Tackling Love - Kathleen Kelly Page 0,19
us a table while I order?”
Blaise walks away as I place our orders with a young girl who knows who I am. She can’t make eye contact and drops one of our drinks on the floor.
“Ahh, Candy? Do you need help?” I ask, flashing her my best grin and pushing my baseball cap up.
“N-No, Mr. Anders. I’m so sorry, I am a clutz today.”
“Call me Colt.”
Candy’s flushed face beams at me as she nods enthusiastically. “Colt, I can do that.”
“Great.”
“Why don’t you take a seat, and I’ll bring your order out to you?”
“Well, thank you, Candy, that would be good.” I wink at her, flash her another smile, and go find Blaise. Being famous sometimes has it’s perks.
Blaise has chosen a seat near a window that he’s now staring out of. Instead of being excited over this play, he looks uneasy. I take my seat opposite him, and he looks at me and smiles.
“Okay, buddy, what’s wrong?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you told me you prefer acting to football, but you don’t seem excited about getting the lead.”
“My mom will have to make my costume.” Blaise looks pained as though this is the worst idea in the world.
“Mom can’t sew?”
“No, and we don’t have the money to buy a costume.”
“How’d you get into Tremont?” I’m confused as it’s an exclusive and expensive school.
“Mom. She knows the principal, and he got me in on a scholarship.”
That makes sense. I nod.
“I have an idea. What if I talk to the school and maybe we could do a fundraiser? I could get the Warriors to come, and—”
“No, I can’t ask you to do that, and I don’t want you to pay for it either.”
Blaise’s mouth is set in a hard line, for someone so young, he is very proud.
“Okay, buddy, so what’s the solution?”
“I don’t know.”
Candy puts a tray of food down in front of us. “Here are your meals. Enjoy!”
“Thanks, babe,” I say offhandedly as she scurries away.
Shaking my head with a smirk, I look at Blaise, who’s already unwrapped his burger and has it in his mouth.
“Hungry?” I ask.
Blaise grins and shrugs.
“You should still play football, I can help you with it. And I’m going to talk to Miss Carson to see if there is something I can do for the school drama program. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you everything, I promise.”
“Thanks, Colt.”
After I drop Blaise at home, I drive by Skye’s house. There are no lights on, so I continue to my home. I walk through the front door, and Beau greets me.
“Hey, Beau… who’s my good boy?”
Beau barks and runs toward the kitchen. I follow and find Grayson sitting at my kitchen table eating a sandwich.
“How the hell did you get in?” I ask.
“Beau let me in,” Gray says as he takes another bite of his sandwich.
“No accounting for taste.”
“Ha! Beau likes me, don’t you, big boy!” Gray laughs as he tosses Beau a bit of his sandwich. Beau wags his tail and barks loudly.
“Traitor,” I growl as I open the fridge and grab a bottle of water.
“Where were you?”
“I took Blaise out to dinner.”
“What no school teacher tonight?”
I frown, take a gulp of water and shake my head. “Nope,” I say flatly.
“You fuck this one up already? This one seemed like a keeper.”
“I love the way you articulate your feelings, Gray, very mature… insightful even.”
“Oh… look who’s all upset. Come on, Colt, you know I’m busting your balls. But you might as well tell me.”
“She’s embarrassed to be seen with me.”
Gray chokes on his sandwich, and I thump him hard on his back.
“Wh-What?” asks Gray incredulously.
“You heard me.”
“That can’t be it,” replies Gray with a shake of his head.
“She’s keeping me a secret from her work colleagues.”
“What?” Gray laughs.
“Apparently, she told her boss we aren’t seeing each other, and today when I went to see her at the school, she wouldn’t kiss me or anything.”
“Okay, I’m confused. Why would she tell her boss she isn’t seeing you?”
“It’s a private school, and after that photo of us went public, the school was embarrassed. So—”
“You’re an idiot,” states Gray. “She’s not embarrassed by you… she’s trying to save her job. I’m no brain surgeon, but even I can figure that one out.”
“Fuck you, Gray.”
“That’s your comeback? Fuck you? Man, are you slipping. And we’re supposed to go out tonight for dinner, it’s why I’m here. The security guard on the gate let me in, so I made myself a sandwich. Guess you forgot?”
“Shit! Sorry. Yeah, man, I forgot. And I need