still sitting in their patch of clover. “Might isn’t enough. I need a definite yes, or it’s not worth my time.”
“Yes.” The kid barely whispers the word. I get it. I understand how heavy that chip on your shoulder can be.
“Okay, then. I’ll see you here tomorrow after school.”
He eyes Kayla whizzing through the tire obstacle course with her knees high and her back straight. “Is it for everyone or just guys, because the girls will hold us back.”
“It’s everyone or no one.”
He says nothing, just continues staring at Kayla.
“Take it or leave it, kid.”
“Fine, I’ll take it.”
I slap him on the shoulder that feels like a piece of granite. The kid really is built. “Great.” I stick my fingers in my mouth and whistle. “Okay, we’ll take a ten-minute break. Go inside and grab a drink of water, then we’ll come back and run some patterns.”
The group lets out a collective whoop, then file inside. I move to the edge of the building where I placed the orange pylons.
“… nothing to worry about, Mr. Clark.” I would recognize Brad Watson’s sniveling voice anywhere. I peek around the side of the center and see him on his phone. “I’ve spoken to Elva Clayton, and she’s assured me that she’ll sell me the property.”
What? That can’t be right. True, Elva never made any promises, but I can’t believe she’d sell without even speaking to me and Tiger. I should’ve pushed her for a commitment.
“I know what she said, Mr. Clark, but I had a long talk with her last night over dinner, and I’m certain she’s willing to sell to us. Of course, I had to offer her more money and promise to come to her house for dinner every Thursday for the foreseeable future, but it’s worth it. She’s just a lonely old woman, easy enough to handle.” The smugness in Brad’s voice makes me want to tackle him to the ground.
Well, he’s not getting away with this. He’s taking advantage of a poor, lonely woman, who just wants a little company.
The kids begin to file out of the building, but only five of the twelve are present. “Where is everyone?” I ask Kayla.
“Parents picked them up.”
“Where are your parents?”
Kayla scratches the back of her left arm with her right hand. “My mom sometimes has to work late, so I usually walk home with Jared and Cam. Sometimes the Twinkies walk with us, if their grandmother can’t get here in time.”
A plan begins to form. I eye my Bugatti in the parking lot and whip out my phone. “Do you all know how to get in touch with your parents or grandparents?”
Jared points to Kayla and Cam, who are both his age. “We do, but I’m not sure about the Twinkies.”
“We know Gaga’s number. We had to memorize it before we started kindergarten,” one of the twins says with enough indignation to sink a ship.
“Great, call your parents and your Gaga, and let me talk to them.”
They each take the phone, and ten minutes later, the six of us are walking to Elva Clayton’s house. The kids think we’re going to visit and have dinner, but I know what it really is.
A quarterback sneak.
Thirty-Four
Tiger
I push out of the double doors of City Hall into the late afternoon sun. It took me longer at the title office than I expected, and now I’m anxious to get to the rec center and relieve Cash. I was surprised when he volunteered, so I don’t want to take advantage of him.
Lost in thought and in a hurry, I run straight into Brad. “Oh, sorry. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.”
He holds my shoulders to steady me. “No problem. Are you alright?”
“Fine.” I quickly move out of his hold and he lets me.
“Well, I better be going.” He won’t meet my eyes, and he isn’t his usual let’s get back together self. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy about that last part, but his desire to get rid of me is making the hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention.
I search his handsome face. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” His lips are sticking out like they do when he’s lying.
He tries to move past me, but I stop him with a hand to his arm. “What’s going on, Brad?”
“I said, nothing.”
“You’re lying.”
His hands go to his waist. “Fine, if you must know, Elva and I have come to an agreement. She’s selling the land the rec center sits on to the