Slowing his steps, he scanned the silver numbers on the whitedoors.
“Pst.”
He spun around to see a woman with short pink hair and a jean jacket. She had sunglasses that covered half her face and a purse the size of his trunk. “You lookin’ for someone?” she asked with a New Yorkaccent.
He turned away quickly, not wanting to engage in conversation. “I’mfine.”
He took two more steps before she sing-songed, “You’re gettingcolder.”
One—two—three—four. Breathe in. Breathe out.He didn’t want to be rude, but this woman wascuckoo.
“Colder.”
The stupid numbers were too small to see from the walkway. He’d have to be up close to make them out. The sun beating down on the white doors didn’t helpmuch.
“Lon-don Wild-er runnin’ round. Better watch out because he’ll take you down. Go London, yeah, yeah, go London.” She threw both fists into the air and shook them as if holding pom-poms.
The brick path suddenly felt unstable. “How did you …?” She’d performed the cheer they’d done for him in high school. “Do I know you?” London squinted as he took several steps closer. The woman carried the majority of her weight on her long left leg. She had a pointy chin and her lips were different. There wasn’t a dip in the middle. “Maia,” hewhispered.
She giggled. “Had you going there for aminute.”
He should have said something funny back, but his head was blank because Maia was standing right over there, grinning at him. He crossed the space between them and scooped her up in his arms. She slid her arm around his neck and hungon.
“You shouldn’t be walking.” She weighed less than he bench-pressed. He could carry her around all day and not be tired. In fact, he might just suggest that to her. A day with Maia in his arms would be the best day of hislife.
She patted his back. “Probably not. Does that ruin ourdate?”
He started for his car, still holding her in his arms. The old couple was gone, probably safely tucked in their bungalow for an afternoon siesta. “Not at all.” He hit the button on his key to unlock thecar.
A group of teenagers giggled their way down the street. They had long hair and wore shirts with Maia’s character on the front. The one closest watched them for a minute longer than the rest. She broke off and jogged over to them. “Here, let me open the door foryou.”
“Thanks,” London replied. He didn’t want to have to put Maia down to get thedoor.
“Are you guys stayinghere?”
Maia nodded but didn’tspeak.
“Have you seenMaia?”
London froze. Maia’s arm tightened around his neck. No doubt she was having the same worries he’d had about being mobbed by enthusiastic fans. He glanced over to see that the Good Samaritan’s friends had noticed she was missing and waited for her to catch up, eyeing the way London held Maia withcuriosity.
When they didn’t answer, the girl kept talking. “We heard she was staying in the hotel, so we came down to see if we could get an autograph. Angela is, like, her biggest fan. She can sing all her songs and she sounds just like her. But Heather has hair like hers in the movie. I’m so jealous. I’ve been trying to grow mine out for like for-ev-er and it’s soslow.”
London stepped forward and leaned over to nestle Maia into the passenger seat. He stepped back and the teen shut thedoor.
“Is she okay?” asked the girl quietly. There was no hint she’d recognized either ofthem.
London nodded. “I’m beingoverprotective.”
The girl crossed her hands over her heart. “I want a boyfriend likeyou!”
London shuffled his feet. He didn’t mind being an example on the field. Kids watched him play and wanted to grow up to be London Wilder. He was okay with that kind of pressure. Even when he volunteered at sports camps or fundraisers, he knew he was in the spotlight. His mom would tell him to be above reproach because he never knew who waswatching.
However, having someone look at his private life and judge the type of boyfriend or even husband he could be was completely different. He didn’t grow up with an example he could follow. He had to feel his way through a relationship like a blind man. Which was probably why he hadn’t dated anyone seriously since Maia. There were a couple girls in college who tried, but he never let it become serious enough, and they eventually lost interest. Once he made the pros, it was easy to keep women to the three-date minimum. “I—hope you find a guy who treats you realnice.”
Shesmiled.
“Ashley, come on!” called one of herfriends.
