“Any sports? Not even your stupid American football?”
Ben gives me a side eye in the mirror before answering. “Not even football, no.”
“What else?” I can see he’s dying to vent, and he can’t do it with Nate. I’m also enjoying hearing about how badthis date was.
“Well, he was just a bit of a downer, talking about how my role in the business is just going to be financial, and me and Nate have already discussed both being hands-on in finding new talent and?—”
“Wait, what do you mean? Finding new talent?”
“Oh, well, we’re hopefully going to travel a bit and find young players for our academies. Athletes who might need a helping hand—grants, scholarships, those types of things. Since Evan and his family are based here and Nate’s so close to them, I’ve been thinking I would do the scouting while he covers the office-based stuff. I could still run the numbers while I’m on the road.”
Would our paths cross on the pro tour if Ben was out there, scoping out new talent?
“What?”
“Nothing,” I say. “It sounds amazing. Don’t let that guy get you down about it.”
He gives me this big smile that is so genuine and vulnerable I have to look away.
He parks outside the life science building but pauses before getting out.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m going to have to tell Nate I don’t want to see Tom again.”
“So what?”
“He’s going to be disappointed. He won’t stop until I have a boyfriend.”
I swallow, lick my dry lips. “The offer still stands to tell himI’myour boyfriend.”
I note the slight widening of his eyes. That cute blush starting at the base of his neck.
“Unless you think that would piss Nate off even more?”
“Why would it?”
I shrug. “I don’t think he likes me very much.”
“He likes you. He’s just protective, is all.”
“He does know you’re a grown man, right?”
I have never met someone Ben’s age who is more mature or impressively put together. It baffles me that his friends would treat him as if he’s not fit to make his own decisions.
He bites his lip and something gnaws in the pit of my stomach.
“Do you really think he’d buy it?”
The roar of blood rushing fills my ears. I tell myself to calm down. This would merely be transactional. A means of getting my doubles partner out of his head and all to myself, without the distractions and annoying friends.
“Yes. We could sell it. If you wanted to.”
“Okay. Let’s do it.”
I don’t realizeI have a big grin on my face until Joelle spots me outside the psychology classroom and asks why I look so pleased with myself.
“If you got laid, I don’t need details,” she says.
