Page 29 of The Surprise Play

“Well…” I roll around the couch, throwing another ball while Zoey squeals and sends a sparkly pink pom-pom my way. When did she add that to her arsenal? “I like to call her my goddaughter, even though she’s technically not.”

“O-kay.”

“She’s one of my teammate’s daughters.”

There’s a pause as I crawl on my hands and knees around the armchair to better position myself.

“Your teammate has a daughter?”

“Yep. Zander Donohue. The quarterback. You know him?”

“No.”

“Okay, well, he’s a daddy, and we live in the same place, so…” I wait until Zoey appears, then let out a roar and grab her around the middle. Peals of laughter fill the room as I swing her around before plunking onto the floor with her in my lap. “I get to play with this little cowgirl when I’m home.”

“Shouldn’t you be in class right now?”

I frown, pulling the phone away from my face so I can check the time. “Oh shit.”

“Oh sit!” Zoey yells, raising her arms in the air while I press a finger to my lips and try to get her to shut up.

“Don’t say that, Zo-Zo,” I whisper, then wince. “So, yeah… I’m supposed to be in class right now. I didn’t realize it was so late. Coach gave us the day off after our epic win.”

“Yeah, I saw—I mean… I heard that you guys won. Congratulations.”

“Thanks.” I grin, tickling Zoey’s tummy and figuring I’ve already missed half the class, so there’s no point rushing to get there.

“Well, are you, um… free later on today? I don’t want to encroach on any of your class time, and I have a class starting in about thirty minutes, but I’m available later this afternoon.” She sucks in a quick breath like she’s nervous or something. “Will you be… free?”

My lips twitch before growing into a surprised smile. “Are you asking me out?”

I was seriously not expecting that. I thought she’d hate me after the way I yelled at her.

“No!” she gasps and then splutters, “I’m not… I don’t date… I mean, why would I be asking you out?”

O-kay, so she’s not flirting with me, then. Weird. Most girls do. I’m not being arrogant; it’s just a fact.

“Wily?” Her voice pitches, and she sounds near panicked now. “Why would you ask me if I’m askingyouout?”

My shoulder hitches when I finally respond to her. “You wanted to know when I was free. I just assumed?—”

“For a tutoring session! I want to know if you’re free fortutoring.”

I can’t help a gruff laugh. “I thought you didn’t want to tutor me.”

Zoey starts playing with the ties of my hoodie, pulling the string all the way down on one side. I throw her a baleful look, and she giggles, pulling on the other side until it’s scrunched tight around the back of my neck.

“Well, I… I guess I felt kind of bad about bailing on you, so I went and spoke to Professor Pilscher, and he’s agreed to let you resubmit your assignment. You have until Friday, and if I’m going to help you, then we really need to get started as soon as possible.”

It takes me a second to register what she’s saying.

She did what?

“Pay, pay, pay!” Zoey starts jumping on my lap, and I quickly still her, staring at the wall and kind of reeling.

“You went and saw Pilscher? For me?”

“Well, yeah. I mean… I can tell how much you want to graduate, and I really think you’re capable of doing it. So, if you’re willing to work with me, I can help you write thatMoby Dickessay.”