savings before the end of freshman year. Between physical and online books, a graphing calculator, and a basic computer, I’d spent enough money to buy a second car. Never mind what I’d spent on furniture when I moved into the house on Jock Street.
I’d had the idea I’d stop by the coffee shop and razz Taryn for a minute like usual before heading to work, but since we had a date lined up for after she’d closed the shop and I’d finished with practice, I decided to clock in early at the tire store. But I should have stopped by her work on the way.
More than once, my mind strayed to our date. She hadn’t hinted at what it would be, and my curiosity was distracting the hell out of me. I bounced a hammer off my thumb, making it throb for long enough to start to concern me. Then I forgot to secure the air hose before firing up the pneumatic wrench. The hissing air alerted my coworkers to my rookie move, and they flipped me shit about it for the rest of the afternoon.
At last Taryn put me out of my misery a few minutes before I clocked out to head to practice.
Taryn: Are we still celebrating your mad football skills tonight?
Me: We’d better be.
She shot me an eye-roll emoji followed by:
Taryn: Meet me at the mini-golf near City Park at 8:30 p.m.
Me: I don’t know where City Park is. We should probably ride together so you can show me.
My suggestion was met with another eye-roll emoji. Guess I was more transparent than I thought.
Taryn: City Park is one block off Main on the east end of town. There’s a BIG sign.
Me: You’re going to feel bad if I get lost.
Taryn: If you get lost finding such an easy place, I’m going to wonder if your ability to run a route is overrated.
