Page 43 of Totally Fanatic

“Like I’m what?”

“Like you’re a stalker.”

A flash goes off nearby, and Tim immediately turns in his chair to scan the room. I look, too, but can’t see anyone with their phones directed our way.

“You think I’m stalking you? But you invited me to drinks tonight.”

“I don’t know what to think. Why did you bring me soup?”

“You were sick.”

“But how did you know I was sick?”

“Ryan told me after the game you missed.”

“And the wedding?”

“The waiter job. I was super stoked to get that gig. I cater-waiter for a few places and someone bailed last minute. I couldn’t believe I was going to be at a Banana Ball wedding. It turned out great, too. People left a bunch of those gum balls that look like baseballs behind, and we got to take some home. I have a bowl of them at my door.”

“You work at the cafe, and you’re a waiter, and you just happened to get a gig at the wedding I was at?”

“Super lucky, hey?”

“I guess.”

“I didn’t take any photos that night, you know, because I was working. But I shared the one Stevie posted with you and your friends dancing. It got triple the hits to any of the other posts that week.”

“And Riverside Barbeque?”

“You recommended it as one of your favorite places to eat, so Mary Beth and I wanted to check it out. We didn’t expect to actually see you there.”

“You weren’t like… following me around every day everywhere?”

“I don’t know how I would do that if I wanted to. I have a job, and my boys, King is far needier than he lets on.”

“I bet they loved having you home this week.”

“Reynolds has been sleeping right above my head every night. It’s like having a vibrating pillow.”

He smiles for real for the first time since he entered the bar.

“Do you want to get out of here? Take a walk maybe?”

“Sure, that sounds nice,” I say, tossing a twenty on the table for the rice balls that haven’t arrived yet. “Do you want to inviteDuckie and Ian? They have been kind of watching us this whole time, I think they want to join.”

“No, I think I want it to be just us. I’ll just tell them we’re leaving. I’ll meet you out front.”

“Okay,” I say and weave through the crowd to the door.

***

We walk around Savannah for an hour before we go back to his rooftop. Relaxing on the lounge, he leans into my side, and I wrap my arm around him, holding him close.

“I think you should close the other profiles,” he says, tilting his head to look up at me.

“I can, sure, but why?”

“It just doesn’t seem fair, kind of like it’s cheating, you know, to boost the posts about me.”

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