Page 27 of After Hours Lectures

“So, anyway, why are you calling?” I chuckled and changed the subject.

“Can’t a mother call her son?” she teased.

I leaned against the wall and mouthed “I’m sorry” to Tyler before responding to my mom, “Yes, but we usually catch up on Monday afternoons when I’m in my office atThe Hub. So, I’m just curious.”

“I was calling because I just got a phone call from a young man from your school.”

My heart dropped into my stomach and I bounced off the wall. “What?”

Tyler furrowed his brow, and I held up a finger.

“He’s a member of Sigma Epsilon and wanted to know if we could cover a celebrity softball game they’re hosting.”

“Oh,” I breathed, instantly at ease again.

“I figured since it’s your school, you’d want to cover it.”

“Of course. It falls under my department too.” It was a sporting event, after all.

“Yes, of course. Just wanted you to get it on your calendar before something else came up. Hopefully, you can work it out with your team.”

“Won’t be a problem.”

“Great. See you tomorrow?”

“Of course.”

We hung up, and I said to Tyler, “Sorry. That was my mom.”

“No need to be sorry.” He stood and grabbed his plate.

“What fraternity do you belong to?” I took the plate from him, our fingers brushing and sending a tingle through my body. I swallowed and snatched mine from the island to put them both into the dishwasher.

“Sigma Epsilon. Why?”

“Is your frat hosting a celebrity softball game?”

“We are,” he replied hesitantly.

“I guess someone calledThe Huband asked us to cover the game.”

Tyler blinked. “Oh wow. I knew we wanted some sort of media coverage, but I had no idea anyone had made the call yet.”

“Well, it looks like I’ll probably be there.”

“Really?”

I stuck the plates into the dishwasher. “Yep. I’ll move some things around if I need to.”

“Are you sure?”

“Unless you don’t want me there.”

“No. Of course I do.”

“Let me shower and then we can talk, okay?”

“Okay.”