Page 39 of Off the Mark
Dean’s shoulders shook with restrained laughter.
“Jesus, this fucking neighborhood,” I muttered. Then opened the bag and inhaled the scent of warm pastry, cinnamon, and sugar. “Also,Jesus, your dad is a saint, Tab.”
I looked up to spot Tabitha, gazing down blissfully at Dean, who was cupping her cheek. I averted my eyes, giving them a little privacy, feeling that same weird pinch in my chest I kept getting whenever I saw couples doing…couple-ythings lately.
I didn’t want to think about why doing those same things with Charlie in the bar felt completely natural when it was all pretend.
“I’m not just here to eat donuts and stare at Dean’s handsome face,” Tabitha said, licking powdered sugar from her fingers. Dean blushed into his food. “I’ve got a meeting with Bianca in a few minutes. We’re hoping I can get some quality video content of some of the programs today to use for a fundraising video. Remind the neighborhood what the rec center does and why it’s crucial that its doors stay open.”
“You’re a damnangel,” I said, scanning those same notes. “I was supposed to check in with her about the same thing, but if you’re already meeting that works for me.” I clicked my pen, crossed it off my list. “Tabitha Tyler to the rescue, as always.”
She was a local hero using her skills to promote art programs, social justice issues, community gardens…
And neighborhood rec centers desperately in need of funding.
“Eh, it’s nothing. It’s a slow week for me, and I just wrapped up a big project. Perhaps I could even get an interview with the executive director?”
I shook my head. “Elaine’s in better spirits but barely out of a surgery.”
She cocked her finger at me. “I meant you.”
I laughed it off. “I never say no to having my face on camera. But I’m not sure the public needs to see an interim director who doesn’t know what he’s doing. Doesn’t exactly inspire trust.”
Dean stared at me. “Is that what you think is going on here?”
“It’s what I know,” I said, dropping my elbows to my knees. “Get Eddie to do it. He’ll yell at everyone and make ’em feel bad. Open their wallets right up.”
Tabitha was taking notes with a wry smile. “I love interviewing Eddie, so that’s a given. Still might interview you though.”
“You’ll have to catch me first.”
Her smile widened. “I don’t have to catch you, Rowan. I only need to lead you to the first bar in the city having a ladies’ night. I’ll get that interview when your guard’s down, while you’re flirting with a frenzy.”
I laughed. “I would describe my style of flirting assmoothrather than frenzied, but you make a fair point. I’ve always liked a ladies’ night.”
My stomach twisted as I realized that getting my two closest friends alone in this office was about as good a time as any to spill the beans about Charlie.
“So, uh…speaking offlirting, I’ve got some…uh, news,” I said normally, in a super normal tone of voice.
Dean and Tabitha both paused mid-donut, eyes widening.
“You have flirting news?” he asked.
“It’s not technically what you think,” I started. “But it also kinda is? This old friend’s in town, and I used to know her when I was playing in the minors. And she asked me for some help recently and I, well…agreed to help her.”
Dean’s eyebrows shot way up. “Are we talkin’ about Charlie Maddox here?”
I nodded, but Tabitha interrupted me before I could explain more. “You mean the dirt bike racer?”
“You know who Charlie is?” I asked.
She was already scrolling through her phone, biting the tip of her thumb. “Charlie Maddox is an icon. A film school buddy shot this short documentary last year on women competing at the X Games, and she was featured heavily in it.”
Tabitha turned her screen around and tapped on it. I recognized the promo picture often used when Charlie was in the media. She was standing astride her dirt bike in a tight, all-black outfit and spiky boots that gave mea lotof impure thoughts.
And the secretive smile on her lips was much too dangerous.
“I’m sorry,thisis yourfriend?” Tabitha asked.
