Page 14 of Inside Out
“Fair enough.”
I didn’t hear from Rome for the rest of the week. He didn’t email me or stop by my classroom. I thought maybe his parting words to me after the tennis match were just bluster, but it turned out he was just gathering his second wind and biding his time.
I reported for duty at the concession stand on Friday night because it was the tennis team’s turn to volunteer. The kids would rather watch the game, but many of their parents volunteered their time to serve nachos, hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, walking tacos, and an assortment of candy and drinks during the football game against our biggest rival. The boosters were on hand to show us the ropes and determine which of us would be best with money. One of the moms was a bank teller and one of the dads was an accountant, so they were elected. I would work with the food, assembling hot dogs, hamburgers, and walking tacos. Just before the service windows opened, our final volunteer for the night showed up.
“Back again for more punishment, Dr. Bradley?” one of the moms asked.
“This is like the fourth home game in a row,” another chimed in. “We’ve never had a superintendent work the concession stand one time let alone four times in one season.”
“I enjoy it,” he said. I was disappointed to find out he didn’t volunteer solely to have an excuse to be with me until he turned his twinkling blue eyes on me. “I see you already have someone doing my usual job.”
“I’m sure Mr. Shepherd could use your help. It’s a lot for one guy to keep up with during a normal game, but things will really be hopping tonight.”
“Want some help?” he asked, coming to stand beside me. God, he smelled delicious. I wasn’t the only one who noticed how damn good he looked in his tight, dark wash jeans and the navy blue, long-sleeved T-shirt that clung to his biceps and pecs. That damn bulldog had never looked so fine.
“Sure,” I said, playing it off like it was no big deal. “Do you prefer the hot dogs, burgers, or walking tacos?”
“Doesn’t matter to me. Put me wherever you want me,” Rome said softly enough that only I heard him. I had my back turned to the rest of volunteers, so they didn’t see the heated flush creeping up my neck. Rome’s eyes widened like he couldn’t believe what he’d just said.
I handed him the tongs for the hot dogs as a chuckle rumbled out of my chest. His laughter joined mine, and I knew the rest of the volunteers wondered what was so funny. Our laughter died soon enough when the service windows opened because the boosters hadn’t been wrong about the projected crowds. We didn’t have a slow moment from the first customer until the final seconds of the fourth quarter when we all gathered in the window to watch our kicker send the game-winning field goal through the uprights as time ran out on the clock.
We erupted into cheers and high-fived each other as the marching band blared the fight song and the home crowd went wild. We had about an hour of cleanup once we shut the doors, but it passed by fast when we were in such high spirits. Afterward, we all walked to our cars in the parking lot which was pretty deserted by then.
“Hey, Jules,” Rome said when I stopped at my car. “I’ll be at Books and Brew for coffee tomorrow morning if you’re free.” He knew damn well I didn’t have a tennis commitment in the morning. “I’ll even let you buy.”
I wanted to say yes, but I kept thinking that getting involved with him would be a big mistake. It was more than the fact he was the superintendent of schools where I taught; there was the age gap and race thing to consider. I would be a liar if I pretended like it didn’t matter to me, but a man didn’t forget the prejudices he faced growing up because his black mother happened to love a white man. On the other hand, I was never one to back away from something just because it was hard. All I owed the man was honesty, and right then, I only had one answer. “Maybe,” I said, opening my door.
Rome chuckled warmly. “Fair enough. I’ll be there at nine if you decide to join me. Sleep well, Jules.” I knew damn well sleep would elude me.