The Bromance Book Club - Lyssa Kay Adams Page 0,21
conspiracy against her ability to make a dramatic exit.
He stood, let her brush past him, and then followed her into the slow-moving masses headed for the exit. The staging area outside the auditorium filled up quickly with families waiting for their children. Gavin politely elbowed through, keeping as close to Thea as he could. She walked stiffly, head down, her purse clutched against her side as if it held the nuclear codes.
A few genuine smiles greeted Gavin, and he returned those. But he’d long ago learned how to deftly avoid the other kind of smile—the nervous fan smile that warned someone was one excited go for it from asking for an autograph or a selfie. Fans were the lifeblood of professional sports, and he’d challenge any city in America to find a more loyal fan base than Nashville. But professional athletes were also humans who sometimes just wanted a quiet night with their families or to watch their children perform at school.
Or to woo their wives into not divorcing their sorry asses.
When he reached Thea’s side, he slid his hands into his pockets. “So I was thinking that after this, maybe we could—”
He didn’t get a chance to finish his suggestion that they go out to eat as a family—which was Del’s idea—because a woman in a red suit and high heels called Thea’s name and click-clicked over with a cheery wave.
“Mrs. Martinez,” Thea said in greeting.
“Call me Lydia.” The woman smiled. “I’m so glad I caught you.”
Thea looked at Gavin and blinked. “Oh, um. Gavin, this is Mrs. Martinez, the principal of the elementary school. Lydia, this is Gavin. My husband.”
My husband. Those two words had never sounded more stilted or more promising.
The woman dutifully extended her hand, and Gavin shook it. “Pleasure to meet you.”
The principal turned back to Thea. “I just wanted to let you know that I will have your letter of recommendation done by next week. Is that soon enough?”
Letter of recommendation? Thea glanced at him—nervously, it seemed—and then back at Lydia. “That would be perfect, Lydia. Thank you for doing that.”
Lydia waved away the sentiment. “It’s the least I can do after how much time you have volunteered this year and last.”
Lydia raced off again with a see you next week tossed over her shoulder.
“Letter of recommendation for what?” Gavin asked.
“Vanderbilt,” she said with a forced smile. “I’m going back to school to finish my degree.”
“Wh-when did you decide this?”
A firestorm erupted in her eyes. “I’ve always planned to finish my degree, Gavin.”
“Thea, I’m not saying you can’t—”
Oh, shit. Wrong thing to say. Very much wrong thing to say. Thea’s neck lengthened and flushed red. “Well, thank God for that. Because I definitely wasn’t going to do it without your permission.”
Gavin raked his fingers through his hair. “Babe, that’s not what I meant. Can we just take this down a notch and—”
“Are you seriously telling me to calm down? Because that rarely has the desired effect.”
Dear God in heaven, he was going down in a ball of fire. He could actually feel the flames licking his skin. A whistling sound in his ear told him he was one stupid remark away from crashing and dying.
“Mommy, did you see us?”
“Thank God,” Gavin breathed as Amelia and Ava ran toward them.
Thea’s features transformed. She opened her arms and waited for them to throw themselves against her. “You were amazing!” she said, bending to kiss each one. “The best dancing fawns ever.”
“Did you see us, Daddy?” Amelia asked, moving to hug his legs.
“I did, sweetie. You were incredible.”
“I’m hungry,” Ava said, and Gavin wanted to twirl her around for the segue.
“I’ll make you some macaroni and cheese when we get home,” Thea said.
The whistling grew louder, but he was going to risk it. “You know what? I’m hungry too. Why don’t we go to Stella’s?”
Stella’s was their favorite restaurant. They’d been taking the girls to the small downtown diner since they could sit up in high chairs.
“Yeah, Mommy! Can we go to Stella’s?” Amelia asked.
Gavin held his breath as he met Thea’s hard gaze. He swallowed. “You can tell me more about Vanderbilt,” he suggested.
Thea shot him a glare that felt like a kick in the balls, but then she pasted on a happy smile for the girls. “That sounds great,” she said. “Why don’t you take the girls, and I’ll meet you there?”
“I want to ride with Mommy,” Ava said, gripping her hand.
Gavin flinched as her words hit their mark, but he managed to smile. “Amelia