Page 38 of Off the Clock
“If making sure I’m never late for practice or work is lifting me up, then yup, he’s a decent friend.” Scotty’s eyes and forehead stayed in a near-frown, yet the corners of his mouth lifted, an almost smile.
“I think John and his crew are good for you. Maybe don’t overanalyze it.” I couldn’t believe I was giving that advice, considering I spent every waking minute overanalyzing things with Tony. “Just roll with it.”
Like I was even capable of doing that with my own life. However, Scotty’s eyes held a certain fragility, a wariness around his mouth that warned me not to press too hard about what admiring John so much might mean. Perhaps the best thing fortheir whole crew, especially Scotty himself, was to advise him to simply enjoy the friendship.
“Yeah. That’s what I’ll do.” Scotty gazed off at a trio of young bicyclists. “It’s weird having friends I actually like.”
“I hear that.” Huh. I tried to keep the surprise from my tone. But huh. I’d had hookups. I’d had coworkers. I’d had crushes aplenty. Study buddies. Acquaintances. But had I ever truly had a friend like Tony? Someone I simply enjoyed being around this much? I didn’t think so. My hands went icy despite the hot day, terror lowering my body temperature a good twenty degrees. But as with Sean, I couldn’t let Scotty see. “Good to have friends without probation officers.”
“Ha. And no dropouts either.” Luckily, Scotty took my joke as intended. “Everyone in the whole crew has plans, man. It’s weird.”
“Doyouhave plans?” I’d promised to keep things brotherly, so I banished any trace of parental concern from my voice. “It’s cool if you don’t yet. The school year hasn’t even started yet.”
“Dunno.” Scotty shrugged his muscled shoulders. “Keep playing ball, I guess. John’s been trying to get scouts to come to games this fall. Maybe some school will take a chance on a quarterback like me.”
“You need a plan for after football.” I was thinking of Tony’s shoulder injury and how that had ended his dreams of football glory and put him on an unexpected path. However, Scotty frowned like I’d issued a personal attack.
He made a rude noise. “What I need is to sell more tickets.”
Conversation done, he stomped off to the next business on our list, only mildly brightening when we ended up at the ice cream place with a bunch of others from the team. Cosmo and John flanked Tony, who was looking way too sinful eating a mint chocolate chip cone. Their other friend, Elliot, the giant kid, was devouring a banana split meant for two.
“Hey, Cosmo!” I pulled out a nearby chair, pretending for all the world like I couldn’t care less about his uncle. “How many tickets did your group sell?”
“Uncle Tony is a bomb ass salesman,” Cosmo bragged. “That, and he winks and people just can’twaitto donate.”
A jealous prickle raced up my spine. “We don’t need to flirt to get donations,” I said primly.
“Who said flirting?” Tony stared straight into my eyes. “I’m nice. There’s nothing wrong with being nice. I’m not leading people on.”
There was a message there, one I wasn’t sure I was ready for. He’d always been upfront about not wanting a relationship, and I couldn’t go changing the rules now.
“Oh! Hey, Scotty!” Cosmo leaned forward as Scotty joined us with a pink-and-purple sorbet concoction. “My mom said I can have an after-party the night of the fundraiser. Sleepover! We’re gonna set up tents in the backyard. Everyone is invited.”
“You going?” Scotty jerked his head in John’s direction.
“Miss a chance to camp? Never. And they have that huge TV at Cosmo’s house. Camping and movies? I’m in.”
“Me too.” Scotty glanced at me like I might object to this wonderful, amazing plan. I already knew neither Tony nor I were on duty that night because we’d asked off for the fundraiser.
“Sounds awesome to me.” I shrugged as if I weren’t already imagining an entire damn uninterrupted night with Tony. Consequences be damned.
“Have fun.” Tony echoed my enthusiastic-but-casual tone.
“You wanna chaperone?” Cosmo asked. “Mom is having a bunch of other moms over too.”
“Nah. Think I have plans.” Tony held my gaze. Message received. I struggled not to grin.
“Are you inviting yourself for a sleepover?” I teased in a whisper a few minutes later on our way out of the ice cream place. I’d hung back so the kids were all several paces in front of the two of us.
“We probably shouldn’t risk it…” He quirked his mouth as my stomach clenched.One night.All I wanted was one damn night. But before I could speak up, Tony added, “We’ll simply have to be careful.”
“Yep.” I didn’t bother hiding my relief. “I’m not missing the chance for more than a quickie.”
“Agreed. A real bed. All night. Sounds sweet.” Tony grinned at me. He was sweeter than the best ice cream, and I was already starving for the night of the fundraiser when we could fully indulge ourselves.
Chapter Eighteen
Tony