He smiles big, as though that means something to him. “Who’s watching the kids?”
“My mom, but they all have places to go tonight. Lake is at a friend’s house, and Lincoln and Monroe are going to the same house to hang out with kids their own ages. I have to pick them up…” I glance at my phone. “In a couple of hours.”
“So, you have a few hours to yourself?” He picks up the bowl of popcorn and cradles it in his arms.
“I do. And it’s still light outside. Amazing.”
He bites his lower lip in what seems like it might be a nervous gesture. “Would you be willing to spend those hours with me?”
The teenage girl in me is swooning right now, but I do my best to keep from outwardly reacting. “That depends on what you have in mind.” I glance at the items in his hands.
“I’d like to show you the rooftop.” Again, his teeth nibble on his bottom lip.
If I was in charge of choosing the theme for today’s National Day, it would definitely be known as the day Hayes Carlisle Looked Nervous in Front of Me.
Chapter
Thirty
Hayes
* * *
This could be a bad decision, but Leighton shared her fears with me. She was open and honest with me and deserves the same in return.
Leighton opens the door for me, and I tell her the keypad codes to get up to the rooftop. The bar up here is closed since there’s no game, and it’s only rented for private parties while games are happening at Webber Field. Our private entrance opens into the bar with the giant windows that walk you out to the stadium seating on the rooftop.
“How are you allowed access up here?” she asks.
“Cooper Rice from the Grizzlies owns this building, and he gave us the code.”
She turns around, her jaw hanging open. “You professional athletes have a little secret society none of us know about.”
I laugh, and we walk out of the bar area, up the stairs to the rooftop seats. “He’s a great guy. Used to live here. Years ago, before he was married and had a family.”
We rarely see Cooper, but that’s the same with the Grizzlies and the Falcons. They’re off living their happily-ever-afters. Good for them.
“I feel like I’m in some rom-com, special access.” She giggles, looking around as though she’s afraid she’ll miss something. “I always wondered what it was like up on these rooftops.”
“You should bring the kids one day. I can get you tickets.” I wait for her to pick a row, and I’m surprised when she goes all the way to the top.
“They’d love it.” She sits in the middle of the row, staring down at the field. I hand her a water, and she takes the bowl of popcorn, letting me get situated next to her.
I realize she’s still wearing her scrubs. “I could’ve given you something to change into.”
“Have you ever worn scrubs?” She puts her feet up on the seat in front of her and opens her water.
“I like to leave that to the professionals.” I lean back as well. Even after all these months, sometimes I still can’t believe I get to play on the field I grew up watching ball games on. That people fill those seats, in part, to see me play.
“I’ll get you a pair. You’ll love them. So comfortable.” Her hand digs into the popcorn, and she tosses up a kernel, catching it in her mouth.
“You gonna share?”
She snags another handful and hands me the bowl. “So, why am I here?” Leighton meets my gaze.
I’ve never thought of myself as a closed-off person, but I’ve been stalling. I want to put myself out there with her. I trust her not to discuss my vulnerabilities with anyone else, but that doesn’t make it any easier.
“You don’t see the players down there on the field?”
