Page 35 of Overtime for Love

Cory yelled and jumped up and down. He yanked off the headset and spun around to face them. “We took out the entire unit! This game is so cool.”

Angela laughed and put her plate on the coffee table. “Well, if you’ve taken out the unit, then you’ve finished the level, and we can go.”

Cory pointed to the pizza. “I didn’t eat.”

“We can take it with us.” She glanced at her watch. “It’s getting late and we’ve imposed on Isaiah long enough.” She stood.

Isaiah stood, as well. He wasn’t ready for her to leave. “You don’t have to go.”

She shook her head, but her smile was regretful. “I’m tired and I really want to get home and get out of these heels. Come on, Cory. Grab a few slices and we’ll go.”

Isaiah didn’t argue. He needed time to think, consider. If he was about to say consequences be damned, he needed a clear head. He gave Angela the second pizza and told her to take it since he wasn’t going to eat both of them, then walked them to the door.

Angela stopped at the door and gave him an unguarded smile that brightened his world. “Thanks again, Isaiah.”

“It was no problem at all.” He wanted to hug her goodbye. Wanted the privilege of being able to kiss her goodbye. He wanted her and he couldn’t keep ignoring that. “Drive safe, okay?”

After Angela and Cory left he called Bridget. She answered on the third ring. “Hey, Isaiah, what’s up?” Bridget said in a cheery voice, though the “what’s up?” came in a tone that made him feel like he needed to get to a point.

“I thought we could get together.”

“Oh.” Was that hesitation in her tone? “It was just that I’m about to head out. I’m meeting a few of my new coworkers for drinks.”

“You haven’t even started yet and you’re meeting coworkers for drinks?” He couldn’t hide his surprise. She didn’t start her job until the following week and she’d already met her coworkers?

She gave a little laugh. “One of my undergraduate friends works at Goldman Schultz. She’s actually the one who put me on the job. I’m meeting up with her to get the skinny before I start.”

He hadn’t known that, but honestly, he hadn’t asked her much about the job. He hadn’t given much thought to Bridget’s life in Jacksonville outside of their relationship. The realization didn’t make him feel very good. Had he only been treating Bridget like a check-off on his things to do before the season started? “Why don’t you come over? Let’s talk.”

“About what?”

“Us.”

“Oh.” Again the hesitation, and a hint of concern. “You know, Isaiah, we do need to talk, but not tonight.”

He ignored the relief he felt that she didn’t want to come over. That couldn’t be a good sign. He shouldn’t have asked her to move here. Which meant he wasn’t looking forward to her reaction when he told her so.

“You know what? That’s no problem,” he said. “I had a long day at the camp. Let’s get together tomorrow.”

“Sure, yes, tomorrow’s great.” Relief in her voice, too. “Good night, Isaiah.”

“Good night, Bridget.”

CHAPTER 12

Isaiah didn’t run into Angela the next day. One second Cory was there and the next he was gone. Checked out by his aunt, he confirmed with Keri. Angela must be avoiding him. Not what he wanted, but he understood. To her, he was unavailable. Not for long. Regardless of the consequences he was talking to Bridget tonight.

He showered at the center, then went directly to the condo Bridget had rented. He knocked and after a few minutes, Bridget answered with a hesitant smile. She had on a pair of tiny pink shorts and a gray tank top with the words I don’t sweat, I glisten on the front.

Bridget stepped aside and let him in. He leaned in to hug her, but she was already turning away. “Oh…sorry,” she said and turned back.

They both leaned in with their torsos. Bridget patted him on the back twice. A church hug, according to Will. The kind of hug a woman gave you when she didn’t want to get too close. Maybe that was a good sign.

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