Page 70 of Time to Bounce

“I’m okay.” I paused. “I’m trying to act like everything is normal, because if I don’t, I’m going to drive myself crazy waiting until Tuesday.”

She nodded. “She’s scared.”

Was she?

She wasn’t acting like it.

She was acting like everything was normal… I guess just like I was.

We’d talked a small amount about it last night, and I’d told her that no matter what we found out on Tuesday, it wouldn’t change my feelings for her.

But would it be the same for her? Would she want to stay with me?

“She’s skittish.”

I turned to look at my sister-in-law.

“She’s never had a boyfriend in her life because of skipping all of those grades.” She frowned. “Well, I take that back. She had one three-month-long relationship a year and a half or so ago. But I don’t count that one because the guy was a douchebag.”

I was suddenly angry with said douchebag, and I didn’t know why.

“What happened there?” I asked.

“Douchebag didn’t know how to stand up for her,” Maven explained. “Let his family talk complete shit about her every time they thought Athena was gone. One time she walked in on them bashing her, and she waited for the boyfriend to defend her, and he didn’t. He instead laughed, and Athena realized maybe he wasn’t the one for her.”

“No,” I agreed. “He sure the fuck wasn’t.”

Because I was the one.

“She’s been sheltered her entire life due to her mother, which you got a very good picture of yesterday with all of her overprotective bullshit,” Maven continued. “She’s also not very used to someone caring about her. Especially not a man.”

“Are you trying to say that I’m intimidating her?” I asked.

“No,” she explained. “I’m trying to say that you overwhelm her, because she’s not sure what to do with all the feelings you invoke in her. Give her some time, woo her. If there’s anyone in this life who needs wooed, it’s Athena.”

With that, she pushed backwards into her kitchen, waved at me, then disappeared.

I took the box and headed to my truck.

The entire way to the gas station, where I found her chocolate milk, and then the station, I couldn’t help but think about wooing.

What the hell was wooing, anyway?

I decided that I needed to ask my mom.

When I pulled into the station, I parked my truck, and immediately headed to the auxiliary building that was used for visiting agencies to have office space, or conduct business, while they were here.

I found Tyrone and Callena in the conference room.

“Hey, Gable.” Tyrone stood and offered me his hand. “You’re late.”

I frowned. “I’m not late.”

He glanced at the clock. “You were supposed to be here at fifteen after. It’s almost eight.”

I shrugged. “Sorry, buddy, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Tyrone glanced back at Callena, who had a guilty look on her face. “I got confused on the location, okay?”

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