Page 50 of Caught Stealing

“This is Koa Keaton, Andrew’s teammate. What other ideas do you have, kids?”

After that, everyone starts shouting ideas at my phone while Andrew and Koa field their questions. Eventually, we have a list of twenty options that are workable, not to mention a possible meeting with one of the Dawson brothers about a donation. My heart warms when I think of how much trouble Andrew has gone to in just a day, if only to make me happy. But it isn’t the only reason. It’s because he cares about these kids he hasn’t even met. He wants the school to succeed, and he’s genuinely interested in my work.

Once Headmaster signs off on the necessary purchases for the carnival and things settle down, we go our separate ways. I hurry the parking lot so I don’t have to take any questions about my personal life and sigh when I settle in the safety of my car.

My phone dings with a message from Andrew, but I ignore it and call him instead.

“Whew. I’m in my car trying to recover from that meeting. That was a whole lot of crazy in an hour. You so do not have to do all that stuff the kids asked for,” I say instead of hello when he answers.

Andrew laughs in that deep, melodic way he does. I think it means he’s comfortable and content, which makes me wonder what other things about him I’ve figured out.

“I’ll do anything they want to help. I don’t mind at all. Did you get my message?”

“I did but haven’t read it yet. I wanted to call and give you an exit if you needed one.” I giggle and bite my tongue to stop myself. Why am I so giddy? Ugh. Slow and steady, Lottie. Slow. Steady. Keep yourself together so you can see straight.

“Ah, okay. Well, that won’t be necessary. I’m happy to do what I can. The team has two away games in a row, so I won’t be home all week to finalize the coaching dates. Goblin is staying with my sister, but I didn’t want to ghost you. I’ll still be available a little, but usually Coach spends driving time doing ridiculous bonding games and telling us about the good old days when he played.”

“Bonding games, what fun. So when do I get to see you again?”

“I’ll be home Friday morning, but we have a game that night. Saturday maybe?”

“Saturday I’ll have to go place orders at all of the supply houses for what we’ll need, but I might be free Saturday night.” It’s kind of ridiculous how disappointed I am that I won’t see him for six days, but my time will be filled with teaching, shopping for props and setting up a schedule, not to mention copious planning for the event itself.

Andrew is silent for a while, and with each passing second, tension grows over the line. I’m not sure why until he clears his throat and asks, “Would it be too forward of me to ask if you’d like to come to the game Friday night? I can get tickets for you and your friends. There’s a private lounge, so…Yeah, if you want to, I can do it.”

My heart races like a wild horse. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a sporting event, and the last one was with the ex I don't want to think about anymore.

“I understand if it’s too much. Just thought I’d put it out there. No pressure.” There might be no pressure, but there is no mistaking that he wants me there. I can say no, too. I know that, because he hasn’t tried to push a single thing on me that I haven’t wanted. He’s made it clear he cares for me and I do want to figure this out, make it work, and try to move on with my life with someone who might be the one.

I mentally chastise myself for getting too far ahead of myself, but Andrew makes it difficult for a girl not to think ten steps ahead.

“I’d like that, actually. Will I get to see you after the game?”

He chuckles. “I planned to sit with you during the game if that’s okay?”

“Wait, will your coach let you do that?”

“Sure. I’ll have to go down to the locker rooms during seventh inning stretch and any other time he waves me down, but I can sit with you during most of the game.”

“In that case, count me in.”

“Perfect. How many tickets? As many as you want, sweetness.”

Sweetness. We have, apparently, reached the pet name stage of our relationship. It’s way too early for that, but I can’t complain. I like it, especially the fact that he doesn’t seem to realize he said it.

“Just me. It’s a date, after all.” I press my hand to my cheek. There’s no reason to blush when no one is even with me to be embarrassed in front of. My goodness, this man keeps me in a constant state of tomato redness.

“A date you say? I like the sound of that.” A crashing in the background followed by Goblin’s dramatic howling worries me. “This doofus. He just took a flying leap off of the top of the playset and now he’s barking at it as if it’s enemy number one.”

“I’ll let you go so you can check on him. Talk soon?”

“Of course. Bye, Lottie.”

“Bye, Andrew.” I reluctantly hang up the phone and put my car in drive. It’s going to be a long week thinking about him, but it will give me time to figure out what to say to Rory and get things straight. I’ll wish him the best, pray he’ll change and be faithful in his next relationship, and maybe stop screaming whenever I see that white Arctic Fox logo on television. If I'm lucky, I'll also get the closure I need to dive into something more with Andrew.

Moving on.

Two little words with so much weight. It doesn’t come close to carrying the load it represents. Soul-crushing disappointment, confidence-shattering betrayal, and second-guessing every moment of your relationship for starters. But it also carries some hope that the next time won’t be the same. That I’ve scraped and clawed my way from the depths of depression and into the sun, with God’s help, of course.

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