Page 80 of Houston, We Have a Problem
He chuckles. “I’m only part of the team. It takes all of us to win games, just like it does with these kids.”
“And what do you have to do with all of this?” I ask. I really should be focusing on the camera, but that would be a lot easier to manage if Houston wasn’t so focused onme.
“Well, I really don’t get much of a chance to come out to games and practices during the season, but when I do have free time, I like to come out and help coach. A lot of these kids need a good role model, so I’m here to show them whatnotto do.”
I snort a little laugh, then cover my mouth with my hand in horror. I have neversnortedon TV before.
Houston laughs. “No, I really just want to do whatever I can to help these kids succeed, whether it’s in baseball or school or anything else. They need all the support they can get, and I’m sure every team would love some more fans.”
I force myself to turn back to the camera. “They’ve already converted one new fan. I’ll be right there in the stands, rooting for all of these kids no matter which side they’re on.”
“You mean you’re not going to cheer formyteam?” Houston asks, eyes dancing as he pulls my attention to him again as he folds his arms. “I thought I’d managed to turn you to the dark side.”
Oh goodness, he should not be looking at me like that. A shiver runs through me, which is ridiculous because I’m pretty sure the temperature just rose to a hundred degrees over the last ten seconds.
Ricardo clears his throat.
I jump, turning back to the camera and plastering on a smile. “Well, maybe I’m hoping a certain team wins, but no matter who scores the most runs, all of these kids are winners in my book. I’m Tamlin Park for Enhance. Until next time!”
As soon as Ricardo lowers the camera, I consider running away from TV and never looking back because that was completely awful.Connoris going to see that. He’s going to watch that clip and immediately order me to get on a plane back to Missouri. He’ll tell me that I’ve lost all sense of professionalism and that the director spot is going to go to Stan in marketing who gets nervous when he has to ask someone to move when they’re standing in front of the vending machine and I’ll be stuck training interns for the rest of my life and watching them move on to bigger and better things like I never will and—
“I think that was great!” Houston says, clapping his hands. “Ricardo, what do you think?”
Ricardo flushes red but nods. “Looked like a winner to me. Maybe people will start coming out to games. I didn’t know there were that many teams in SC.”
“What’s your take, Tam?”
I jump when Houston touches my arm. “What?”
He grins. “Think we spun the story the right way?”
“Oh, absolutely. Definitely. Undoubt…” I stop myself before I get too far.
And now I have a choice to make. I could run back home and turn myself back into Darcy in time to catch the end of the game and pretend I managed to come back early. Or I could stay put and not waste a minute of getting to watch Houston in his element as the part of me that actually understands the sport. Tamlin won’t have to play dumb, but Darcy is more likely to get a kiss.
What do I really want here? A friend or a boyfriend?
I wish I could have both.
“Mind if I stick around for the game?” I ask. “Ricardo, you can send that footage to Enhance, right?”
“Yes, ma’am. Thanks for hiring me, and thank you for the autograph, Mr. Briggs.”
Houston grimaces. “You can call me Houston.”
Ricardo nearly squeals, which is not the sound I would have expected from a burly man of forty. “Thank you! It’s an honor! I’ll get that footage sent right away, Miss Park.”
He scurries off, looking like he’s just had the best ten minutes of his life.
“You’re going to stay and watch the game?” Houston asks.
He sounds so surprised that when I turn to look at him, I spin so fast that I nearly twist right into him. He catches my arm, and I’m pretty sure his touch leaves a brand on my bare skin. No way I’m looking to check.
“If that’s okay,” I say, rethinking my decision not to tap out and let Darcy take the reins for the rest of today.
Houston is still holding my arm, though I’m not entirely sure he realizes that. “I was hoping you would.”
Does he want Darcy or Tamlin at this game? Because he’s said pretty much the same to both, and now he’s not the only one who is confused. Houston Briggs isn’t a player, as far as I know, and neither does he know my secret. He’s definitely not good at hiding something big like that. Then again, he probably thinks the same thing about me.
