Page 32 of Learn the Play
She turns to look at me, surprise evident. “You go ahead. I’m still deciding.”
“We need a few minutes,” I tell the girl. She nods and continues to watch us.
Finally, Bellamy speaks up. “I’ll take a turkey club and an order of Saratoga chips, please.”
“And you?”
“I’ll have the chicken bacon ranch and Saratoga chips, as well.”
“And to drink?”
I nod to Bellamy, and she rattles off her order of a sweet tea. “Make that two,” I tell the server as I pull out my wallet to pay. Bellamy reaches for her purse, but I place my hand over hers to stop her. “No way, Bell. That table over by the window is ours. That’s my bottle sitting there. Let me pay, and I’ll be right there.” Leaning down, I place a kiss on her temple before passing the server my credit card.
“Is she your girlfriend?” the girl asks, loud enough for the entire café to hear.
“One day. I’m working on it,” I tell her honestly. I say it loud enough that I know Bellamy heard my answer, as well as everyone else who’s hanging on to my every word. There’s a very good chance one of them is a Rampage fan, and the news willspread like wildfire. Not that I care. I’d love to tell the entire world that the beautiful Bellamy Warner is all mine.
For the most part, the guys and I can walk around Nashville without issue. However, there are times we get noticed and asked for autographs, or intrusive questions like the one I just got. Usually, it’s those questions that annoy me. It’s a side effect of the job, one none of us like, unless it’s from a kid. However, today, it served me well. Bellamy got to hear my answer, and so did everyone else. If I’m lucky, tabloids and social media will be raging with the fact that Reid Montgomery is off the market.
Taking my receipt and shoving my wallet back into my pocket, I work my way back to our table and wait for our number to be called. “How’s your day been so far?” I ask her.
“Busy,” she replies with a soft smile.
“What is it that you do?” I hate that I don’t already know the answer to the question, but we’ve got all the time in the world to learn everything about one another.
“I’m the operations manager for Riggins Enterprises.”
“Nice.” I nod. “Do you enjoy it?”
“I do. It’s always something new, and Grant and his brothers are great to work for.”
“Good guys. I’ve met them a few times. They have a cabin in Gatlinburg, and the guys and I have stayed there before.”
“Small world,” she says, just as our number is called.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell her as I stand, making my way to the counter to grab our food and carrying it back to the table.
“What about you?” she asks, as we both dive into our lunch. “How’s your day been?”
“Good. I did some laundry this morning, then met the guys at the gym to tell them I was skipping today. Then I came here.”
She coughs, and I pause the bite I was ready to put into my mouth until I know she’s okay. “You canceled on them?” Those big brown eyes are wide with shock.
“Of course, I did. I wanted to see you.”
“Aren’t you required to be there? I’m sure you missing a workout pisses off my dad.” I can’t get a read on her to see if she's happy or not, but either way, she’s engaging in conversation. She’s here, sitting across from me, sharing a meal, and that’s more than I had hoped for with all the previous rejections she’s given me.
“Nah, this is just something the guys and I do about a month before training camp starts to get back into shape from the off-season.”
“Oh. So, you blew them off.”
“I wouldn’t say I blew them off. I told them I was meeting my girl for lunch.”
“Are they mad?”
“Why would they be?”
“Because you’re here with me.”
