Page 27 of Third and Ten

We finish our transaction and head out to the parking lot, falling into an easy rhythm as we load my truck. “Sorry, I know that photo op took an extra minute of your time,” I apologize before I crank the engine.

“No worries. It’s not an emergency, but I do need to go in soon.”

We pull away in silence except for the radio, until she clicks her tongue. “You know, Ethan warned me you’d be like this.”

“He did?”

“Yeah. He said people usually just fawn over you and give you whatever you want.”

“Oh,” I say, unsure of how to react. “I guess it might seem that way sometimes.”

“He also raves about your generosity. But I suspect that’s why everyone in Camellia is so willing to dote on you all the time. They’re just grateful.”

I glance over at her, attempting to read her expression. She looks thoughtful. “Ethan only sees what I want him to see, most of the time,” I offer. “I do my best to be a decent role model for the guys, so I’m not surprised to hear he believes all that about JD, the socially responsible football coach.” Then I lean over and whisper, “But most of the time, I’m just JD, the dorky teacher who watches too much TV and gets nervous around beautiful women.”

She laughs as I turn into the school parking lot. “For the record, he idolizes both versions,” she remarks, making the corners of my mouth turn up, even if she’s still refusing to acknowledge my compliments.

I kill the engine and turn to face her. “Then I hope you don’t mind if your nephew turns out to be a closet nerd.”

She smiles back at me. “That would actually be sort of ideal.” Then she motions to her phone again. “I should get to the hospital.”

“Right.”

By the time I go around to the passenger side, she’s already stepped out and is offering the envelope of leftover cash. “Thanks again for today,” I say as I take the money. “I, uh, enjoyed hanging out.”

“Thanks for letting me help,” she returns, looking shy. “Will you tell Ethan that I’m headed to work?”

“Yeah, sure. I can bring him home on my way back, if you want.”

“That would be great. Bye, JD.” She gives me a half-wave before walking to her car, and I watch as she drives off.

“Wow, how did that go?” Blake’s voice surprises me.

“I’m not sure. I probably need to lie awake all night and review the game film first.”

“That good, huh?” He chuckles and moves over to open the tailgate. “I basically set you up on a date, and you blew it again?”

“I don’t even think I blew it this time,” I say thoughtfully. “She’s just out of my league, I guess.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he grumbles.

“She’s not stuck up,” I defend her as I climb into the back of the truck and bring the boxes forward. “She’s nice, but I think she may be immune to me.”

“Did you finally ask her out?”

“No,” I admit. “I was working myself up to it, but she got called to the hospital.”

“And she wasn’t using it as an excuse to get away?”

I scratch my chin as I consider it. “I don’t think so. She seemed disappointed about having to leave.”

“Mais, then what’s the problem?”

We each grab a stack of boxes and head to the gym. “I don’t know,” I groan. “Maybe she’s not attracted to me.”

“That’s an easy fix. Just make yourself sexy, kid.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t you think if I knew what she likes that I’d have tried it by now?”

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