Page 13 of Scoring Truth
“If you squeal one time, Taylor. Just. One. Time. I’m ending this call!”
“Mom, you’re no fun. I’ll behave. Now flip that phone, bitch.”
I blow her a kiss and flip it back around. Mia and Suzanne join the call, too, and the four of us watch in awe.
“Girl. Is he your date from Rent-a-Date? How did he match with you? We specifically wrote that you hate sports.”
“Oh, my God! You didn’t!”
“Don’t you lie to the guy, either! It will be very clear you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about!”
Shaking my head. “It’s already clear. I didn’t even recognize him.” Gasps go up over the phone. “Oh, please. Don’t act surprised.”
“This is incredible. So, how is he? Do you like him?”
Smiling, I watch as Jameson turns and winks at me. He mouths, “You okay?” I smile and nod back.
“Earth to P! Earth to P!”
Jolting from my daydream of the man who is the star quarterback, the girls whisper. “Girl, you got it bad.”
“Stop it. I don’t even know him.”
“Hmm, but youwantto know him.” Taylor gives a sly smile.
“I mean, he doesn’t seem like the typical NFL player.”
“Because he’s not. After your date, go home and Google him. You’ll see he’s the humblest man out there. They brand him as ‘Just a small-town boy next door.’ Don’t you hear them playing that Journey song whenever his name is mentioned? Honestly, I’m secretly hoping he’s got skeletons in the closet. No one can be that perfect.”
The crowd is thinning. The one guy from behind the counter is at the door, letting people out and then locking it right behind them. I was glad to see that everyone was super respectful. It could have gone differently. You never know how a mob might react.
“Ladies, I’m hanging up now. He’s almost done signing, and I’m not sure what we’re going to do next.”
“Take him home! That’s what you’re going to do next!”
“Stop it!” I hiss as Jameson turns to me. “Bye, bitches!” I click FaceTime off, silence my phone, and slide it intomy back pocket.
“Did they get their fill?” He stands in front of me, widening his stance and crossing his arms. I crane my neck back and stare up at him. This man is, fuck, he’s all man.
Embarrassed that he knew I was filming him, “I’m sorry. They’re the ones who made my profile and knew I was coming out tonight, and usually my dates don’t go well, so when all of this happened,” I wave my hand around, “I called them to see if they knew anything because I clearly don’t know anything…” I taper off as his smile widens, and it dawns on me what I just said. Slapping my hand over my mouth, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. Not how it sounded, anyway. I mean, I don’t know you, so whether I know you from the team or not, it doesn’t matter, right? I mean, we don’tknoweach other.” I’m getting nervous again, and my run-on sentences are taking over.
Just like he did with the young boy, Jameson drops to his haunches and balances himself with one hand on my knee. That same current I felt earlier zips right up my thigh to exactly where I want him to touch me. Biting my lip to keep from sayingthatout loud, I drop my head again.
He reaches for my chin and pulls my focus back to him. “Penelope. I knew the minute you walked in that you didn’t know who I was. And honestly? It was refreshing to get to be me. Just Jameson. Rather than” he waves his hand around like I did, “all that.”
“By the looks of you, I’m sure you’ve never been just Jameson.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I tuck my lips in. He squeezes my knee, and I relax at his touch. “I mean, I’m sure it’s exhausting.”
“It can be. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Since I was little, playing football has been my dream, but I just want to play. All this extra stuff is hard to adjust to.” He shrugs. “But I’ve got a great support system, andI’m slowly learning how to work through it.” He stands and extends his hand to me. I take it and stand as well. “Are you hungry? I know a spot with awesome food and no one will bother us.”
“Is that your way of asking me back to your place?” I slap my hand over my mouth once again, and he belly laughs. Shaking my head, I add, “I’m sorry, words just come out. I don’t have control over it.”
He throws his arm around me, and we head for the door. “Penelope, never apologize for speaking your mind.” He pauses. “Unless youwantto go to my place.” When I look at him and he waggles his brows, I crack up.
“That’s not the package you selected on the Rent-A-Date contract, so sorry, buddy, but you’re out of luck!”
“Oh, Penelope, I think my luck is just starting.”
10
