Page 32 of Slash & Burn

“Oh? Does it involve any sort of Brawlers paraphernalia?”

He let himself laugh at that, shaking his head at me. “No. I need to do some PT”—he cleared his throat—“in the pool.”

“I’m there.”

“Seriously? I have to do this at night, I can’t risk anyone being around to see if I lose it.”

“You won’t lose it,” I said, holding up my hand when he went to argue. “And if you do, it’ll be okay. It’s just me.”

His eyes were wide and I could see the apprehension in them. But he finally nodded. “I appreciate it.”

I flicked my hand between us, smiling at him. “Team, remember.”

“You sure you never played any organized sports?” he asked, taking the two steps off the porch. “Cause you’re pretty good at this.”

“Does book club count?” I teased.

“Did you have uniforms?” He opened his car door, looking back at me.

I rolled my eyes. “No.”

“Then nope.”

“Whatever.”

“Tomorrow night work?” he asked, his humor slipping a little.

“Just tell me when.”

“Nine o’clock.”

I nodded and then turned for the door. “Don’t be late.”

“It wasonetime!” he yelled, as I walked inside laughing.

“Oooo, there she is,” my mother sang, prancing up to me with a smile so wide and bright it was a little blinding.

“Hi, Mom?” Her greeting was a bit much for our weekly family dinner.

“It’s like having a celebrity in the house.” She took the brownies I’d brought and guided me into the living room where my father and LeAnn were already sitting. “Look who’s here,” she cooed. Now I was really confused.

LeAnn gave me a sympathetic look, even as she laughed at my mother’s antics.

I shook out of my mother’s hold. “What’s going on?”

Reaching forward, my father swiped a newspaper clipping from the table. “You’re a cover girl, Jilly.”

The hammering of my heart grew stronger, a white noise filling my ears as he handed me the slip of flimsy newsprint. My face was plastered across half of the front page of our local paper, one of the photos from the shoot the other day showing my arms full of books and Grady standing tall and proud beside me. How the hell had they gotten this to print so fast? I wanted to vomit.

“Oh god.”

“You look so good,” my mother said, her voice raising as she tried to convince me of what she knew I’d never believe. My self-esteem wasn’t even the issue here, and she knew it. Being on display like this was my biggest fear brought to life.

“It is a really great picture,” LeAnn offered with a wary smile.

My dad pushed back in his recliner, his chest puffed up. “You two are really making some waves.”

With the way my mom nodded, I was worried she’d strain her neck. “I told you, this program is going to go so well, the library would be crazy to lose you.”

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