Page 120 of Colliding with Ten

“So you have a crush on her?”

Jace shot me a look of revulsion. “Don’t ever say that again.”

“Say what?”

“That word,” he said. “Crush.”

I crossed my arms. “That’s what this is.”

He scoffed. “Grown men don’t have crushes. That’s middle school behavior.”

“And yet, as a grown man, you want an introduction.” I smiled. “You like her.”

“Where do you come up with this stuff?”

“Well, you stopped eating and asked me for help. And still, no denial.”

He opened his mouth, closed it, then rolled his eyes. “This is why I don’t tell you things.”

I clapped him on the shoulder. “Lies. You tell me lots of things.”

He shook me off. “Just don’t say ‘crush’ anymore.”

I stepped back toward the mirror and adjusted the jacket. “Fine.”

He exhaled, victorious. He grabbed another napkin, very focused on wiping his hands. “You gonna help me?”

I turned back to the mirror and adjusted the jacket. “I said I would, but you have to behave.” I gave him a smirk that I knew would annoy him.

“Cut it out.”

I wiggled my eyebrows at him, making him sweat for a minute. Then I put him out of his misery. “Okay.”

Behind me, Jace grinned.

I looked in the mirror one more time. The man looking back had it together, and I was satisfied. Jace appeared behind me.

“Thoughts?” I asked.

He eyed me, then nodded. “That’s fire. If she’s watching, she’s calling you that night.”

I adjusted the collar, hoping he was right.

28

THE SOUND BITE

LENNOX

The camera light switched on. We sat on couches, a background arranged to resemble a living room. A low coffee table separated us, with a bookshelf behind.

She smiled. “Before we start, I have to admit something.”

I nodded.

“I was a little nervous about this interview,” she continued.

That caught me off guard. Zariah Brooks had interviewed Hall of Famers and coaches who ate defensive coordinators for breakfast. Nervous wasn’t a word I expected from her.