Page 19 of When Fate Breaks
Blake scoots in past me, slipping the straps off his shoulder. As he removes the backpack, my eyes fall to the red writing on the back of his baseball jersey.
“Huh,” I say out loud.
Blake’s eyes snap to mine. “What?” he asks.
“Oh, nothing,” I say. “Just...nice number,” I nod towards his back.
His gaze follows mine to the number on his back, but he doesn’t say anything, setting the backpack down and switching places with me.
“I thought number 13 was unlucky?” I question, sarcasm in my tone.
Blake turns to me when he’s back on the other side of the register, putting his elbows up on the counter. “Well, obviously not,” he says, holding up the gold medal between his thumb and forefinger.
I feel my mouth fall open and quickly snap it shut, reaching for the corded phone sitting on the counter. “Excuse me,” I say, raising the receiver to my ear.
Blake raises an eyebrow. “What are you doing?”
“Calling the University of Alabama to let them know they better snatch you up before the MLB does,” I reply, deadpan.
Blake’s face breaks into his signature sideways grin as he lets the medal fall from his fingers. “Shut up,” he laughs, shaking his head.
A bell chimes and we both look towards the door. “Annnnie!”
A short blonde girl comes barreling through the door, followed by her mother. “Oh! Hey!” I respond as the girl approaches the counter to the right of Blake, a grin on her face.
“Hey, rat. Did you miss me?” she asks.
I ignore the rat comment, as it’s completely normal from her. I don’t miss the look of confusion that crosses Blake’s face, however, and have to hold in a laugh. “Since 9 a.m. this morning when you left my house?So much,” I respond, rolling my eyes sarcastically.
“I knew it,” she says. I see her glance Blake’s way for the third time, her grin spreading. I take it as a cue.
“Leah, this is Blake,” I say, motioning towards him.
“Ohhh! The dad’s best friend’s kid?” she blurts out, her filter gone as usual.
“Yep,” I say, wincing a little. “Blake, this is my friend, Leah.”
“Herbestfriend,” Leah corrects me, holding a hand out to Blake.
Blake hesitates before returning the handshake. “Hi,” he says, averting his gaze.
Leah’s mom has made her way to the counter now. “Hi, honey! How are you?” she asks, her bright pink lips curled into a smile.
“I’m good, Mrs. Tucker. How about you?”
“Oh, just fine, hon,” she replies, “But I’d be better if our shower wasn’t clogged to high heaven. Every time Leah’s father goes out of town on business, I swear, it’s something.”
“Oh no,” I say, my nose scrunched. “Drain snakes and cleaners are on Aisle 4.” I point my thumb in that direction. “If the clog is really bad you might have to remove the drain cover. You’ll need a Phillips screwdriver for that. Those are on the back wall. And here,” I add, leaning around the front of the register to grab a pair of pink rubber gloves hanging on display. “You’ll probably want to use these.”
Mrs. Tucker lets out an appreciative sigh. “You are just an angel, Annie Jacks.” She nudges Leah into the store. “You tell Brett to give you a raise now!” She calls over her shoulder as they disappear down Aisle 4.
When I turn back to Blake, he’s leaning away from the counter. He stares at me for several seconds, his eyes surveying me.
I look down at myself, convinced I must have spilled something on my clothes. When I find them clean, I glance back up to Blake, raising my brows. “What?” I question.
“Nothing…You’re just…like… You just seem like...” He tilts his head.
“Like?”
