“Do you want to walk around and look for her before the game starts?” I offer, knowing it will be nearly impossible to find her. Even the student section is huge at the Big House.
He looks around but doesn’t answer, so I try another option. “Maybe if you call her back and benice,she’ll agree to tell you what section she’s in, and I’ll go find her before the game ends and walk her out.”
Memphis’ features relax a little, and he nods in agreement. I follow him over to a wall and he makes a call.
“Hello.” This time he sounds lessrip your head off. “Thanks for picking up.” I would kind of like to hear what she’s saying to him. Whatever it is, it has his entire focus. “I’m not mad at you. I was worried. I shouldn’t have yelled.” My eyes are about ready to fall out of my head. Memphis Gravlin is being apologetic and comforting her.
“I still don’t think it’s necessary, but if that’s what you want, I’ll deal with it. I just need one thing, Waylynn. I need you to tell me where you are so Bates can come get you and walk you home.” His lip curls up in a snarl, but he says, “Fine, do not forget to text me, Waylynn.” After one more short pause, he tells her, “Good girl. Call me if you need anything,” then he disconnects.
“What the hell was that?” If I didn’t see it for myself, I wouldn’t believe it. Memphis is in love with this girlandhe’s an utter asshole.
He completely misunderstands my question. “She said she would text me before the game ended.”
“Smart girl, I think we all know you would have gone to get her if she told you where she was now.”
“Probably,” he admits with a shrug of indifference.
“You better watch it. A lot of girls won’t put up with that caveman shit,” I warn.
Memphis rubs the side of his face. “Caveman, really?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.”
“I’m not, but I can’t say I understand it,” he confesses. “The first time she spoke to me, she called me Mr. Gravlin, and it re-fucking-wired my brain.”
I laugh but smooth my features when he looks over at me with a scowl. “How many times have you been called Mr. Gravlin?”
“A lot,” he admits, “but not by her.”
“Ah, don’t kid yourself. You’ve always been a controlling bastard.”
“She’s just so…sweet.” He struggles for the word.
I drop down into my seat and look over the players already on the field. “Please don’t make me listen to her call you daddy,” I tease. If that’s what gets them off, I don’t care. Hell, it might be fun.
“No, she called me sir,” he says with a completely straight face. My expression must clue him in that I don’t know if he’s being serious or not. “I programmed myself in her phone under sir.”
I almost make a smartass comment but decide against it. “Whatever makes you happy.”
“She does,” is his simple reply.
TOE THE LINE
Waylynn
The bleachers are hard,and my butt’s so big I feel like I’m taking up two seats. I’ve been avoiding Memphis’ calls, but now that I’m in my seat, I answer. “Hello.”
“Hello. Why didn’t you answer? Where are you?” He sounds angry.
“I got my own ticket. I’m not going to get you in trouble,” I reason.
“What? Tell me where,” he demands.
“No,” I mutter softly, even though it’s hard to deny him. “I’m still here to watch Oswald, and you can watch the game without worrying anyone would see us. It’s for the best.”
“No, it’s not for the best. Tell me where you are. I’ll send Bates to get you.”
“I’ll talk to you later,” I say, then hang up quickly. My stomach is in knots. He sounded mad. I hate that I disappointed him, but I did it for him. I’m not willing to risk getting him in trouble if someone sees us. It’s not worth it.
