Adam pounded on the table and signed,She’s got a thing for you.Maybe you should ask her out.Especially if you’re not getting any from your roommate.I’d never let that happen if I lived with a hot lady like Mercedes.
You.Shut up!Evan had had enough of Adam’s innuendo.You are not allowed to talk about Mercedes anymore, because you’re a pig.Grow up.I doubt you’re getting much while you’re sleeping on your mommy’s couch.
That got his former roommate on a different topic.Evan checked his phone.Nothing from Mercedes since her last text saying she’d put his dinner in the fridge.Which was far more than he deserved.He’d never even responded to her.Maybe he should now.
—Thanks.—
He kept it short and sweet.Anything more and she might start a conversation with him.He wasn’t sure he could deal with that right now.She’d be all sweet and caring, and his feelings and libido would get their hopes up, only to be crushed again when she realized he was a dud who’d barely passed high school and she was a freakin’ college librarian.
His burger arrived, and he concentrated on eating, only pretending to “listen” to Adam’s rantings.He had moved on to his job now and how they didn’t appreciate him and his excellent work.Evan seriously doubted he did excellent work.He’d lived with the man for years, and he hadn’t seen much excellent in anything he’d done.Certainly not at home.
When Sandy came back and asked if they wanted another round, Evan declined and got a soda instead.No sense being under the weather tomorrow at work.
After another hour of Adam’s ridiculous monologue, where he barely registered that Evan wasn’t participating in the discussion, he decided it was late enough to head home.He still needed to take a shower, but he could head to his room after and stay there.
Leaving a decent tip for Sandy for always knowing what he wanted, he paid his tab and said goodbye to Adam.
We’ll do this again soon, huh?
Evan snorted but didn’t answer.Sandy waved to him as he left and gave him a huge smile.Was she flirting with him?Should he think about asking her out?She was pretty and seemed nice, or as nice as he could see from their limited interactions.But what if they went out and she realized it was a lot harder to communicate with a Deaf guy than merely taking his order at a bar and grill?Or what if they dated even more, then broke up?Could he go back to Barney’s with her working there?That would be more than a little awkward.
The truth was he didn’t really want to ask her out.Or any other woman he’d met recently.Which really stunk because he couldn’t have Mercedes, yet he didn’t want anyone else.Maybe someday he’d find a woman who could stir his emotions as much as she did.He could dream, right?
The ride home was fast, and he tried not to make much noise as he came in.The only light on in the house was the dim one on the end table in the living room.He didn’t intend to look in, but his head had other plans.Mercedes was on the couch, her head resting against the throw pillow on the end.Was she asleep?He didn’t wait to see.
Ten minutes later, freshly showered and in a pair of gym shorts for the night, he finally approached the living room.She didn’t stir.
It was almost ten.She was often asleep by this time.Should he wake her so she could go to bed?Or carry her there?Ha.Like he was a white knight on a steed carrying the damsel off to safety.
Instead, he stood there, staring at her perfect features, her gorgeous hair in curls around her face.She already wore her pajamas, a loose pair of shorts and matching short sleeve top.They left her toned arms and legs bare.She was so beautiful.If she woke up and saw him, though, he’d seem like a creep.
The light blanket she always kept on the back of the couch had half fallen down.He picked it up and carefully covered her with it, then pushed a strand of hair away from her eyes.With a deep sigh, he eased out of the room and went to bed.
Chapter Nine
The late afternoon sun distorted much of the stands, obscuring Evan’s view of the people sitting there.However, Mercedes stood out above the crowd.Her halo of golden brown curls and her hands waving exuberantly were quite apparent.Today, his sister sat next to her.Blake was on call and had a sick child in the children’s ward, so she’d had some time free.
The opponent’s batter hit the ball, and it flew skyward.Evan positioned himself under it and adjusted until he was right there to catch it.Yes!Third out and last up for the other team.As he trotted back to the dugout, he saw Carli and Mercedes doing the deaf cheer, hands waving back and forth, fingers spread wide.He was glad to see things had become normal again for them.For him, anyway.No way to know if Mercedes had ever noticed him being awkward.After the other night, he’d decided to simply let things progress naturally.
Some of the other guys noticed Mercedes and Carli, too.Half of his teammates were also Deaf and many of the others had friends or relatives who were.It made signing between them easier.Often freaked out their opposing team as well.
Your cheerleader is back,Mick signed.And she’s wearing a short little red skirt.Our colors.
She’s also got some pompoms.Shake it up, Don said while twisting his hips back and forth.Mercedes had actually purchased a small set of shakers in red.He still couldn’t believe it.
She’s cheering for me, you boneheads.Don’t get all excited.Evan tipped his water bottle back and took a long swig once inside the dugout.He wasn’t up to bat for a few.
She could get me very excited.Mick peeked toward the stands.You need to bring her to every game.
Evan glared at his teammate.I don’t need you goofballs slobbering all over my roommate.
How exactly did that happen again?Aaron asked with a frown.I never have anyone that hot want me to room with them.
She’s been my sister’s roommate for years, and we’ve known each other since we were kids.
Mick’s eyes bugged out.So you inherited her when your sister moved out?Nice.
You really lucked out.Don made a face.My sister lives with her four cats.I don’t have any desire to inherit them.One of them hates me and makes it his life’s goal to scratch or bite me every time I visit.
