I stand up taller. ”What’s up?”
“Remember when you started playing hockey for that farm team in the Everglades and you had that incident?”
“If by incident, you mean the giant brawl that happened on the ice that one time—”
“—and you ended up in anger management courses because of it. That’s the one. Well, I’ve had a phone call from a reporter this morning who has dug that info up and called me to ask about it.”
Heat rises inside of me like a fire that’s been ignited, and not in a good way. “Was her name Greta?”
“Sure was,” he responds, surprise in his voice. “She said she’s a friend of yours and working on a feature article, but she wanted to touch on that. It felt odd to me. If someone was writing a story about you, why bring up the bad things unless they were only trying to dig up the bad?”
“Exactly, Pops.” Closing my eyes, I groan. “If she calls again, hang up. Don’t respond to anything.”
“I’m not sure how you know her, but she was pretty relentless. I kept trying to get off the phone and she actually brought up the time I was in rehabilitation at the psych ward after that incident.”
Now, the fire inside? It’s raging.
“She didwhat?”
“Don’t get stressed, Jake. I just wanted you to know so you could protect yourself on your end. I’ll avoid her on mine, butthis sounds like someone who’s looking for a story where there isn’t one.”
“And she’s willing to dig out anything she can to make it a front-page headline,” I growl. “Tell you what, Dad, let me hang up. I want to call Travis and let him know what’s going on. He’ll handle it from here. If she calls again, emails, shows up, anything…let me know.”
“Immediately. And Jake?”
“Yeah?
“Don’t let this ruin that floaty and heady rush I know you’re probably feeling right now. There’s only one time at the beginning of the relationship that you get to trip and fall in love. Enjoy every step because I think whoever this woman is, she’s got you hooked.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because you’ve never brought up another woman to me before.” I can feel his love through the phone lines. “Love you, Jake. Talk soon.”
Focusing on my list, I race through the store and get the items I need, including one very important surprise for Riley, then hop into the self-service line and head back outside. Stopping just outside the entrance, I scan the small parking lot, trying to remember where I parked.
Spotting the familiar white Fiat at the back of the lot, I head that way, threading through cars, when someone calls my name. I’m by the rack where people return their grocery carts when I stop and turn around.
Standing next to a small minivan, wearing a Renegades jersey with my number on it, is Mandy.
“Hey, Jake,” she calls out again, turning around so I can see my name on the back of her jersey. She spins around to face me, grinning. “Like it?”
“Yeah, that’s cool, Mandy. Thanks for your support,” I say, flicking my hand in the air as I start to walk away. “See you.”
“Wait,” she calls out, running up beside me and placing herself in my path. “I was serious the other day when I was asking you about the private lessons. Is it something you’d be interested in?”
“I’m not here long enough to do that,” I begin, but she’s not having any of it.
“I’ll pay you well,” she purrs, placing her hand on my arm. Her touch doesn’t have the soothing effect I’m sure she intended. Instead, it makes me flinch and I jump back a step.
“Sorry, Mandy. It’s not a good idea.” Tilting my chin toward my car, I raise my bags in the air. “I really need to go.”
Once again, I’m walking toward the car, and once again, Mandy appears in front of me, this time putting her hand on my chest to stop me.
“Wait.” She pulls a piece of paper out of her pocket. When I look closer, I realize it’s a business card. “My number’s on this. Should you choose to call it.”
We then stand for another uncomfortable minute in the parking lot. With my hands full gripping groceries, she tucks the card into my back pocket with one hand and taps my chest with the other. She steps back, with this eerie grin on her face.
This is just weird.
