Page 6 of (La)Crosse My Heart (Sweet Sports Kisses #7)

Clark

I t’s eight o’clock, and I could definitely sleep a full eight hours at this point. Am I getting old? I’m pretty sure Nora can make it to nine before going to bed.

There’s a knock on my bedroom door.

“Come in,” I say, putting my phone down.

Jackson comes into the room and gives me a guilty look. “I might’ve put something down the disposal I shouldn’t have.”

I frown and throw back the covers. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not used to a food disposal, and I think I put something a little too big in there.”

“What exactly did you put down it?” I ask, gritting my teeth to keep from yelling. Sometimes having roommates is like running a daycare.

He says nothing, looking like a deer in headlights.

I walk into the kitchen, shaking my head.

I’d bought this house earlier this spring, knowing it would be easier if I didn’t have to keep throwing away money on rent.

It’s not a mansion, but it’s a nice enough house.

But I don’t want to ruin things before or after the warranty runs out.

I doubt the warranty would cover anything, to be honest. That’s been my experience, at least.

I glance into the sink and see a bone in there. “Please tell me you didn’t put chicken wing bones in there,” I say, running a hand over my face.

“I didn’t know, man,” Jackson says, giving me a look like he’s terrified of getting into trouble. “I just thought it could take anything put down there.”

I want to yell, but I have to remember a few of my roommates don’t have the same world experience I have.

Jackson is a baby at twenty-one years old, and this is the first time he’s really been on his own.

It sounds like it’s a miracle his mom didn’t move out here when he did, since she’d bought a place by his college.

Home-cooked meals every night sounds amazing, but having my mom keep track of everything I do isn’t a good enough tradeoff.

Throwing the bone from the sink away, I then focus on the drain. My hand is way too big to fit in there.

“Can you fit your hand?” I ask, leaning against the counter and waving for Jackson to take a chance.

He tries and it’s the first time I’ve realized his hands are even bigger than mine.

I think about the other guys in the house. Chances are low we’ll be able to fish the bone out of the drain.

Jessa?

She wasn’t super excited to be working with me and then finding out we’re living across the street from each other threw both of us for a loop.

The easier route would be to call a plumber. But since it’s after hours, I don’t know if I want to foot that bill. Sure, I’m making more money than I have since I started with this team three years ago, but I know how fast it can all go if I don’t spend it wisely.

I slip on my slides and walk toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Jackson asks.

I sigh, knowing I’ll have to prepare for a debate and maybe some bribery to get her over here.

“To get some help.”

I’m grumbling as I walk across my grass in the twilight. It’s hard to see the curb, so I step carefully, wanting to avoid a weird sprain or even an ACL tear. It sounds ridiculous, but I’ve heard of stranger things.

There are no lights on inside, and I’m wondering if maybe I should wait until morning. Then again, my roommates aren’t all the brightest and would end up using the sink even if I taped it off and put a warning sign next to it.

I finally lift my hand and knock on the door. I freeze, trying to listen as much as possible, but I hear nothing.

I knock again and finally see a small glow of light through one of the window squares on the door. The glass is opaque, so it’s not super clear.

Did I get the wrong house? I turn to see her car still in the driveway connected to this house.

A figure is walking toward me. The door opens the smallest crack.

There’s about three seconds before she opens the door wide enough for me to see her face.

“What do you need, Clark?” she says, rubbing her face. It’s then I see she’s got her keys stuck between her first and second finger.

“What are you doing with those?” I ask.

“I didn’t have my usual safety items, so I figured this could at least make someone uncomfortable, especially if I shove it in their eye.”

I involuntarily take a step back, not wanting her to stab me accidentally.

“Okay. Anyway, can we get your help with something?”

She frowns, and I find my gaze stuck on her lips. They look so red and kissable.

I shake my head, trying to pay attention to her answer.

“You need my help with something?” she asks. “More than just a reputation rebuild?”

I roll my eyes and nod. “Yes, you can put it on my tab.”

“Am I going to be running for my life? Or is this a hazing welcome to the neighborhood?”

She’s definitely a lot more skeptical than I thought.

“We need your help to dig something out of a hole.” I wince, knowing that doesn’t sound like the best explanation, either.

She shakes her head and closes the door a few inches.

“My roommate threw a chicken bone down the disposal, and we can’t get reach it.

Our hands are too fat, and I’m worried one of the idiots will cost me more than their monthly rent if we don’t get it out now.

Not that they’re really idiots, just that they don’t always use their full brain capacity when making decisions. ”

She opens the door wider and says, “You want me to stick my hand down there to pull out a chicken bone? Really, Denton? I don’t believe it.”

“Please, Jessa. I won’t let anyone near the switch while you’re trying to get it out. I’ll owe you dinner or something.”

She looks at me for several long moments and I’m worried that if I say anything, I’ll sway her to the no zone.

Then I think of an idea.

“I’ll just talk to Nora then.” I turn around as if to walk down the porch steps.

“Who’s Nora?” Is that a touch of jealousy in her tone?

“She’s our ninety-one-year-old neighbor. I’m sure she’ll be okay helping us out.”

Jessa makes a loud groan and says, “Fine. Let me get my shoes on.”

I wait for her nearer the sidewalk and laugh as she comes out in a large fluffy robe and what looks to be animal slippers.

“What are you wearing on your feet?” I ask, trying to squint in the darkness.

“Buffalo. They’re my favorite, so don’t judge.”

I hold up my hands and shake my head. “The animal or the slippers?”

She punches me softly in the shoulder. “Both, all right?”

“You don’t love cuddly kitties or something a little?—”

“Less terrifying? Not as much as the buffalo.”

“That’s a choice I didn’t foresee.”

She raises an eyebrow. “So, you’ve been trying to figure me out?”

I open my mouth, but I’m not sure what to say. “That’s what you’re trying to do with me. I figured I’d have time to do the same for you.”

“What have you thought so far?” she asks.

“You first,” I say, stepping up on the curb in front of my house.

She pauses. “There’s a good portion of your old personality there.” She says nothing for several seconds, and I’m wondering which way she’ll go with this comparison of the old and new me. “I think you’ve matured and once we get you comfortable around a camera, we’ll be doing just fine. Your turn.”

I probably deserved that.

“You’re not as short as you once were, but I think this Dan-free diet you’ve got going on agrees with you.”

We’re at the porch and I can see the faint blush on her cheeks in the light.

“Thank you. I think the mountain air is part of that, too. Okay, let’s get in there and get the job done. I have to mentally prepare to work with you again tomorrow.”

I laugh at that. I’m sure she’s super excited about that.

Opening the door, I lead her into the kitchen, where it seems all the guys in the house have congregated to see what’s about to happen with the disposal.

“Do you not have anything else to do?” I asked, pushing Burton out of the way.

“The hockey game got over and we’re just curious,” he says.

“Everyone, this is Jessa. Jessa, these are the guys on the team. Jackson, Burton, Finny, and Stack.”

She blinks a few times before she says, “Are those actual names?”

“You know it,” Burton says, grinning at her. “Where did you come from?”

“I don’t have time to give you a biology lesson, Barton.”

“She lives across the road, in the rental,” I say, pointing at the wall closest to the road.

Jackson looks at me innocently. “How did you convince her to come over here?” He says in a loud whisper.

“He wanted to wake up an elderly neighbor,” Jessa says, pushing back the sleeve of her robe.

Finny turns to me. “You were going to wake up Nora? That would’ve taken all night to get her over here.”

It takes all of two seconds, and Jessa is holding up the chicken bone. She drops it on the counter and says, “Are there any other to-do items on your list?”

It’s the sarcasm I’m used to, and for some reason that’s comforting to me.

“I think that should do it. Thanks, Jessa.”

I walk her over to the door and she leaves, hurrying across the road and back into the house. I don’t close the door until I know she’s inside and then turn to the guys.

“You’re a lot more familiar with her than most of our other neighbors,” Burton says, folding his arms. His eyes are squinting at me, as if he can read the answer he’s searching for on my face.

“What are you talking about? We’re practically Nora’s adopted sons,” I say, walking past him to the kitchen. I need a drink and to avoid their penetrating gaze.

“Didn’t we see her at the arena?” Stack says, tapping his pointer finger against his chin a few times.

Jackson nods slowly. “That’s why she looks so familiar. Is she part of the media team? Maybe she’s the new trainer or something?”

Burton studies my expression closely, and I finally give in.

“She’s not a trainer. She’s the sister of my high school best friend and she’s been assigned to help me with my interview struggles.”

“Really? They hired someone for that?” Burton asks, his eyebrows cinched together looking like a chunky caterpillar.

I frown. “Are you trying to make me feel like a loser? Because it’s not working.”

“Really? It’s not like I’m the best one with a mic in my face. I wouldn’t mind you passing along any tips you get from her.”

My defenses crumble and I nod. “For sure. I’m sure she’d be willing to help more of us.”

Jackson looks like he’s seen a ghost. “Are you sure? Because she looked like she wanted to spend as little time with you as possible. Did you make her mad when you were younger?”

I think about it for a moment and it’s like the memories just whoosh back. I haven’t thought about them in years.

“Well, there was this time I put her name in to sing in a school talent show. She went through with it, singing a song from Wicked she loved, but then shot lasers from her eyes at me for the next couple of weeks.”

“I could see that,” Finny says, nodding.

“It could also be the time I ‘borrowed’ her car and returned it not quite clean.”

Burton looks confused again. “I don’t know if you have a different idea of irritation, but these don’t sound that bad.”

I shake my head. “Well, the Jessa I know lives and dies by a schedule. A plan for everything and everything is in its place. The car had not only food wrappers but also glitter and a mixture of perfume and body odor.”

Stack has a mischievous grin on his face and the rest are a mixture of laughter and confusion.

“You are sick,” Jackson says.

Raising both hands in the air, I say, “I didn’t hook up with anyone in the car. This girl had a crush on me and saw me get out of the car at a football game. She asked me to a dance using a glitter bomb and her perfume.”

“So, it was your fault by default?” Finny asks.

“Pretty much,” I say, shrugging.

“I don’t think that’s how she sees it,” Jackson says.

“You still better make it up to her,” Burton says. “I’m sure clearing the air will be better for you to work together.”

I pick up the kitchen rag and throw it at him. “What are you? The house therapist?”

He chucks the rag back at me and I catch it right before it hits me in the neck.

“No, I’m the guy who should charge for my advice. I’d make bank off all of you since you don’t listen the first time.”

“Whatever, man,” I say, laughing as I walk by. Burton is one of the bigger guys on our team and to think of him doing anything other than smashing people is laughable.

I head back to my room, knowing I need to get ready for another day tomorrow. If I’ve got to fit in training with Jessa, I’m going to need all the rest I can get.