Something about how his jeans slouch down his hips, the equipment he’s carrying, and the broad shoulders that stretch out his casual t-shirt remind me of a firefighter.
His smile is shy. “Did someone call for a kitten rescue?”
Chapter 10
Taysom
“Taysom?”Charlotte’sbrowsclimb.“Where’s Kyle?”
I shift my stance, hesitating. I hadn’t thought it would be a big deal to see Charlotte Mercer at the Center today. But she’s cute and seeing her reminded me of when I attempted to ask her out a few years ago.
Back then, I was instantly interested. I’d just joined the Wolves and the attention and media coverage was…a lot. Don’t get me wrong, it was exciting. I had fans and a lot of people started recognizing me.
It was a weird feeling, but the effect of the fame on my dad was problematic. He responded in such a flashy way that was, frankly, embarrassing. The more he turned outward, the more I turned inward.
But seeing Charlotte on campus that day felt good. Like a part of me was home again. Like I could relax a little.
By the time she had to leave for class, I was trying to gather up the nerve to ask for her number. It shouldn’t have been hard—she was just my best friend’s little sister.
But she’d grown up and I found her both entirely new and like someone I already deeply knew.
When people started coming up to us and asking for my autograph, the vibe between us changed, though, and she told me if I really wanted her number, I’d know who to ask.
I knew she meant her brother, and I was going to, but then my dad told me he was getting remarried, which was difficult for me. I never ended up talking to Kyle about Charlotte’s number.
And then it took six more years for me to see her again. It wasn’t like I was avoiding her. It was that we ran in completely different circles, and it just never happened.
And now, she’s standing here, in blue and pink plaid pajama pants and a t-shirt, her hair down, wavy gold and burnt orange, like the glow of the sunset.
“I was at Kyle’s when you called about the cat.” I shrug. “He had a work thing come up, so I told him I’ve got you.”
She works her jaw in surprise before answering. “Well, don’t you have practice in the morning?”
“It’s the off season. I’m meeting with my trainer at ten, but other than that, I’m free. If there was any time of the year to have a kitten emergency, it’s now.”
She eyes my grocery bag. “And you just happened to have kitten saving supplies on hand?”
“I made a stop. Did you know Walmart carries kitten formula? I lucked out.”
“So we’re going to bribe him with food?” Her face looks dubious.
“You got a better idea?”
She traps her lips in between her teeth. “I guess I’m desperate.”
I can’t help the chuckle that leaks out.
She rolls her eyes and crosses her arms over her chest. “Don’t flatter yourself, Taysom Reed.”
A mournful meow punctures the silence. “He’s really not happy, is he?” I grab the flashlight out of my canvas bag, set both bags down on the wooden porch, and then take the three steps down to the sidewalk, bending down to shine a light into the cracks between the boards.
“Aw, he’s cute. Much smaller than he sounds.”
“I know. I don’t know how he got in there, but he seems scared. Do you think he’s hurt?” Charlotte sits down on the top step and peers in between two of the boards that have a bigger than normal space between them.
“I’ve never had a cat.” I frown. “I always wanted a pet, but it was too big to ask my mom, and now with my football schedule, it would be impossible.”
“I’ve never had a pet either. Both my parents are allergic,” Charlotte says.
