Page 67 of Scoreless Nights

His excitement made me laugh, and I could hear him telling someone in the background that I got the job.

“Who are you talking to?” I mean, no one else knew how close we were.

“My mom. I decided to come see her after practice today. Waiting on her to bring me dinner.”

My heart started racing because that’s exactly where I was headed, and I had hoped that his mom wouldn’t end up being there when I arrived. Much less him being there himself.

“Oh my God, I got so consumed with this interview that I forgot to call you. You have to leave.” I started to panic. “Jackie and Angel will be there soon. That’s where we’re supposed to have dinner. I think Jackie wants to squeeze more tickets out of Deon.”

“Damn Lil, what the fuck?” He sighed in frustration and I felt awful. “All right I’m gonna ask her for a to-go box, and I’ll tell my mom to act like she doesn't know you.”

“You’re the best, you know that?”

“Just for you.”

Before I could say anything else he started cursing under his breath, “Your friends are already here.”

Oh no.

“Shit, Deon met them at the door. They’re headed my way.”

I didn’t hang up, but neither did he. I could hear him talking to them at his table and them asking him if they could sit down. He was too nice to tell them to go away, but I could tell in his tone that he wanted to.

“I thought I was going to hear from you last week,” Jackie whined. “I was looking forward to it.”

“Yeah sorry about that. Change of plans.”

“That’s okay, I’m always available for you.”

“Oh, I thought you and Deon were a thing.”

I started laughing because he didn’t think that at all, but I could imagine the look on Jackie’s face when he said it.

“Excuse me,” Cruz said and I heard shuffling before his voice was back in my ear. “Señorita?”

“Yes?” I laughed, loving when called me that.

“You might want to fake a stomach flu and go home. I’ll meet you there.”

“This is the last time I’ll see them for a couple of weeks.”

“What if I said I would… oh fuck.”

His voice got away from the phone again, and I heard Jackie’s in the background. “Can I talk to you alone?”

“What's up?”

“I thought we could have some fun tonight.”

“Um…”

“Come on,” she moaned, so close I could hear her breath. "Déjame chuparte.”

What did she just say?

Instead of answering her in Spanish, Cruz took a page from his dad’s playbook and stuck to English, knowing I was listening. “I’m seeing someone.”

“No you’re not,” Jackie laughed. “You have a reputation, and I know all about it. Let me be one of your girls.”

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