“Need backup?”
“Nah. Gonna see if I can follow him to figure out where he goes after this.”
“Cool. Bring back a beer.”
“Got it.”
Maneuvering through the seats and excited fans is a pain in the ass, but I finally make it to the concession level, searching for the target. I find him standing in line for beer. Perfect.
I’m several people behind him, but I’ve got eyes on him, which is more than I can say recently. When he gets to the counter, the guy behind it smiles and they share a bro hug across the counter.
“Boone, my man. Haven’t seen you in a few weeks.”
Boone? I shuffle a little closer. Did I get it wrong somehowand this guy just looks a lot like my target? Couldn’t be. I spot the unusual tattoo on his neck. It has to be him.
“Hey, man. I’ve been around. How are you and the kids?”
“Nothing to complain about. You want a beer and a pretzel?”
The target chuckles. “You know me well.”
The guy behind the counter hands the target a beer and a warm pretzel wrapped in paper, and as he pays, I make a move, getting in position behind him. When he turns around, he bumps right into me, dropping the pretzel on the ground.
“Shit, man, I’m sorry.” I crouch at the same time as he does. “Let me get you a new one.”
The target studies my face, his eyes searching mine. “Sorry. I didn’t see you.”
“My fault.” I smile, rising slowly. “Uh, can we get another pretzel on me?” I ask the guy behind the counter. “I made him drop his.”
“Yeah, of course,” the guy says.
Patrick—or Boone, maybe—is still studying me. I offer my hand. “I got too excited. This game is awesome, right?”
The target nods, hesitantly shaking my hand. “Yeah, definitely. Who’s your favorite player?”
“Bouche.” I answer easily, because that’s the only real name I know. “But Landham is exciting,” I add, remembering what Carnage told me. “Yours?”
“I like them all.”
Hmm, not gonna reveal his relative to me. This has to be him. Unless he’s got a twin.
“You here alone?” I ask.
His brows knit together. “Are you hitting on me? Because I’m straight.”
I pull my head back in surprise. “Uh, no, man. Just making conversation. That’s a hell of a jump you made.”
He frowns. “Sorry. I don’t know why I said that.”
“It’s cool.”
I watch him take the new pretzel then shuffle his feet. “I should get back.”
I nod, turning to follow him but he stops me. “Aren’t you going to order anything?”
“Fuck.” I chuckle. “I got distracted.” Damn, he’s observant. No wonder he’s been hard to track.
After I get two beers for me and Carnage I make my way back to our seats, searching the crowd for the target, but his seat is empty. Did I spook him? Fuck. Now I’ll have to wait to hopefully run into him again so I can follow him out. Dammit. He must be on to me.
