Page 57 of Tough Score
"Yeah, thanks,"
"Hey Aaron," Oakley calls over his shoulder to the bartender. "Reeve and Seven drink free today. And Reeve… from here on out."
I glance over at Aaron, who simply nods to Oakley's instruction, and then I shoot a look at Seven, who just shrugs back at me—neither of us is sure what's going on.
Oakley usually comps all the player's first two drinks on the house during home games since we bring in so much business, not that any of us ever ask or want to take advantage. He says it's just good business. But Oakley treats us well even if he didn't comp our drinks so we'd keep coming back either way.
"You don't have to—"
"Here, follow me," he says.
I turn to follow him, walking to the back of the house toward the inventory room. The door to the room is open as we pass by. Stacked boxes with long necks and canned beer will likely all get sold by this weekend's game even though the team will be away.
He stops at the end of the hall that leads to the bathrooms, but with only a handful of us in the bar, since happy hour hasn't started, we won't be bothered.
"Listen, Reeve. I wanted to thank you properly for what you did for Keely."
I can’t hide the look of surprise on my face. He doesn't need to thank me for what happened with Keely.
Maybe that's because she feels like mine to protect, but I won't tell him that because she's not mine.
"You don't need to thank me, Oakley. I just did what anyone would do."
"Not anyone," Oakley says, shaking his head. "You put yourself in harm's way to protect her. That means something to me." He pauses, his eyes growing distant. "Keely... She means everything to me. After her father went away, I promised myself I'd always look out for her."
Her father went away?
I want to ask him exactly what that means, but that feels like a conversation I should have with her.
I nod and lick my lips instead. "She's lucky to have you in her corner."
Oakley's gaze sharpens on me. "And now she has you too, it seems."
"She'll always have me," I blurt out.
His eyes focus on me for a second long. "Hmmm… I had a feeling." he says to himself.
"What does that mean?" I ask, but Oakley doesn't answer.
He turns and heads back down the hallway, calling out over my shoulder. "It means drinks are on me.
Walking out of the hallway, more confused than when I entered, I get a text from Keely.
Keke: Jaxson invited me to the bar with the soccer team. We won our game!
A small endorphin rush kicks in at the thought of seeing Keely in a matter of minutes.
She's on her way here and she won her game, a surge of pride fills me and I want to celebrate with her but letting her have this moment is important. She says that she needs to settle her home before she can think about a relationship with anyone and this a step in that direction for her to make friends and build a life that will make her want to stay.
About 30 minutes later, Keely walked in with her new teammates.
My eyes find her in the crowd immediately.
Her new blue jersey— her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail—cheeks still flushed from the game—a wide smile across her lips, and she chats with a couple of women from the group as they wait by the bar to order their drinks.
"Hey," I call out, heading straight for her. "Congratulations on the win."
Keely beams over at me as I head for her at the bar.