I’m going to assume she’s contemplating what it could be like to leave this building with me. The reporters are likely still outside along with the fans, although, with today’s loss, the latter might have actually gone home instead of celebrating in the pubs across the street.
“Look,” I say as she raises her head to look at me. I want to rip her hat off so I can see her fully, so I can take in what I’m sure is one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen, but she’s hiding from me. “It’s cool if you don’t want to go to dinner. Technically, I just got off of work and I’m starving so I kind of need to eat.”
“It’s not that,” her green eyes shimmer even with the harsh overhead lighting. Voices echo down the hall, making my time with her limited. I don’t want to be teased or risk one of the guys making some comment about her that will have her running scared. I lean back slightly to look down the hall. There are three or four teammates at the end that are heading this way.
“Let me walk you out and you can decide on the way down.” I motion for her to turn around and walk toward the door, keeping my hands clenched in fists and securely in my pocket. I can feel the nerves working overtime, making my fingers twitch like crazy.
Having a nervous tick could be considered disastrous in the romance department. Anytime I’m nervous, it shows. And has been used against me before. Not to mention, the element of surprise is gone when I’m trying to do something romantic before my damn fingers move on their own accord. The only time they’re calm is when I’m up to bat.
Daisy picks up her bag and slings it over her shoulder, the strap lying perfectly between her breasts. I shouldn’t stare, but they’re right there and it’s sort of hard not to. I swallow hard and try to think of granny panties and toothless women.
“Which door leads outside?” I look at her questioningly before pointing to the one on the right-hand side. How she knew there was a door that went directly outside is beyond me, unless she’s been up here before. If I get the opportunity, I’m going to ask her. Plus a slew of other things like: Why is the seat next to her always empty and does she have a boyfriend or not?
Daisy moves toward the door, and I reach out to push it open, allowing my arm to brush along her side. The hairs on my arm stand up, along with a set of goose bumps for good measure. I’ve only ever felt that once before, and that was with Sarah when we first started dating. Sarah was my high school sweetheart. I went to college in Corvallis, Oregon, she in Seattle, Washington. The distance was four hours, but that’s not what broke us up. It was her schedule and my baseball. Being a sports medicine student takes up a lot of time, and I was focused on baseball. We remain pretty close to this day and see each other when the team travels to Seattle for games.
When we get to the bottom of the stairs, Daisy pauses. I can’t tell if she’s thinking of an escape plan or thinking about what dinner would be like with me. For all I know, she’s planning dessert, and I have to admit that I wouldn’t be put off by the notion.
“Are you sure you want to go to dinner with me?”
I sort of blanch at her with furrowed brows. Did she really just ask that ludicrous question? I asked her to dinner. Clearly I want to go.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
As she looks down, I follow the general direction of her eyes. Her feet do this odd bendy thing two or three times then stop. She sighs and grabs the strap of her bag. “I’m dressed like a fan,” she says, as if this is an issue for me. I briefly appraise her attire: Skinny jeans, Chucks and a BoRe baseball tee. I happen to think chicks in jerseys or baseball tees are hot, and even more so if I’m interested in them and they’re wearing my name on their backs.
“I don’t care how you’re dressed. Look at me. My hair is wet and the neck of my shirt is soaked. I don’t have a jacket so I’m going to freeze, yet I really want to take you to dinner. That is, if you want to go.”
I have never in my life worked so hard for a dinner companion. I’m not saying I’m a smooth talker, but shit, getting her to agree is like taking candy from my three-year-old niece.