Anything but Minor - Kate Stewart Page 0,12
will ever forget about it.”
I had a few days before the next baseball game but had surprised myself by following the series that the Swampgators played against Columbia the past weekend that had resulted in a Gator’s victory. Rafe had only pitched one game but had dominated, and I found myself silently cheering him on.
In dire need of company and with the following day off, I found myself at Andy’s talking to Kristina. I’d spent my days in a cold, white classroom that was far less than alluring than my romanticized version. Though rewarding in a sense, it was less exciting than I’d imagined. I missed the air. I missed flying, but I refused to admit taking the job was the wrong choice. In fact, I was in flat out denial. I convinced myself I had to give it time.
“Asshole,” I heard Kristina grunt as she eyed the bar slip left by a man who’d just ran her around for the better part of half an hour. He stuffed his face and openly ogled her, as well as made inappropriate sexual comments. She lifted her fingers into a crunched V, the tips pointed in his direction.
“Crappy tip?”
Still giving the man the strange gesture, she addressed me. “They should make it a requirement after high school that every human wait tables. It would teach manners and humility.”
My curiosity got the best of me as she kept her fingers up until the man was safely out of the door.
“What are you doing?”
“I just cursed him with uncontrollable anal itching,” she said with seriousness. I burst into laughter as she tilted her head and eyed me with a small amount of humor on her perfectly painted lips. “It works.”
“Okay,” I said, pushing my drink toward her in a polite request. “I’m a good tipper.”
“If Andy didn’t beg me to stay,” she said as she gripped my glass and set it on the bar well, “I’d be doing something else by now.”
“Like what?” I asked as she gripped the bottles. I noted the ingredients of my drink and typed them into my phone. Boredom may make an alcoholic of me yet.
“Like...hell, I don’t know...something where I can be home with my son at night.”
“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I’m not a huge fan of my job right now, either.”
“In that case,” she said with a wink, “this one is on me.” I shook my head to protest as I looked her over. Kristina really was a stunning woman, and if she knew it, she showed it poorly.
“Shopping for something new?” I felt the tingle start in my spine as Rafe whispered in my ear. The rumble of his deep voice completely counteracted the small numbness I felt from the alcohol. “She’s completely straight.”
I huffed as I turned in his direction. This time, I was able to control my breath, but the effect was the same. Dark, thick green lined the outside of his irises, and I could see the caramel clouds of brown that filled the rest of them. He was too close, and our lips almost touched. Those lips were a beacon, full, inviting, and the undeniably sexy smirk he wore made them far too tempting. “I’m not shopping and unlike you, I don’t think every woman is interested in me.”
“You assume too much,” Rafe said as he nodded at Kristina, who set down a fresh beer in front of him with a smile. He thanked her then turned his attention back to me. “We got off on the wrong foot. There’s no reason to get defensive. I love lesbians.”
I heard a loud bark of a laugh come out of Kristina, who looked at me with bulging eyes. I nodded in confirmation but could tell she knew better.
“That’s wonderful, Rafe, really.” Thinking on my toes, I hid my smile. “Hey, you’re a local celebrity of sorts.” I saw his eyes narrow as I continued. “They’re having a gay pride party at the park in North Charleston this weekend. You can be my date and endorse your love of lesbians.”
“I have a game,” he said as an excuse.
“It’s before your game.”
“I have plans.”
“Now you do,” I quipped back.
“Fine,” he said as he looked me over with scrutiny. “I’ll go, but you have to do something with me if you think you’re wo-man enough.”
He was dressed in dark cargo shorts, a V-neck, white tee, and his ball cap was backward. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop staring at the