Page 51 of One Timer With A Wingman

“Sparkling water,” I say.

“Coming up.”

She walks away and it feels like the whole interaction was weird. I want to tell her she should come to my game tomorrow in Ann Arbor so she can meet my parents. Or maybe I should tell my parents on my own. Gah. I’m losing it.

She returns with my sparkling water.

“Thanks,” I say.

“Sure thing,” she replies.

“Um, I have a game tomorrow night in Ann Arbor. I thought maybe you could come. My parents are coming and. . . then we’re going for dinner. I thought they should meet you, but I haven’t told them anything yet, so I’m not sure. . .Do you want to come with me to tell them? Don’t feel pressured or anything.”

A small smile turns her lips. It brightens her face. She is so pretty. “I can come. I won’t have my car much longer, so I might as well use it while I have it.”

Right, she said something about her mom not paying her lease anymore.

“Great. I’ll arrange for a ticket and then we can meet after the game, and you can meet my parents,” I say awkwardly.

“Won’t it be weird if you introduce me to your parents at the arena? Finn, Macklin, and Cade will be there too,” she reminds.

“Right. I can give you the address for the restaurant then,” I correct.

“Cool.”

“Did you eat dinner?” I ask.

She frowns. “Aaron, I’m a big girl, I know how to take care of myself.”

She doesn’t answer my question though.

“I have other tables,” she says as the place starts filling up. She walks away and only comes back to serve me my order.

I watch her running all over the place. I know she hasn’t been feeling well, so it must be hard for her.

When she brings the bill, I leave her an extra hundred dollar bill. She doesn’t see it right away because I slide it into the vinyl folder she placed on the table.

I get up to leave but Briar walks up to me, holding the hundred dollar bill. “What is this?” she asks and she sounds pissed.

“A tip.” I shrug.

“This is a handout not a tip. I don’t need your help,” she says with sass.

“Okay, I did not mean it as a handout. I just figured you were eating for two now and I am responsible for the nugget in your stomach, so I wanted to help.”

She blows out an exasperated breath. “Please don’t talk about Nugget in public. But I am happy you like the name.” She gives me a smile that melts my insides.

“I thought it was cute but it’s temporary, right?” I ask.

She bursts into laughter. “Obviously.”

“Okay.” Now I blow out a breath. “I’ll text you the info for tomorrow and send you the ticket.”

“Thanks, Aaron,” she replies.

I nod and leave Black Jack’s, walking into the cold wintery night. Light snow is falling. I spot Briar’s SUV in the lot getting covered in snow. She is probably going to have to leave here late and walk out here by herself to clean her car off.

I send Levi a text, asking him if he knows when Briar’s shift ends. The jackass tells me to ask her myself. After some pleading, he says 11:00 p.m.

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