Page 117 of Timelessly Ours
I follow his gaze.
He’s looking at Coach?
Or the person Coach is talking to. A man I don’t recognize.
“Who’s that?” I ask. Shit. Was that too obvious?
Garret shrugs and turns away.
But Nick heard me and tears his eyes off his phone. Following my gaze, he says, “That’s Robbie Hastings,” he mutters.
My brother and I lock eyes briefly.
As a matter of fact, maybe I will join my date as he makes his rounds.
I stand and make my way across the room when my blonde friend pops in front of me.
“There you are.” She beams as she scans me appreciatively. Then licks her finger and brushes under my bottom lip. “Here you got something under—” She jerks back her hand like my mouth is on fire. “Oh my God, was that…lipstick smudge from my Dad kissing you? Please say no.”
“Um…no?”
“Ewww,” she groans. She takes a deep breath, calming herself. “Okay, new rule. Only tell me things on a need-to-know basis, okay? For example. Hey Angel, can’t hang out—I’ve got plans Saturday night. Or hey, I’m Christmas shopping. Is your dad more of a solid or stripe tie kind of guy?”
I give her a thumbs up. “That works for me.” It’s a lie. It doesn’t work for me because I’m dying to tell someone about what Royce said to me by the staff rooms earlier.
Be the woman I’m fucking falling for.
It had to be the heat of the moment. Or hell, the heat of the last few weeks. Because I’m not the type of girl you fall for.
“By the way…this dress is magical…and here I thought you’d come wearing black.”
“It would be more suitable.”
The comment comes from behind me, and I turn.
Claire Collins, Angel’s mom, looking dangerously gorgeous in a fire-engine red dress with matching heels and lipstick.
She steps up to us, her eyes scanning me.
“Mom, that wasn’t very nice.”
She glances at her only daughter. “Angel, why don’t you go get me a glass of champagne.”
“Why don’t you go get it yourself?” Jace snaps, coming up behind his girlfriend, who immediately shushes him.
I always did like Jace.
Claire keeps her glare pinned on me. At five foot ten, the woman towers over me. But she doesn’t say a word to me. Like I’m not worth them. Looking over my shoulder, she shakes her head. “You can’t be serious.”
A familiar voice sighs behind me and touches my shoulder. “What is it now, Claire?” Royce asks.
“Someone needs to look out for you since you’ve clearly given up. Hiring her as your nanny is one thing, but bringing her out with you—in front of all your bosses? The media? If you wanted to retire, there’s a much simpler way of doing so.”
From the corner of my eye, I see Nick approach cautiously and stand next to Jace, who puts a hand in front of his friend's chest.
“Good God, woman, enough. And you’re disrespecting my date, so I would appreciate it if you stopped.”
“Fine. You’re right. This isn’t the place. I’ll stop by tomorrow.” She turns on her heel.