Page 58 of A Chance at Forever
Victoria helped Maset the dining room table and smiled when she saw the steaming pan of lasagna.
“Rusty loves my lasagna,” Ma remarked. “I hate to disappoint him.”
“You’re spoiling him.”
“Not so,” she disagreed with a small, flutter-like movement of her hand. “Ever since he started eating dinner with you, I’ve only seen him in my diner once or twice. I miss my boy.”
“You’re fond of him, aren’t you?” Victoria took a plate of garlic bread from Ma.
“More than fond. Both Doug and I love him. You’re a very lucky young woman. Rusty is a fine man. He loves you, you know.”
Startled by Ma’s comment, Victoria almost dropped the salad bowl. “What?” Her blood pumped fast through her veins.
“Rusty’s in love with you. It’s so obvious. All you have to do is look at his face when he’s talking about you to know the man is crazy about you.”
Ma’s remarks and Rusty’s close scrutiny over dinner made Victoria self-conscious, but she hid her discomfiture well. At least Ma didn’t ask her how she felt about Rusty. That was a question she wasn’t ready to answer.
Doug drew her attention as he winked at Rusty and said, “How ‘bout them Broncos, son? I think the team could use your expertise. What do you think?”
Rusty grinned and glanced at Victoria. “No disrespect to their current quarterback, but he’s a little green.”
Doug chuckled. “You’re taking the Bears to the championship again, aren’t you?”
“Yes, sir, I believe so. Tomorrow afternoon at one o’clock we’re traveling south to meet a top-ranked team from San Francisco on neutral ground. Our team is favored to win which means the pressure to perform will be enormous. The boys know if we don’t win tomorrow night we lose our chance. This year we have an excellent opportunity to earn the state title.”
“You have the town’s complete support, Rusty. Everyone is proud of you and the boys.”
“Thank you, sir. That means a great deal to me and the team who have worked so hard.” Turning to Victoria, Rusty continued, “Troy told me you wouldn’t allow him to participate inA Christmas Carolbecause of the team. Why would you make such a sacrifice when he’s your most gifted drama student?”
Heat suffused her cheeks. “Because I want you and the boys to win the state championship this year, Rusty. Troy is your star quarterback, and he has an exceptional record for passes, completed plays, and touchdowns. I don’t want him distracted or pulled in two different directions because of his commitment to you and to me. Besides, I asked Troy to be stage manager.”
“I thought you didn’t know one end of a football from the other.” Rusty flashed an amused grin at her. “I must have misunderstood you.”
“Indeed,” Victoria murmured and suppressed her laughter.
*
During her lunchperiod the next day, Victoria went to find Rusty instead of eating with Jonica. Although she knew Rusty shared the same thirty-five minutes for lunch, she rarely saw him. Today, however, she had to wish him good luck before he and the team started on their trip. After searching in his classroom, she found Rusty in his office. He appeared different in his white lab coat and gold-wire framed glasses as he perused a textbook and munched on an apple.
“Is the doctor in?” she asked in a teasing voice.
Rusty choked on a bite of apple and spun around in his seat. “You startled me,” he managed between coughs.
“Are you okay?” She pounded him on the back a couple of times.
He nodded and coughed one last time. “What brings you to my neck of the woods?” Making sure they were alone, Rusty pulled her toward him and rested his hands on her waist.
“I wanted to wish you good luck. I know you’re going to win, but in case you need my advice, I’ve written play by play details. Here.” She handed him a folded sheet of paper.
Rusty chuckled. “I’ll keep it in mind, Tori.”
“Don’t open it now. Use it when you need it the most. So, when do you expect to be back?”
“Fairly late.” He stuffed the note into the pocket of his jeans. “I’m not sure why we have to travel so far, but I don’t decide these things.” His hands returned to her waist. “I promise it won’t interfere with our plans to attend the Halloween party tomorrow night.”
“No worries.” She placed a quick kiss against his lips. “For good luck, Coach.”
*
