“We’ll keep pushing toward our goals. Anything you need, man, you just gotta say. Okay?”
“Yeah, for sure.”
The same loyalty and brotherhood I felt on the field carried over into my personal drama and instead of feeling like a burden, it felt freeing. He didn’t look at me with pity or worry…just friendship and trust.
Maybe I can tell the rest of the group.
He read the mood and we walked the rest of the way without saying another word. I appreciated the moment to myself and it wasn’t until we walked into the bar and saw Greta’s—and Kenzie’s—boss, Clyde, that our banter was back. “This guy…he’s something.”
“I know.” I laughed when Clyde walked up to Aaron and high-fived him. “Hey, Clyde.”
“Behemoths. All of you. Well, find a seat. I’ll tell Greta you’re here.”
We found a booth in the corner where a couple of our teammates filled the empty spots. My attention wondered until I found who I wanted and my mood lifted. No more thoughts of lying to Aaron, or hiding my past. Kenzie had a stupid grin on her face, those damn glasses falling down her nose and her hair up in that crazy bun. Greta was demonstrating something on the computer, and Kenzie seemed to be enjoying it.
She tilted her head and saw me watching her. It was stupid how my pulse quickened and visions of our last night together flashed through my mind.She’s fucking perfect.I winked at her, getting her goofy, carefree smile as a response.
Everything felt right again.
More guys joined us at the table and I raised my glass to Greta when she brought another pitcher. “Thanks, G.”
“Don’t forget you guys have a game tomorrow. I know how rowdy you get and I will kick your asses out. It’s only noon…on a Wednesday, fools.” Her words didn’t match the smile on her face or the way she teased some of the younger guys. They’d gotten used to her, she was around so much. In the best way, Greta redefined cleat chaser. Callie, too, but she’d interned with the team for so long that the guys knew her as well as they did our trainer.
At the thought of her, Callie entered with Zade and a small bout of applause exploded at an impressive play from the Cubs’ third baseman. Since our town was in the center of Illinois, team loyalties were split between Chicago and St. Louis. It felt so fucking good to just hang with the team, drink beer and not worry about anything.This.This was what college was for me, the sense of belonging, the family, the trust, and I found myself scanning for Kenzie again. She had a place in this too.
It took a minute or two to find her, standing over a booth toward the entrance, her long legs on display in her black shorts. My fingers tightened around my glass.Who’s she smiling at like that?
Fucking Felix.He had a dopey grin on his face and I thought of a million reasons why I, not him, could get her to smile.Yup.It was decided. I was going to talk to her about it. We had nineteen more chances to enjoy each other and sharing her didn’t sit right with me. After that…hell, I’d think about it then, but I couldn’t stand the thought of her hooking up with Felix. Or anyone.
Only hook up with Tallen.I’d write it on her dorky list. It’d be perfect because once it was written down, it was practically law.
But I never got the chance to talk to her—the game got heated after a fight broke out, the crowd jeering the TV and the beer flowing. It wasn’t until two hours later that I escaped the booth with my teammates and caught her alone. She sat at a table, carefully placing silverware into napkins and rolling them up. She grinned when I sat opposite her and it didn’t make sense how happy it made me to see that joy pointed at me, as if I’d caused it just by being there.
“Hey, Kenny, how’s the first day?”
She leaned closer, her smile contagious. “Incredible!”
“Yeah? You look real happy.” She did. Her face had lit up, her cheeks tinged a little red on the tops, like she’d worked out, and her lips were permanently curved upward on the sides. Happy. She was happy.
“There’s just so much to do and I can get tips, which is awesome, so I don’t have to worry about overspending my budget. It’s so alive here. The people, the workers, even Clyde! He’s so funny. But enough about that.” She pushed the hair that escaped behind her ears and rested her chin on top of her hands, giving me an intense look. “How’s the game? It seemed a little heated earlier.”
“Oh, it’s fine.” I glanced back at the table of hooligans and ignored the way Zade stared at me with an accusatory expression.Focus.“Look, I want to talk to you about something.”
“Okay?” Her smile fell a little and she blinked a couple of times.
“What time do you get off?”
“I think five? Before the dinner rush. Is this about…” She mouthed,your mom, and I shook my head.
“It’s about your list.”
“Oh, what about it?” I swore she tilted her head just a bit to the right at her question, and it charmed me. She wasn’t assuming or ready to attack on what she thought I would say. She accepted it.
“There are a couple things to clarify. Specifically, withTallen,” I lowered my voice and watched the way she wet her bottom lip with her tongue. “I might need to make an addendum.”
“Keep your talented hands off my list, Tanner Johnson,” she fired back, leaning forward onto her elbows. Her face was only a foot away from mine, but it wasn’t the time to get caught up in her.
“No promises.”
