Page 119 of Colliding with Ten

“No, but you embarrassed yourself. You had sauce on your face.”

Jace wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and shrugged. “I was eating.”

“She complimented your catch, and you said, ‘good throw’.”

“It was a good throw.”

“Jace.”

“What?”

I stared at him. He stared back. The corner of my mouth pulled into a grin. I think it was the first time this week that I had something to smile about. Grabbing my chosen outfit, I headed for the changing room.

Jace called out, mouth full again. “Wear the intimidating one, bro.”

I didn’t know what the heck he was talking about.

Minutes later, I stepped out and stopped in front of Jace for his opinion.

His head remained bowed. “Introduce me to the reporter.”

I balked. “Absolutely not.”

Jace raised his head. “Why not?”

“Because that would be idiotic. She already introduced herself to both of us.”

He frowned. “That wasn’t an introduction.”

“You were standing right there when she said hi and shook my hand.”

“I had food in my mouth.”

“That doesn’t erase your existence.”

He shook his head, looking disappointed. “Nah. Doesn’t count. I couldn’t speak.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Your job is to help me pick clothes, not to make this worse.”

“I am helping. By expanding your social utility.”

“You want me to walk back in there and say, Hey, remember my teammate who ignored you while chewing brisket?”

Jace shrugged. “You could clean it up.”

As I studied him, I saw he’d stopped eating. His foot bounced against the table leg, and he was suddenly very invested in a woman he’d seen for less than two minutes.

“You like her.”

Jace scoffed. “Man, please.”

“That wasn’t a denial.”

He waved his hand. “I like women in general.”

“And this one in particular?”

“Well . . . she’s a woman.”