He keeps coming towards us and then stops just a foot or so in front of us. I take a breath and lift my chin. “Slater Thorne.”
“Tessa Parker,” he surprises me by returning. Evie must have told him my name. He looks at Hayes and then back at me. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, security. I work security at nights.”
His gaze never strays from my face. “Security?”
“Yes. I’m here to keep the streets safe and the students secured.”
“Keep the streets secured and the students safe,” Hayes corrects quietly.
“Aw stink. I always get them confused. Anyway...” I smile brightly. “I’m here to protect and serve.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s the police,” Hayes mumbles.
“I got it, Hayes,” I respond tightly.
Slater narrows those dark gray eyes at me. “Why are you doing security?”
“Oh. I had nothing else to do. I figure I’d stay out all night and keep the student population secure.”
“Safe,” Hayes mutters next to me.
I turn to him. “If I want to keep the students secure, would you let me please?” I turn back to Slater. “All right then. We are going to do security now. Aren’t we, Hayes?” He glances at Slater and then back at me and gives me a slow nod. I pull open the door and stride inside. Hayes hurries to catch up with me.
“You know Slater Thorne?”
“Not really.”
“But he talked to you. He never talks to anybody.”
I laugh. “Well, that’s obviously because of his charming personality.”
We walk through the large workout center, and Hayes shows me where to scan our card to register that this building has been cleared by security. “This is my third year doing security, and that guy’s never said a word to any of us.”
I shrug. “I don’t know.”
“Hey,” he snags my arm. “Can you get him to autograph something for me?”
“Why?” I ask in confusion.
“Because when he goes pro in a few years, he’s going to be famous.”
I don’t argue with that because it’s probably a pretty accurate assessment. “I really don’t know him,” I try again.
“Yeah, but he talked to you.” There are more soccer players present now, and I smile to myself when I recognize the guys I root for. “Will you at least try?” Hayes continues.
I finally turn to him. “Hayes.” I take a breath. “I don’t know Slater Thorne personally, but my friend does andshesaid he’s a jerk. And she loves everybody.” I am suddenly aware that the entire room has gone silent. I meet Hayes’s wide eyes and close my eyes for just a moment until I hear a low voice right behind me.
“Evie called me a jerk?”
I blow out a breath of frustration.How do I get myself into these situations?I paste on a smile and turn around. “Slater. Hi. I was just talking about you.”
“Yeah. Got that.” His voice is flat and devoid of emotion.
Before I can say something to get myself out of this mess, Bruce, one of his teammates stands next to him and grins. “She’s got your number, Slate. But if you don’t want her, I’ll take her off your hands. What’s your name, Sweetheart?”
I eye him and keep the smile on my face. “Aw, did you call me Sweetheart?”
