“How many?” An idea begins to form.
“How many you want?”
“Two.” My smile is faint. “For me and Natalie.”
The relief on his face is evident. Did he think I’d bring a guy to the game? The only one I’d ever do that for is Leon, who sort of likes football. I think. Nat, on the other hand? She loves it. “Yeah. Sure. I can leave your name at the ticket booth. All you need to do is go to the will-call window, say your name, and they’ll give them to you.”
“Okay.” I nod, smiling. “Thank you.”
“You’re really coming to my game?” He actually sounds excited, which is…
Cute.
“You’re really not going to fire me as your tutor?” I toss back at him.
His smile fades, replaced with a deep, downright confused frown. “Why would I do that?”
“Because…” I wave a hand between us, “we didn’t get much work done.”
His smile turns wicked, and I swear there’s even a naughty gleam in his eye. “I’d beg to differ, Jo Jo. We got plenty of work done.”
I’m blushing. Even though I don’t know exactly what he’s referring to. “Okay.”
“Yeah. Okay.” He approaches me, his fingers slipping beneath my chin to tilt my head up. I’m trembling from his nearness, the way his fingers seem to caress my skin, and I part my lips, ready to say something…
But no words come out.
The look on his face tells me he knows I’m awkward AF, but he doesn’t mind. Instead, he dips his head, kisses the tip of my nose and steps back before I can do anything.
“See you Saturday?”
“Sure.” My voice is garbled. I don’t even know if he can understand me.
And how is he going to see me Saturday when he’ll be out on the field, playing football? He’ll be swarmed by loads of people after the game too. There’s no chance in hell I’ll get to see him Saturday.
Before I can remind him of all of this, though, he’s gone.
FOURTEEN
KNOX
“What the hellis your problem? You’ve been grinning nonstop since Thursday afternoon.”
This comes from Cam as we’re changing into our uniforms in the locker room. It’s Saturday. Game day, and I’m ready to fucking crush our opponent.
“So?” I try to muster up a scowl, but it’s like I can’t. He’s right.
All I can do is grin.
“Something happen? You get some news you can’t share with any of us yet?” Cam asks, his curiosity obvious. I’m surprised it took him this long to ask.
“No, no news.” But something definitely happened, and I can’t stop thinking about it.
Thinking abouther.
That’s why I have a grin on my face. Why practices have been going well. Why I’ve been sleeping at night instead of tossing and turning and why I got a nine out of ten points on the opening paragraph for my essay.
It’s all thanks to Jo Jo.