What does one wear to coach teenage boys, while also in the presence of Gideon Titan? Is there a right or wrong answer?I sighed and fell onto my bed. I had tried on five different options and each one felt sillier than the last.Yoga pants and a baseball top? Shorts and a sweatshirt? Tights and a baggy T-shirt? Fuck this confusion.
I stormed to my tiny closet and eyed my few options. I didn’t have a lot of clothes, but I had staple pieces that could be arranged for numerous looks. Shout out to Pinterest for the help with finding eighteen ways to wear a scarf. A comfy, loose baseball shirt from the Desert Aces popped out. I paired it with black yoga pants and called it a day. If Gideon Titan was as rude in person as he was on the phone, then I wanted to be comfortable. Looking good for him was out of the question. The thought alone had me snorting. Gideon Titan giving me attention? That would be the day. I was a flea in his world.
But the pants hugged me in the right places. It wasn’t every day a girl met the star of her fantasy sex dreams. “Michelle!”
“Yeah?” She appeared at my door with raccoon eyes and wild hair.Looks like someone had a crazy night.“Going to meet the hot asshole?”
“Yup. We’re meeting for coffee before the parent meeting,” I sneered at my phone. He’d informed me of themeetingin a demand.
Yeah. I wasn’t thrilled about it. “Do I look like a tool? A hoe? Normal?”
She sucked her bottom lip and hummed in thought. She often did that and I thought it was endearing. Her crazy black hair fell over her eyes and she pushed it back. “I think you look the part. Do you have a track jacket or a fanny pack?”
“Perfect idea. Yes. I have both.” I dug deep into my dresser and pulled out a bright red first aid fanny pack. I had it from a spirit day in high school—lifeguard day—and it was magnificent. “I’m really gunna look the part.”
“That’s the goal, ain’t it?” She yawned and let out a whistle. “I had a hell of a night.”
“Yeah? I didn’t hear you come in.” I wiggled my eyebrows at her and she looked smug as hell. Curiosity had me wanting to ask what had happened, but we weren’t quite there yet. “But I want what you’re having with that little smirk.”
“Hm. I don’t share.” And she walked out. Michelle was mysterious and I dug that about her. I gave her no more thought while I gave myself one more glance over. My outfit stuck out in the mirror and I grinned. Yeah, Gideon Titan might be an asshole and would try to get rid of me, but he wouldnotsucceed. I wished I had a clipboard to really embarrass him, but I would have to put that on my to-do list.
With a final farewell to Michelle, I hopped into my beat-up car and blasted Carrie Underwood. She got my blood pumping and ready for battle, because Gideon Titan seemed like a war. Noona’s stood on a grungy corner in downtown Phoenix. Vagrants roamed around the white-bricked building but I paid them no attention. Phoenix had a homelessness problem in the winter months because we had perfect weather. I found a free parking place and scanned my surroundings.Is he trying to scare me away? Is this a trick?
Suddenly, I wished I carried mace. I chose to jog to the entrance of the restaurant and sighed in relief when it was uneventful.Don’t be crazy. I’m fine.
“Hi there! Good morning. Table for one?” The over-the-top hostess smiled at me with crazy eyes. My gaze flicked to the extra-large coffee on her podium. She neededlesscaffeine.But I didn’t judge.
“I’m meeting someone here at nine. Is there a big guy, awful personality but nice face in here?” I scanned the room and the hostess frowned. I chuckled. My presentation wasn’t the best. Clearly, he wasn’t here, or she would know who I had referred to.
“I like my face, too.” The same rough voice from the phone came from behind me. I instantly stood taller and took my time turning around. I felt no shame in my insult, but my body broke out in goosebumps and my heart raced.
When I faced myco-coach,all insults and thoughts left my body. His looks had me damn near speechless. The hazel eyes. The perfectly styled hair. The playful, mischievous lips. The chest girls dreamed of seeing in person. I couldn’t look hard enough at this specimen. But then he opened his mouth.
“Take a picture. It’ll last longer and you can flick your bean to it later.”
And the spell broke. Like a dam breaking in a flood, my attraction went from one hundred to zero and his words slapped my face. “Excuse me?”
“Didn’t stutter, did I?” He crossed his massive arms. I briefly realized his arms were about the size of my legs. “You should wipe your drool from your mouth. You have some, right there.”
The asshole had the nerve to bring his finger to my chin. I smacked it before he made contact. “You’re an asshole.”
“Yeah. Not the worst insult in the world.” He grinned with malice and clicked his tongue. “Are we done here?”
Then it hit me.He wants me to quit. This is his plan. I’m surprised he didn’t change the meeting time and call me a flake.I pulled on the fanny pack and gave him the nastiest smile I could. “Ma’am, could we have a table for two, please?”
The bastard’s smile fell, and I winked at him.Point for me.The hostess looked horrified—not that I blamed her—but she recovered. “S-sure. Yes. Uh, right this way.”
I whistled while she chose a booth in the farthest corner of the dining room. Probably the best decision since I assumed she’d heard our entire exchange and preferred us away from the entrance. I thanked her and plopped down in the plush booth. I brought my legs up and crossed them. “I’ve heard they have excellent hash browns here.”
He grunted in response. I refused to look at him and ignored his stare. The silence remained for a full three minutes before I glanced up. “Take a picture—you can beat your meat to it later if you want.”
It was brief, but one side of his mouth quirked up before flattening into a scowl. It was a damn shame, because his lips defined perfection. When they were closed, and not making sounds. But he ruined the spell. “Touché.”
“Nice place here.” I made a point to spend time looking around the rundown diner. It was a local favorite and part of the charm was the grunge, but it wasn’t a place I would go after dark. For any reason. But I spoke sarcasm and wasn’t afraid to use it.
“I don’t want to coach with you.” The look on his face told me as much.
“No shit, Sherlock.” I cackled. “You’ve made your point loud and clear.”
