His dimple appeared as he grinned.You didn’t say anything earlier.Or did you only decide to show up after seeing me in my batting pose?He hefted his bat and copied the muscle pose he’d shown her before he’d left.
I wanted to come.It’s why I asked you where you were playing.You left before I could tell you.
His sheepish expression was adorable, even with the pound of dirt he wore, most likely from his previous home run and the two other base hits he’d had to slide for.Sorry.What’d you think?
I’m impressed.Your team is good, and you are obviously one of the better players.
Color rushed to his face, and he grinned.He was so adorable when he was stuck between being embarrassed and wanting to gloat.His mischievous side always came into play.Why did you come today?
I wanted to see you play.Believe it or not, I like watching baseball.Maybe not as much as my father, but I still enjoy the game.This was a good match.
Evan nodded.They were a tough competitor, but we managed to get past them.We play them again in a few weeks.Hopefully, we’ll do as well then.
Hopefully.Maybe it won’t be so hot.The sun is brutal today.
Evan looked up and shaded his eyes, then pulled his shirt away from his body to wipe his face.Something inside her heated up even more.Yup.Want to go get some ice cream?I’ll even pay.
The thought of ice cream was wonderful, though her hips wouldn’t thank her.I can pay, too.
He waved her off.Nah, I’m feeling generous after my home run.
His teammates milled around, some of them congregating with their friends and family.I thought you were going out to Barney’s for a drink after the game.
Evan took a quick peek at his friends, then glanced back her way, an appreciative look on his face.Because of her?
It’s kind of hot today.I think I’d rather get an ice cream.
With her.The unspoken words rushed her way giving her a warm feeling, and not because of the temperature.
Evan scarfed down the last of the meatloaf on his plate, then swiped his roll through the gravy.He sure lucked out when Mercedes had suggested he move in.His new roommate was an even better cook than his mother was, though not by much.His mom was wonderful.However, Mercedes had been trained by a professional.It was hard to beat that.
Delicious, he signed.I know I should offer to cook more often, but I have to let you know, it will never taste as amazing as this.Or anything you make.
Mercedes smiled and lowered her eyes to her plate.“Thanks.It’s only meatloaf.”
Some of the best I’ve ever had.That sauce on the top was so good.And bacon.You can’t go wrong with adding bacon.
“The sauce is simply a little brown sugar with ketchup and a tiny bit of mustard.Nothing fancy.”
Well, I’m not fancy, so it’s perfect for me.Thanks for cooking.He had also thanked her for attending his baseball game a few days ago.He’d gotten teased by his buddies on the team for going with Mercedes to get ice cream instead of out to Barney’s for a celebratory drink.They’d all hinted that the two of them would be getting it on after.Hardly.Not that he’d done anything to dissuade them from their thoughts.He’d never insinuate he and Mercedes were having a fling, but he couldn’t help what immature guys thought.
You cooked.I’ll clean.He picked up his plate, then took hers, too.Once he got the dishes rinsed and in the dishwasher, she’d wiped the table clean.Want to watch a movie?he signed.
Hopefully, she’d pick something with a lot of action.He hated the intellectual movies that had too many subtitles.He couldn’t always follow them.Often the closed captioning was incorrect, or there was too much of it on the screen at once for him to get everything.It was embarrassing that his reading ability was so slow.
In the living room, Mercedes pointed to a large book.“I thought I’d read for a bit.I’m in the middle of something good.But feel free to turn the TV on.It won’t bother me as long as you keep the volume down.”
He made a disappointed face.What?I can’t blast it at full volume?
She laughed and settled herself in her chair, her legs tucked under her.She was so feminine, it humbled him.Too bad he was a rough around the edges road construction worker who got dirty every day.
He spent a few more minutes tidying up the kitchen.Bonus points for him.The grateful smile she threw his way had him vowing to tidy better every day.But there was only so much cleaning he could do and still see her.That’s what he’d really wanted tonight.Not necessarily to watch a movie, but to spend time with Mercedes.
Should he search for something to watch?There weren’t any games on tonight, though he supposed he could find some sporting event somewhere on the hundred channels they got.Would it distract her?Get her attention so she’d abandon her book and sit closer to him?Probably not.She loved her books and rarely put them down once she’d gotten into them.
Sighing, he settled on the couch and looked around the room.The remote was on top of the TV, but he didn’t get up to retrieve it.HisHeavy Equipmentbook was on the coffee table, beckoning him.The flashing screen had pulled him away from this book too many times.Who was he kidding though?The book baffled him more than educated him.The pictures he understood and could usually figure out.Unfortunately, the instructions that went with the pictures, the ones that were imperative to understand, went right over his head.
Grabbing the book, he flipped through the pages and skimmed over the copy.It felt like he was back in school, only now he didn’t have an aide by his side who helped him when he got stuck.Because his older brother, Brian, had gone to the public school, Evan had gone, too.The school had convinced his parents to send him, saying the special education program would provide someone to assist him.He’d received speech services as well.Still, he’d struggled every single day he’d been there.
