Page 25 of Nothing Like the Movies

Wade’s voice was all confidence when he said, “Honey, I will fucking label an entire United States map for you—with every state capital starred—if that will make you like me.”

“Can you do it while you’re drunk?” she asked, sounding like she was trying not to laugh. “On a Fat Sal’s napkin?”

“Tonight?” he asked, looking marginally less cocky as the car came to a stop across the street from the restaurant.

“Sure,” she said, and she kept talking as we all got out of the Uber. “I will make a US map while we wait in the food line, and then you can show off your geographical knowledge while we eat.”

“This is a fantastic plan,” I said as we got in line.

“Okay—you guys order,” Mick said to AJ and me, handing mea wad of cash, “and we’ll grab that open table and get started.”

“Yeah,” Campbell agreed, holding out her card. “I’d like the stromboli fries, please.”

“Get me the Fat Bruin,” Mick said. “What do you want, Brooks?”

“Fat Texas and fries,” Wade said, still wielding that drunk-ass smile. “And quit being so excited to see me fail.”

“Can’t quell this thrill,” Mick said, shaking his head. “It’s what I live for.”

As soon as the three of them went over to the one empty table (Fat Sal’s was crazy busy on Friday nights), AJ said, “So how’re you doing?”

“I’m fine,” I said, glancing back at the patio to make sure Campbell was way out of earshot. “It’s fine.”

“Good.” He stepped forward when the line moved. “I just can’t believe it’s Buxxie, though.Buxxieis your ex? That’s wild.”

“How well do you know her?” I asked, genuinely curious. Now that I was marginally calmer—only because I was distracted—I wanted to hear all about what he knew of California Liz.

“I don’t know her at all,” he said, “but I knowofher from Wade and Mick.”

They were both sophomores.

“Yeah?” I said, impressed by how casual I sounded when I really wanted to pull out a notebook and write down every detail he had pertaining to Liz Buxbaum.

“Yeah. Apparently Liz works for the video production department, so she’s always around, filming and taking photos ofpractices and workouts. Her team is the one that generates the content that the athletic department puts on social media.”

“No way.”

Liz works in the athletic department?

I had not expected that.

“Yeah. I guess that’s how everyone knows her.”

“Everyone knows her?”

“Sounds like.” The line moved and he stepped forward again. “And I asked a few guys about Clark, but apparently this thing with him and Liz is brand-new, because no one seems to think they’re anything more than friends.”

“I see.” I felt a little better hearing that, because my chances were a hell of a lot greater if they’d just started dating than if they’d been together for a while.

“So what’s your plan?” AJ asked.

That brought my full attention to him, to his face as he gave me a weird look. I’d never once mentioned to him—even when drunk—my intention to ultimately win her back, so I was a little surprised by the comment. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that you’re wearing the same asshole expression you get on your face when you’re trying to sit a batter. You look… intentional, Bennett.”

The people in front of us moved out of line, and I stepped up to the counter to order.

Yeah, I was definitelyintentional.

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