I’d opted for my specs today instead of the contacts I almost always wore.
I went back to work organizing the game rentals that had been returned and tried not to think about Gray. He didn’t normally message me during the workday, but when he did, it was such a pleasant surprise because I enjoyed chatting with him more than I’d enjoyed chatting with anyone in my life. And the fact he started a lot of our chats with random questions just endeared me to him further. He was precious and I didn’t do precious normally. I was a straight shooting, no nonsense kind of gal. But Gray was making me giddy. I was being ridiculous. I rolled my eyes at myself as I started to put returned console games back on the shelves.
I’d been working at Level Up since I was sixteen years old. It had been my first and only job and because of that I was now a manager at a mediocre video game store. But, hey, it was a steady paycheck. And it allowed me the flexibility to be home with my pops in the evenings. When he decided to stick around at least. And it was safe, and above all things I liked safety and routine. Besides, I was a gamer. This was kind of my jam. I’d played over half of these games. I was good at this shit.
A couple of hours later and I couldn’t resist anymore. I grabbed my phone and texted Gray back. I was weak when it came to him.
Me: Green.
It was a few minutes before my phone notified me of a text back.
Gray: Green? For real?
I rolled my eyes. Why was this so hard to believe?
Me: Yes. For real. Why?
Gray: Because no one likes green.
Me: Well, apparently that isn’t true. Because I do. What’s your favorite color?
I fully expected for him to come back with navy blue or red like most dudes did.
Gray: Green of course.
I couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
Me: WTF! You just said no one likes green.
Gray: Well, except for me. I love green.
I was smiling my face off. Why was he so damn cute?
Me: You have got to stop being so adorable right this damn minute.
Gray: I can’t. It’s just who I am. Ttyl, Hazeyeyes.
I went about the rest of work grinning and thinking of Gray. I was still doing that and counting the till at the end of the day when my best friend, Scarlett, bounced in all kittens and rainbows. That was just how she was.
“To what do I owe this pleasure?” I asked, putting the cash for the day in a leather bag.
Scarlett grabbed a pack of Skittles from the kiosk in front of me and slapped two dollars on the counter. “I need a favor.”
I nodded. “Okay, what’s up?” Grabbing the cash bag, I walked to the entrance and locked it before heading to the back room to put the money in the safe.
“Well, actually Ollie needs a favor,” Scarlett garbled out around a mouthful of Skittles. It was a good thing she was a drop dead gorgeous redhead with green catlike eyes because Scarlett shoving the little candies in her mouth left a little something to be desired.
My ears perked at the mention of Oliver. I pretended they didn’t. I’d been pretending for years. Oliver, aka Winnie, was my other best friend and my best friend’s little brother. I adored him. A little too much sometimes. At times I thought maybe he even knew me better than my best friend. Which was why I had to put distance between Winnie and me even if I did hate it.
“What’s up with Oliver?” I locked away the cash and grabbed my purse before locking the office up, too, Scarlett following me around, chomping on her Skittles.
“He said his car was giving him trouble today and he almost didn’t make it for football training at the stadium. He wants me to bring him my car so I don’t have to come out tonight and get him since he’ll be late. He’s going to have his towed. Can you follow me over there and then take me home, so I can leave my car there?”
I headed to my car. “Sure. No problem.” There pretty much wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for Oliver or Scarlett. They were practically family to me. I knew they had plenty of family of their own. But I didn’t. So I’d made them mine by default.
“You’re the best.” She smiled sweetly, climbing into her car. She meant it, too. She was just that sweet and good.
“You owe me!” I yelled back, trying to keep things light. Compliments made me uncomfortable and she knew it.
She rolled her eyes and closed her car door.
We pulled into traffic, me behind Scarlett, and I cranked the radio to some R.E.M. and sang along.
It wasn’t long before we pulled into the parking lot of Mint Valley University where Ollie attended college and played ball.
I parked beside Scarlett in the stadium parking lot, which was mostly empty except for a few cars I assumed belonged to football players. “I’ll wait here!” I yelled out the car window to Scarlett.
She shook her head. “Oh, no, you don’t. You know Ollie will want to see you. Besides, it’s a long walk down there to the field. Come keep me company.”
I turned my car off and debated thunking my head against the wheel. I would love to see Ollie, too. But not in his damn football uniform. I knew what it did to me. And it wasn’t pretty, damn it. I mean, he was pretty. But not my reaction. “Fine, I’m coming.” I got out of the car and closed the door, telling myself over and over that I would not look at his ass in those pants the whole ten-second walk over to Scar.
“What did you do today?” I asked Scarlett as we made our way down to the football field.
“I was doing lesson planning. Which, by the way, I got my class roster today and guess what?”
“What?” It was warm out and I was starting to sweat under my hoodie. I was thankful for my short jeans shorts.
“Do you remember Luk Callihan from high school?”
I laughed. “Do I remember Luk Callihan? Do I remember Luk fucking Callihan? Are you joking right now? You lost your mind over that guy and you think I forgot him!”
“Oh my God, Hazel. Quiet down, you maniac. Why don’t you say Luk’s name a little bit louder next time.” Her shut-the-fuck-up eyes probably should have stopped me, but I was Hazel. She should have known better.
I opened my mouth to shout it and was practically tackled to the cement steps we were walking down, and one of Scarlett’s hands covered my mouth. “I swear to fucking God, bitch. I will kill you.” Her crazy eyes stared down at me.
I cackled behind her hand. I loved getting sweet Scarlett worked up. I pried her hand off my mouth just in time to see Oliver walking up behind her.
“What are you two doing goofing off up here?” He smiled, his teeth a blinding white against his bronzed skin. While Scarlett’s skin looked like it had never met the light of day, Ollie’s was the exact opposite. A couple of his brown curls fell over his sweaty forehead and his hazel eyes sparkled at me.
“Brought you my car.” Scarlett stopped tackling me long enough to jangle her keys in front of his face.
I tried not to look at him too hard, instead opting to enjoy the rest of the eye candy on the field near us. All kinds of hot guys wearing green jerseys and white football pants covered the field. There were plenty of hot behinds to ogle down there. See, I didn’t need to check out Ollie’s after all. I was fine. Everything was fine.