Page 3 of The Secret Crush Book Club (Peach Blossom #3)

“Cheating during a tournament, or even outside of it, is a good way to get yourself banned from the servers and then it won’t matter how good you are,” she said pitching her voice to include all of them and not just Griffin and Jason.

It had the effect she was hoping for, and they all paid attention.

“But, just because someone is doing better than you think they should, that doesn’t mean they are cheating.

You all are teammates. Don’t forget that. ”

Her phone beeped and Zoey pulled it from her cardigan’s pocket.

It was time for more of the parents to start arriving.

She clapped her hands, getting their attention again.

“Alright. It’s time to clean up and get ready for pickup.

” The boys grumbled, but they all moved, cleaning up the stations and pushing in their chairs.

Right on time, the first knock came on the door before it opened, and a parent stuck their head into the room.

The boys steadily moved out of the room as they were picked up by their parents until only Jordan was left.

When he started helping out by cleaning up around the computers and making sure everything was powered down, Zoey thanked him.

He really was a good kid, and she understood exactly why the others often looked to him to settle things.

“Your mom should be here in just a bit,” Zoey said after the last chair had been pushed in. “I was actually helping her find some books earlier and I doubt she would have left without you.”

Jordan chuckled. “She probably got lost figuring out which aisle to turn down. Directions aren’t her superpower.”

Zoey giggled softly before shushing him. “Don’t let your mom hear you say that.”

“Too late.” Dani’s voice made Zoey freeze, and before she could thaw out, Jordan had already moved around her to the door.

When she turned, Dani was looking at her with a tilted smile.

“I’ll have you know, I only got lost in a library once, and it was because I was reading and walking instead of paying attention. ”

“That’s an easy mistake to make,” Zoey said in agreement. She took a step closer to the door before pausing. “Our library is small enough that it probably won’t be an issue though.”

Dani shrugged, her smile still pasted on her face. “You’d be surprised what can happen when you’re distracted.” She looked down at Jordan before putting a hand on his shoulder. “How did this one do today? Hopefully he didn’t give you any trouble.”

Zoey shook her head. “He never does. Jordan is definitely a good one. And I really appreciated his help today when it came to solving a minor disagreement between the boys.”

Jordan looked up at Dani with a smirk. “See. I told you I’m a joy to have around.” When Dani rolled her eyes, Zoey couldn’t contain her snort of laughter.

Dani’s gaze fixed on her then, her smile looking soft and filled with a fondness that made Zoey’s breath catch. It was almost unfair how gorgeous Dani was, with her rich brown skin and angular features. Her brown eyes were warm, and Zoey just wanted to sink into them and never look away.

“Can we stop at Thomas’s on the way home? I’m hungry.”

Jordan’s voice reminded Zoey that she was not, in fact, in a world with just her and Dani.

She wasn’t sure how long they had stood there looking at one another, but just the thought of being caught gawking at her was enough to have Zoey’s cheeks heating up.

Dani blinked slowly before she nodded to Jordan.

“Sure,” she replied. “I didn’t feel like cooking anyway.

It was good to see you again, Zoey.” Jordan was tugging her away, no doubt eager to get dinner quickly.

She knew how quickly kids grew. Even though she didn’t have any herself, she had been around enough of them to know that once they hit middle school, their appetites ramped up and they essentially became vacuum cleaners for food.

“It was good to see you too,” Zoey called out as Dani was pulled from the room.

She answered Dani’s little wave with one of her own, but as she watched them walk away, she knew she had to do something.

Tiffany’s words rang in her mind, but that was too much too soon for her.

She had to think of something else, and quickly.

“Dani, wait!” Zoey winced at the volume of her voice.

She had broken her own library rule about being too loud, but she couldn’t let Dani go just yet.

When she reached them, she quickly pulled a pen and a slip of paper from her pocket.

“I’m not sure if you would even be interested, but if you like books, I have a book club each week at my house.

We’re starting a new book this month, so it’s sort of the perfect time to join us. ”

Before her courage could fail her, Zoey jotted her cell on the paper and held it out to Dani. When Dani took it, their fingers brushed, and Zoey had to stop herself from melting right then at that warm touch. Dani looked down at the paper before looking back up at her.

“Thanks.”

“Of course,” Zoey said, trying not to sound as breathless as she felt. “No pressure.”

Another pull from Jordan had Dani moving again, and Zoey tried her best not to stare as she left. If she spent the next couple days incessantly checking her phone and hoping it was Dani, that was no one’s business but her own.