Page 56 of A Game as Old as Time

He is good.

She looked away and tried to cover the smirk that was spreading across her face.

He’s so good at this game.

“Hails?”

“Daddy!?” She twisted in surprise to see him approaching with her sister.

She came!

“Melissa!” Hailey rushed forward. She slammed against her sister and squeezed tight. “You came! I am so happy you came!”

She pulled away, noticing too late that an anxious expression was splashed all over Melissa’s face.

“Gunner.”

Crap!

Hailey twirled, her heart dropping as she saw her father moving toward Gunner’s car.

“Coach, I mean sir, I mean Mr. Bianchi…how are you today?”

Hailey grabbed her sister’s arm and pulled them closer to their father.

“Gunner!” She needed to intervene immediately. “This is my sister, Melissa.”

Gunner was clearly anxious with her father so close.

“Nice to meet you.” He extended his hand, which Melissa reluctantly shook. “You two are practically twins.”

He threw on his smile that Hailey wished she could frame, but Melissa’s protective grasp on her shoulder pulled her away.

“So.” Her father also seemed different---colder and more aloof than normal.

“Coach, I mean, sir. Hailey forgot her books on stage the other night, and being in the stage crew, I found them, so…I just wanted to return them.”

He stuffed his hands in his pockets, taking a deep breath as if he had just ran a mile.

So cute.

She had no idea why, but his nervousness was even more intriguing than his smile.

“Well, I hear it’s more than just the stage crew now for you boys.”

Gunner nodded.

“Well, yeah, sir.”

The four dropped into that awkward silence that Hailey hated.

Someone say something.

“I think it’s great,” her father finally said. “I can’t wait to see you boys singing and dancing on stage, that’s for sure.” Gunner merely smirked. “Hails, we should go make our rounds. Gunner.” The two held a momentary gaze. “It was good seeing you.”

Her father grabbed her shoulder and ushered her in the opposite direction without another word.

“You too, Coach! I mean, sir!”

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