Page 32 of Game Plan
"You won't," I told her. I suddenly had an uneasy feeling about bringing her here at all. She seemed more at home in a place like Gianna's, or the corner burger joint. So did I, to be honest, but I wanted tonight to be special. I wanted to give her an experience she couldn't have at a burger place.
"If you do, we'll go for ice cream afterward."
Her eyes lit up at that. "Promise?"
I held out my little finger. "Pinky swear." The moment her finger wrapped around mine, the world stopped. I could hardly breathe. My head felt light. Every drop of blood rushed down into my dick. How could one tiny digit be so soft and warm and perfect there, entwined with mine?
We shook and her finger slipped away. The world started again, but my finger felt cold without hers.
I realised I sat with my hand in the air and lowered it to the table.
"So…" It took too long for the blood to return to my brain so I could think again. "Uh, nice view." I meant her, but she looked out over the city.
"I can see my work from here," she said. "And yours."
I smiled. Humpbacks Stadium was visible from just about anywhere. That and the hockey stadium were the biggest landmarks in Lowball Bay. I loved a good game of ice hockey, even though the Sea Dragons sucked. They knew how to entertain the crowd. That took the sting off losing almost every game.
I drew in a slow breath of evening air. I traveled all over the country and a good part of the world, but I liked it better here than anywhere.
"Ostentatious, isn't it?" The words carried from a few tables over. "All that money for sport. I heard it cost millions to build. What a waste."
I grimaced. You couldn't please everyone, I supposed. Still, that place made a lot of people happy, from players to fans.
Becca patted my hand with her fingertips. "I used to feel the same way," she admitted. "Then I saw how hard you worked at practice, and how much pleasure you bring to your fans."
"Well, I mean…" I puffed out my chest, pretending not to be touched by how similar our thoughts were. "You watched us practice?"
She pulled her hand back and tucked her arms around herself. "I used to watch you sometimes, when we were in school, after class. I didn't think you ever noticed."
"I…" I felt like shit for past me, once again, making her feel like crap. "I was pretty focused on what was happening on thefield. I never paid much attention to the stands, unless they were cheering or jeering." I'd had my fair share of both.
I could almost see her thinking. Her posture relaxed gradually.
"Yeah, I guess you were busy, and the bleachers were usually packed, even for practice. And—" She drew the word out. "I sat in the back so you wouldn't see me."
"I'm sure I would have noticed if I'd known to look," I assured her. "You would have been the cutest girl there."
She snorted. "No I wasn't, and we both know it. I was covered in freckles and teenage self-loathing."
"You seemed confident to me," I said honestly. "Smart, and driven to get where you wanted. And you did, right?"
Her face was a little pink. "Yes, I did, but I was never sure about getting there. For a while I thought about teaching, or working in a store."
"I'd buy stuff from you," I said.
"What if I didn't sell any stuff you needed, or wanted?" she asked. "I might have sold period products, or bras."
I rested my elbow on the table and pressed my finger to my lower lip. "Can't you have sold shoes or peanut butter instead?"
She laughed. "Or adult toys."
I snapped my fingers. "Now you're talking. What kind do you like?" I leaned back in my seat with a smile, knowing she walked herself right into that one.
"I'm not telling you that," she said, her mouth in a determined line. The widening of her pupils betrayed her lips, though.
"I'll figure it out," I said. And when I did, I'd buy her one in every colour. If that wasn't the way to a woman's…heart, I didn't know what was.
She glanced around, clearly done with this area of conversation. "Do they bring menus at some point? Or food?"
