Brady gave a confident smirk. “For Jewel to calm down.”
“Oh.” Azalea pursed her lips. Calm down about what? His intentions or the breakup? Azalea kept quiet to see if he would reveal any more information, but he didn’t continue. Instead, he eyed her up and down, the look making Azalea rather uncomfortable.
“How long have you been on a league?”
She clenched her jaw. Maybe his crush wasn’t quite over. “Seven years.”
“Wow. I’m awful at bowling.”
“Ah.” She didn’t give an answer that would encourage any conversation, but she would have to figure out how to talk to him at some point. They did live in a small town. There was no way to avoid him forever. She was saved by the bell when Jean arrived back—Brady occupied her seat.
He got up and left the table, giving Azalea a lingering look. Jean turned to face her. “I’m not sure that’s wise, Azalea.”
Azalea snorted. “It wouldn’t be, but I’m not interested anyway.”
Their voices were hushed so Brady couldn’t hear them, nor anyone else in vicinity. The last thing Azalea needed was a rumor that she was dating her best friend’s ex-boyfriend and her former student with an eleven-year age gap to boot. Especially with her being the older woman. The gossip in town would fly and no one would be able to contain it.
Jean eyed her carefully. “You be careful, girlie.”
“Oh, I plan on it. I think Jewel might stab me in my sleep if she thought anything was going on.”
Jean busted out laughing, her eyes watering. “You’re probably right.”
Their food was settled in front of them as the rest of the team joined. It didn’t take them long to get through dinner, and their plates were cleared just before their second game. As they set up the roster for the next game, Azalea volunteered to bowl last. She watched her teammates go one at a time, cheering them on. Those around them watching also joined in the fun with their cheers.
She lost herself in the game. It felt so good to relax into something that didn’t take too much brain power or tax her emotionally. She needed it after her week with Jewel. She’d always be there to support her best friend, but sometimes it was just damn hard to listen to the pain her friend was in and not be able to immediately fix it.
The game flew by, their scores going up and up. Azalea kept peeking at the neighboring game to compare. It was going to be a close one. In the end, it was she and Jean that won it for them. They shared a joyful hug for celebration. After they cleaned up their area and packed away their gear, Azalea grabbed her bag and headed for her car. She’d be back next week to play and hopefully win again.
She shoved her bag into the back seat and was just shutting the door when Brady came strutting over to her. Azalea muttered, “What now?”
“Hey,” he said, again by way of a greeting.
“Did you need something?” She was clipped in her tone, but she was hitting her limits. He eyed her, his gaze dropping from her face to her breasts and back up. She would have shuddered, but she didn’t want to give him the wrong impression of what it meant.
“You’re really good at bowling.”
“Thank you.” Her voice was soft.
Brady stepped right up to her and touched a hand to her arm. Azalea looked up at him, her much shorter form making him seem taller than he actually was. She shied away from the fingers wrapping around her upper arm, but he kept his grip. It wasn’t firm, but she would have to take a full step away from him to break his grasp.
“I was wondering, since I’m not with Jewel now…”
She knew where the conversation was going before he had even started. That damn crush had never gone away. “Brady, I’m going to stop you right there.”
He gave her a confused look.
She sent him a pitying look. “I will not go on a date with you.”
Brady paled before he stiffened, but his damn hand still didn’t move.
“There are so many reasons as to why, I’m not even sure where to start.”
He shook his head. “Because of Jewel?”
“She’s one reason. She’s my best friend, and you know that. I won’t do that to her.”
“What if she was okay with it?” He pleaded.
“She won’t be,” Azalea asserted. “I promise you, and I wouldn’t even begin to force her to make that decision. It would be awful of me. But you’re my former student, Brady. I watched you grow up. I’m not going to date a former student of mine.”
“Lots of teachers do it.”
“Lots of teachers do not.” Azalea stepped away then, reaching for the handle on the driver’s door. “The answer is no. I’m not going to date you.”
Brady drew in a slow, deep breath. To his credit, he didn’t move any closer to her. It took him a minute, but he nodded at her and gave a wan smile. “Thanks for being honest.”
“Any time.”
He walked toward his truck. Azalea slipped behind the wheel of her car, tension riding in her shoulders. She should have expected that with the way the night had been going, but she figured he wouldn’t be so stupid. Then again, he hadn’t been her star student either. Turning the car on, she threw it into reverse and backed out of the parking space. It took her less than five minutes to get to her three-bedroom home on the other side of town. The weekend could not get there fast enough.