Page 78 of A Game as Old as Time

She nodded back politely, saying the same.

“Oh, and Gunner.” Mr. Chen spun as his daughter ran back to their car with her brother. “I spoke with Ms. Summers the other day. My hardware store will be supplying all of the materials for the props and set this year.”

Really?

Gunner tilted his head in surprise.

“I didn’t know that was an option.”

“It should have been a long time ago. Your father always wanted me to join in as a sponsor, and for years I pushed it off. Now,” he offered a soft smile, “I think it’s my turn to step up and take one of those moments he always spoke about.”

Jeez.

All this talk of his father had taken Gunner slightly aback.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Chen,” he finally responded quietly.

“Please, Gunner! ‘Todd’ from now on.”

He remained still for a few seconds, as if he wanted to say something else, before he finally turned back toward his car.

“He seems nice,” Hailey said.

“Oh, yeah, he’s great! But I’m, I’m sorry for that. I, um, it’s just hard to get any privacy and I---”

“Yeah, I think you said that before.” She cut him off, but her grin was playful. The movie title flashed across the screen, and music began to play. “I actually thought it was quite cute.”

He watched her slide back in the seat as the movie began to play.

Cute?

He smirked to himself, no longer thinking about his father or Mr. Chen.

Who would have thought?

She dropped a piece of popcorn into her mouth, quickly darting her eyes between him and the screen.

Cute.

**********

He’s different tonight.

Hailey’s mind was all over the place. The interest Gunner was showing in the movie and the character he would portray in the musical were unexpected topics for this date.

Wait! This is not a date!

She inhaled sharply, her smile wavering.

“Sorry.” He must have recognized her change in demeanor. “I’m rambling.”

He nervously lowered his head and put a few pieces of popcorn in his mouth.

“No, it’s OK.” She tried to play it off. “I just can see why my dad likes to watch the games with you first. You are so…” He turned back to her, his face pink, even in the dim light.

Cute.

“Detail-oriented.”

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