Page 31 of Tackle

Oz sat back against the headboard on the hotel room bed, phone pressed to his ear, listening as Emerson told him about her day. He should be asleep, and if his coach found out he was on the phone, he’d have his ass. But he missed her and after a few rounds of telephone tag, this was the first chance they’d had to talk. Emerson was worth the risk of getting benched.

“And the strangest part is, as you know, Mack is bald, and the customer’s server had brown hair. The hair she found was blond.” He heard a sigh over the line. “I wish you were here. I could use a hug.”

Oz wished he was there too. Being so far away when Emerson needed a shoulder to lean on was killing him. “Leslie is blond. Was she working today?”

“No.” She paused for a moment. “But Britney was and she’s a blonde too. You remember, she’s that new waitress I hired last week. She always wears her hair in a bun, but I guess it could’ve been hers.”

Oz had a thought. “What about the customer? What color was her hair?”

“You know, now that you mention it, blond. And long. It was pulled back into a tight ponytail so it’s doubtful it was hers, but maybe. Even if it was hers though, there was no way I could accuse her.”

“True, but at least you’d know it wasn’t something you did,” Oz reasoned.

“Nonetheless, the damage is done. She’ll never come back.”

“With the commotion she made, do you really want her to?”

“I suppose not. But what about all the other customers that were there, what if I lost them too?”

“I’m sure you don’t need to worry. Most people are more understanding.”

“I suppose.”

Oz hated her dejected tone and wished he could think of something to say to cheer her.

“Anyway, enough about that. Tell me about your day. How was the flight?”

More than happy to change the subject if it would help her forget about the incident, Oz answered, “The flight was fine. Uneventful, just the way I like it.”

“You didn’t flirt with any cute flight attendants, did you?”

He smiled at the note of teasing he heard in her voice. “Need I remind you how long it took for me to finally work up the nerve to talk to you? Doubtful I’m going to strike up a conversation with one on a two-hour flight.”

“Okay, I concede your point.”

“Besides, why would I want to flirt with anyone when I have you?”

“Flattery will get you everywhere.”

“In that case…” He drew out the last word, making it a joke.

He heard her laugh and it was the best sound he’d heard all day. A yawn took him by surprise before he could stifle the sound.

“You’re tired and need sleep for the game tomorrow. I better let you go.”

He didn’t want to hang up, but he knew she was right. “You’ll be watching?”

“Yep. Ivy will be there with me. It wasn’t the same when she was sick the other week. I missed my football buddy.”

“I’m glad you have a friend to hang with when I’m not around.” He yawned again, this time covering it but Emerson must have still heard.

“Okay, that’s it. I’m hanging up now. Call me before your flight tomorrow.”

“I will.”

“Night, Oz. Sweet dreams.”

“They will be, if I dream of you.”

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