Page 33 of Wild Hit
Audrey pushes a gold strand behind her ear. “Welcome home, Miguel.”
The strap of the duffel bag slides off my shoulder, and it falls on the carpet with a dull thud.
“That was a very good game and you must be very tired,” the nanny says, picking up her mug and blowing on it. “I’ll finish this quickly so I can leave you to get some rest.” She chugs on the tea with surprising fortitude, considering how hot it must still be.
“Thanks,” I say, still rooted to the spot and daring a glance at the other woman. If she’s stayed here ever since the math lessons started, and Consuelo saw the game, then surely Audrey caught a glance too.
I shouldn’t be tingling everywhere the way I am.
“I should also head home,” Audrey says, pushing her chair back.
My muscles tighten like I’m bracing for something unpleasant. But I’m also standing in the way of the exit, so I tear myself off the spot.
Consuelo picks up the two mugs, saying, “Didn’t you mention you had something to talk about with Mr. Machado?”
I pretend like I’m mic’ed up and can’t express what’s really going through my head by focusing on something less important. “Consuelo, I’ve asked you to call me Miguel many times.”
“Give it up.” Audrey chuckles softly. “I’ve spent the whole evening trying to get her to stop calling me Miss Winters because it makes me feel like I’m my mother, but no dice.”
“Not my fault that I was taught respect.” Consuelo says with a sniff, quickly rinsing the mugs under the faucet and patting her hands dry with her own apron. “I’m heading home now. Have a good night, kids.”
Audrey turns to me with a sardonic expression and mouths,kids?
I press my lips tight. I’m also aware of the irony of being referred to as mister and kid at the same time, yet that’s exactly what I am to Consuelo Gomez, who is nearly the same age as my own mother.
As I open my front door for her, I tell myself that I’m just being helpful, and not that I’m kicking her out so I can hear whatever it is that Audrey has to say. But as Consuelo passes me by, the smirk on her face tells me that she’s not fooled.
“Drive safe.” I wave her off, stalling on purpose so that I don’t appear as eager as I am. I even wait until the woman drives off and I can no longer see the tail lights of her car before heading back inside and closing the door.
Audrey Winters waits for me leaning against my kitchen counter, her arms and legs crossed. For all intents and purposes, it seems like she doesn’t even want to say whatever’s on her mind.
“So…” I start, slowly advancing toward the kitchen and stopping farther than I normally would. I mimic her by also folding my arms.
She narrows her eyes a tad, the green jewels piercing. “You have a really good kid.”
“I know.” I tilt my head a little. “Is that what you wanted to talk about?” That’s good. Friendly territory. Safe. Not disappointing at all.
My whole body itches. I want to go out for a run or shower again. There’s no way I should be buzzing like this after a regular season game where the job was well done.
“Kinda,” she answers after a beat, before running her hand through her hair in a way that leaves her bangs askew. “It’s just that it got me thinking, which is usually never a good idea.”
I cock an eyebrow, curious about where this is going.
“What if…” Audrey makes another pause and rocks on the balls of her feet. “We do it.”
Chest.
Thump.
Brain.
Fart.
I say nothing.
She unfolds her arms to shrug, palms facing up. “I mean, both of my roommates have executed ridiculous fake dating plans too. Obviously, this is different because we’re friends, right? But that’s actually going to make this work out better, because we’d never try anything weird on each other.”
Something among all those big words makes my eye twitch. I replay them again and a record scratches in my head. “Hold on, you hit my brain out of the park early on and I’m not following.”
