“You owe that guy a blow job.”
“Janice!”
“What?I’m just saying.If it was me, I would have given him one already and called it even.”
Giselle remained silent.If things had escalated with Tony in my kitchen that day, I might have given him one.
Janice poked Giselle’s back.“Or have you?You’re being too quiet right now.”
That girl has crazy intuition!Or am I that easy to read?“No, but he’s been helping me ever since I got hurt.He came over and we made out once.That’s it.”
“Meh, you’re such a prude,” Janice said.She grabbed Giselle’s butt.“I had fun with you, but get yourself some real dick.That guy is hot.Don’t leave him begging.”
Janice climbed out from behind and stood on the carpet to stretch.She looked sexy even doing that.She went into the bathroom, then returned holding both sets of clothes.She threw Giselle’s garments on top of her.“Coming to the game on Saturday?”
“Hell yes,” Giselle answered, slipping on her sweats and t-shirt.“How’s the team feeling?”
“Great,” Janice responded, getting dressed.“Practices have been really good.We feel strong and synchronized.It’s going to be fun.”She grabbed her keys and headed for the front door.“See you around.”
And just like that, she knocks me flat and lets herself out like nothing happened.Giselle smiled.I’ll have to take her advice and try some real dick next time.
Chapter Nine
Season’s End
“Late again!”Nigel yelled the moment Giselle shuffled into the auto dealership on Wednesday morning.
“Are you serious?”she fired back while struggling through the glass doors.“You do see I’m on crutches, right?I can’t exactly sprint across the parking lot after finding a space a mile away.My temporary disabled placard hasn’t arrived yet.”
“That sounds like ayouproblem,” Nigel responded, his face turning purple.“You just had a couple days off, and now you’re taking advantage of my leniency by waltzing in here past the appropriate start time.”
Where’s my soccer ball?I want to launch it at his face!“Thank you for having mercy on me and allowing some rightful time off that I earned through company policy.Should I start work now, or do you wish to keep talking in the showroom lobby?”
It appeared Nigel would faint from lack of air as his face turned even darker.“Get to work, Giselle.I’ll have additional words for you later.”He turned and stormed into his office.
“What an ass-hat!”Ralph uttered in a low voice as he stepped out of his office.“I heard every word.I have your back, Giselle.I’ll make sure to witness all your exchanges with him.It will beourmemorandum for record on that bonehead.”
Giselle patted Ralph on the shoulder.“Thank you, my friend.You’re the only person keeping me sane around here.”
“Same,” he replied.“Nigel is just a power-hungry jerk.I think he gets off on hiring people, treating them bad, then firing them just so he can start over and get high again.The turnover here is insane.”He shook his head.“Anyway, lunch is on me today.”He waved and trudged back to his office.
Over the next couple days, Giselle grew accustomed to her new lifestyle on one leg.Thankfully, her driving foot remained intact as she continued traveling to work and running errands around town.She kept her trips short, ensured easy access to her destination and tasks, and most of all, remained careful about overdoing things to avoid further injury.
The only bright spot to a rough week back at work had been the developing relationship with Tony.Ever since their disastrous make-out session, they had exchanged a combination of flirty texts and serious phone calls.Unfortunately, the few extra minutes on her phone each day had led to her falling into a Nigel trap.
One afternoon, he caught her staring at her device.Naturally, he accused her of wasting several hours when she had only taken two minutes for a text exchange.A memorandum for record later, and Giselle had to resort to messaging or speaking to Tony while in the restroom or during lunch.
On Friday, she breathed a sigh of relief after making it through the week.She had only started on Wednesday after her leave, but Nigel’s continued aggression made her time at the office seem like a month.She brightened when a text from Tony buzzed her phone:I’m picking you up tomorrow and taking you to the game.
Giselle smiled.Tony’s statement lacked preemptive questions, and it reminded her of Janice’s candid approach to life.It felt refreshing, friendly, and not intrusive or subjective at all.Aside from gladly accepting help, she had planned to attend the finals between the Bolts and the Lancers.Tony would be present to ref the match, so it worked out for both to travel together.
On Saturday morning, Giselle grew excited upon waking.She looked forward to the game and cheering for Janice.However, the thought of her and Tony growing closer provided the biggest thrill.They hadn’t seen each other since he bought her groceries, but it felt sweet the way he always contacted her to ensure she remained all right.The game—and hopefully the weekend—would offer plenty of opportunities to be together.
She asked Tony to come early so she could cook him breakfast.After he arrived, Giselle had to push him back into his chair at least twice when he insisted on helping her prepare the food.She proved perfectly capable of limping around her own kitchen.Sitting at the tiny dining room table, the pair consumed a hearty meal and headed for the game.
At Stone Bluff Sports Park, rabid fans packed both sides of the field to watch the finals in the River Rush County League.Multiple cities and teams had been eliminated after an exciting season.In the bleachers, not a single space remained.Fans also crammed the open grass areas in beach chairs or sat on coolers and blankets.All around, team colors flashed proudly on clothes and waved on banners.Chants boomed.Hands cupped around mouths and hollered.People laughed during exchanges of friendly banter.Nachos, hotdogs, popcorn, sweet treats, and soft drinks stuffed hands and sat across laps in cardboard trays.
After Tony escorted Giselle safely to her seat, he trotted out to midfield to converse with the head referee.In the first row of bleachers, she sat next to Coach Jess, Vanessa, and several Rapids who had saved her a spot.Giselle’s skin prickled from the electric atmosphere, the excitement and anticipation of a great match between the league’s best.She observed the Bolts warming up on the sidelines.
