Page 40 of Unlovable Player

“Sure, thanks.”

“And maybe you could send me some more songs by that Julia woman… my ma would probably like her.”

“Sure.” I tamper down the grin fighting to light up my face. “I want to see your mom sing.”

Austin’s face gets almost as red as the stop sign.

“She only sings at Smokey’s, so you’d have to schlep your ass all the way to Jersey.”

“I don’t mind.”

He swallows hard again, but doesn’t say anything.

We park up outside the pasta place. It’s a no-frills sort of establishment with white plastic chairs and tables. A pasta and salad bar where you can load up a plastic container for five dollars.

Austin takes a table furthest from the window again and starts tucking into his food.

When he finally comes up for air, he asks if I saw the Rangers v Devils game.

“Of course you’d bring that up.”

He chuckles. “Rangers got their asses kicked.”

“Whatever, the Devils had a lucky game.”

He snorts. “Sure.”

For the rest of the meal, we talk about what NHL stars are performing at their best and which ones are most likely to get traded.

“You watching the Boston game Saturday?”

“I don’t know, I’ll probably go to the bar, but it’ll be a pain trying to stop the guys drinking.”

“You can watch it at my place if you like.”

“The whole team?”

I snort. “I doubt anyone would show up.”

“Give them time,” he wipes his mouth on a paper napkin. “They’ll come around.”

I don’t care,I think, but this time, I don’t say it.

“I appreciate you standing up for me.”

He looks so hard into his pasta container I think he’s going to stare a hole into it.

“I told you, it’s my job as your captain.”

I want to say something about the fact we kissed. Ask him if he wants to talk about this whole bisexual awakening thing, but I get the feeling he’s not in the mood. Not that he ever seems in the mood for deep talks.

“Well if you want to, the invitation’s there.”

He swallows and bunches his napkin up before throwing it into his container. “I don’t think it’d be a good idea.”

“Why not? You worried the guys will think I’m your favorite?” I try to flash a cocky smile, but my heart isn’t in it. When Austin looks up at me with just his eyes, something turns to jelly inside me.

“You know why not.”

---