Page 16 of Catching the Coach
“I don’t.”
Her eyes shoot back to mine and I hold her gaze. We stare at each other for a few seconds before a loud belch interrupts our silent thoughts.
“Hudson!” Lucy laughs. “Manners, please. I did raise you with manners.”
“Sorry. Excuse me,” Hudson says, a yawn following his apology.
Lucy looks at her watch. “Oh man, it’s later than I realized. Hud, go grab some boxes from Tony please.”
Hudson does as he’s asked, leaving us alone at the table. Lucy busies herself with stacking plates and gathering the napkins littering the table. I lay my hand on hers, stopping her. She stills and stares at our hands.
“I’d really like to see you again. Maybe take you out on a date?”
“Why?” She breathes out.
I exhale a laugh. “Well that’s what people do when they’re interested in someone.”
“But, you don’t. You don’t even know me.”
“That’s kinda the point of a date.”
She shakes her head. “I, I don’t know.”
I squeeze her hand. “You don’t have to decide now.” I let go of her hand and turn mine over. “Here, give me your phone.”
“Wh, why?”
“So I can put my number in it,” I say as if it’s obvious.
She digs her phone out of her purse and places it in my palm. I type my number in and save the contact. I take a selfie and put it as my contact picture. I hand it back to her and she looks at the screen. She raises her eyebrows and gives me a smirk. “World’s Sexiest Catcher?”
“I didn’t want you to get me confused with anyone else.”
She chuckles. “Yes, because I have so many other Kesslers in my phone, especially ones with your picture. Do, do you want me to put my number in yours?”
“I would love nothing more than to have your number. But, I’m going to let you contact me. I don’t want to rush you, and if I had your number, I’d be calling you and texting you every possible second of the day.”
Her cheeks flush red again, but Hudson comes back then, so nothing more is said. We place our leftovers in the boxes and head to the front to pay. Marie greets us when we get to the front.
“Kessler, Lucy, Hudson! It’s so nice to see you guys!” she says. Marie is one of Tony’s four daughters and around my age. She comes around the counter and gives us all a hug. “Dad said your pizzas are on the house tonight,” she holds out her hand, “before you argue, you know it’s not going to do you any good, so you might as well save your breath.”
Lucy rolls her eyes but gives her a huge smile and another hug. “We need to have girls’ night when our schedules align. It’s just been way too long.”
“Absolutely sign me up. I’m in need of wine and gossip,” Marie says, looking from Lucy to me and back to Lucy. “Apparently there’s lots to catch up on.”
Lucy blushes and looks at me, then back at Marie. “There might be.”
We say our goodbyes and head out the door. When we get to the cars, I open Lucy’s door for her. She gives me a shy smile and climbs in. I shut the door and she rolls down her window. “Thank you again, Kessler.”
“Bye, Mr. Davis!” Hudson yells from the passenger seat.
I give him a wave, then look back at Lucy. “I look forward to hearing from you.” I give her car a few taps, then head back towards my truck.
CHAPTERSIX
lucy
I’m sittingin my office Friday morning prepping for my patients for the day when Rhonda, our receptionist, comes in with a familiar peach-colored box and a large cold brew coffee.
