Page 34 of Sticking Out

A moment of hesitation and then, “Yeah, sure. What seems to be the problem?”

I glance at the screw in Gina’s hand. “We’re not sure. It might just be a loose screw. Gina found one on the floor. Hopefully it won’t take you long. We’re taking Zoe for overnight, but we’ll wait until you get here.”

“Okay, be there shortly.”

He doesn’t live too far, so that won’t take long and hopefully I’m not setting him up for a whole afternoon of work. “Thanks, buddy. I owe you.”

“Yeah, you do,” he teases.

I end the call, and Gina throws her arms around me. “Thank you.” She turns to Dani and winks. “Cinnamon roll, told you.”

Dani grins and they exchange a look that I know nothing about. “I’ll have a cinnamon roll,” I say.

“Come in. Zoe is upstairs with the sitter. I sent the staff home today because I couldn’t open. But I do have coffee and cinnamon rolls.”

We head inside, and the smell of fresh coffee reaches my nose. “Have a seat.” Gina wipes her forehead and I tug on my shirt, the warmth of the place a bit unbearable. “You should have him check out the air conditioning too.”

“I hate to ask too much.”

“If he can, he can, if he can’t, he can’t. He won’t mind.”

“If you’re sure.” I nod and she smiles. “Okay, I’ll get the coffee.”

“I’ll help,” Dani says and they disappear into the back. Feet pound on the set of stairs behind me, and I turn to see Zoe coming my way.

“Hey kiddo.”

“Conner,” she squeals. “I can’t wait to go swimming.” A teenage girl comes down behind her, and her eyes are wide when they see me. “Hey.”

“You’re Conner Birch.”

I grin. I always find it funny when people tell me who I am. “I am.”

“Can I have an autograph?”

“Of course.” I pick up a napkin. “This okay?” She giggles, and it tugs at something deep in my brain, something that reminds me of the day my brother died. I search the tables for a pen and try to push down the unease. Dani and Gina come from the kitchen, and I turn toward them as Zoe squeals, so happy to see Dani.

“You wouldn’t happen to have a pen, would you?” I ask Gina. She sets the coffee down and pulls a pen from her apron. I scribble my name on the napkin and hand it to the girl.

“Thank you,” she says, and giggles some more. She glances at Gina. “Do you need me for anything else?”

“No, we’re all good. Same time next week, though?”

She nods, and gives a little wave as she heads out the front door. “Someone’s a fan,” Dani teases as she slides a cinnamon roll across the table.

“Dani, are you going to swim with me?” Zoe asks.

The smile falls from Dani’s face. “Would you like me to?” Zoe nods emphatically as Gina shares a cinnamon roll with her.

“Mommy, are you going to be okay with me not here?”

Gina laughs. “I will miss you, but you don’t have to worry about me, and you are going to have so much fun with Dani and Conner and Camryn and Tate.”

“A lot of the other guys are coming with their families too, so there’s going to be plenty of kids.” Dani looks down, picking at her cinnamon roll. She has that concerned look on her face again. I know she likes the guys on my team and their families, so I’m not really sure what’s bothering her.

“Do you have a favorite movie, Zoe?” I ask.

She throws her arms out. “I love Wish.”

---