“I do. My dad took me for my tenth birthday.” He hesitated for a moment. “My dad was born in Baltimore, so I grew up a Monarchs fan. We were in the nosebleeds, the Monarchs lost the game, and I dropped my hot dog, but none of that mattered.” There was a nostalgic smile that pulled at his lips, and his eyes shined. “That was a great day.”
I studied his face, enjoying the underlying emotions that played across it. “It sounds like it.”
He blinked rapidly as if clearing the memory. “I don’t usually vibe with random strangers like this.”
“Me neither.” I smiled. “Feels like we already knew each other. Like we were already friends.”
“Can I get either of you a refill?” Trina asked, startling me.
Either I was too wrapped up in the conversation, or she was tiptoeing.
I broke eye contact with Lamar, and my head whipped toward her. “Um, I’ll take a water please.”
“I’m good for right now,” he answered, before turning his focus back to me.
My heart was thumping in my chest as I shifted my attention to the television. Even though I was following the play on the screen, I could still feel his eyes on me.
“I like watching you watch the game.”
I turned to look at him, my eyebrow quirked. “Why?”
“Your facial expressions.” With a light chuckle, he stroked his beard. “Your eyes. The way you lock in. You really didn’t see this game?”
“I have an expressive face. And no, I didn’t. I know the Monarchs won this matchup, but I was busy and missed this game during the season.”
“Outside of church, what’s more important on a Sunday than football?”
“This was a Monday-night game, and I had parent-teacher conferences and got home extremely late.”
A smirk twisted his lips. “Which are you? Parent or teacher?”
“Teacher.”
“Nice. I wouldn’t have guessed education.”
“Why not? ‘Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.’” I licked my lips. “That’s a quote from—”
“Malcolm X,” he finished for me.
My heart thumped.
An electric charge surged between us, and I felt it on a cellular level.
Whoa.
Swallowing hard, I tore my eyes from his. “It’s, um… it’s something that I say at the beginning and end of every school year to every class.”
“They’re lucky to have you. How do you like it?” he questioned.
“I enjoy it. It feels like it gets harder every year, but I like a challenge. I was ready for this break though.”
“You have the whole summer off. What are you going to do with it?”
“I’m here for a week. And then… maybe the aquarium or a concert or a date with a book. I don’t know…” I swallowed hard, ready to change the subject. “What about you? I know you’re not in Chance for vacation—there’s three things to do here. So I’m assuming you’re from here.”
“I grew up on the border of Chance and Spring Hill. I went to school in Spring Hill. And you’re right, ain’t shit to do here. I’ve been here for a week, helping my mom with some stuff around her house. I leave on Sunday for a work trip. I come back on Saturday to finish up at Mom’s house, and then I’m heading back up to Maryland.”
I almost choked on my water. “I live in Maryland, too!”
