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Theysat at a table withToddandBarb, and whenToddwaved forSpenceto join them,Spenceshook his head with a slight smile and pointed to a group of younger teammates gathered on the far side of the room.
“Hey,Cap,”TimCarlsonsaid in greeting. “Theguys are going off campus for dinner.Joinus?”
“Sure.Whereare you headed?”
“Tony’sfor some wings and pizza,”Timsaid.Theonly senior in the group,Carlsonhad volunteered to keep an eye on the first-year players.
“Greatcheat day meal,”Spencesaid.
“Gottamake it count,” freshman pitcherIvanWestgateretorted.
Asthe group walked across campus,Spenceglanced atKim’sdorm.Herlight’s on…Icould call her.Heshook off the thought and focused on the young teammates walking with him andCarlson.Chattingabout the upcoming season opener, he smiled at the first-year players’ excitement and confidence.Heremembered that feeling when he first started atFCU—following his dream.
Heneeded to spend time with these guys—away from practice and the field.Spencehadn’t gotten to know the new guys as well as he should.Toodistracted by a beautiful new best pal.Heneeded to take the reins of the captaincy the coach and team had entrusted to him.Taskone: off-the-field bonding with the team.Acouple of ideas popped into his mind—he’d check withCoachRamirezbefore mentioning anything to the guys.
18
Whenshe awoke lateSundaymorning, the overwhelming pungent scent of flowers bombardedKim’ssenses.Openingher bedroom door strengthened the cloying air permeating the apartment.Coughingand sneezing,Kimhurried to open the window in her kitchen and then set the vase in the sink.Sheturned theACon high to circulate the air before heading to her bathroom.
Aftera long shower,Kimtook a deep breath without coughing.Butas soon as she opened the bathroom door, her eyes burned.Shequickly dressed, ignored her wet hair, then grabbed the flowers and thrust them into a trash bag.Sheset the trash bag outside her apartment, then left the door open as she emptied the water and washed the vase.
Aftercombing out her hair and pulling it back into a low ponytail,Kimtook the trash bag down the hall to the trash chute.Whata waste.Whoeverheard of flower allergies?Hopewhoever sent them never finds outIhad to throw them in the trash!Thearoma in the apartment still overwhelmed her senses, soKimslipped on her sandals, grabbed her phone, and decided to eat breakfast in the student center.
Whileshe waited in the short line to order sweet potato pancakes,Kimglanced around the seating area, not seeing anyone she knew in the scant group among the tables.Sheplaced her order and took it outside to eat at one of the courtyard tables.AbeautifulTampamorning to sit in the early morning sun—a pleasant contrast toVancouver.Althoughtemperate in winter,Vancouvercould not compete withTampa.She’dtake the seventies-to-eighties any day.
Kimsavored the sweet potato pancakes—her new favorite breakfast—while she checked her email.Spam, junk, spam, junk.Easilydisposed of.Shedid not check theMartinFamilygroup thread, knowing it had taken on a life of its own, as usual.Noway amIadmitting to the allergy attack—just in case someone in my family sent the flowers secretly.
Shelooked up as a shadow crossed her table, and her heart performed a little flip when she sawSpence.
“Hi,Spence.Joinme?”
Spencedid that little half-smile thing that always caused the butterflies to awaken.
“Whyare you out here eating alone?”
“Enjoyingthe beautiful weather that you must take for granted.It’sin the forties and raining back inVancouver.”
“No,I’mthankfulI’mhere.Savannahgets chilly this time of year.NothinglikeCanada, butIhave seen snow.”Spenceput his plate on the table and sat beside her.
“Itdoesn’t snow inSavannah, does it?”Kim’svoice reflected her surprise.
“Oh, once every few winters.Doesn’tlast long, butIremember getting two inches a few years ago.Enoughto build a snowman and watch it melt the next day.”Spencelooked into her eyes. “Youokay?Haveyou been crying?”
Kimshook her head with a chuckle. “Allergicreaction to flowers someone sent me.”ShewatchedSpence’sexpression. “Iwoke up sneezing and coughing.”
“Thatstinks.Fromyour parents?”
“Nope.Noone in my family admits knowing anything.”Kimshrugged. “Ican’t think of anyone.”
“Mysteriousadmirer,Popcorn.Youbreaking hearts around here already?”Hiseyes sparked a sizzle of electricity when he held her gaze.
“Hardly.Unlessyou sent them?”Kimblurted, then felt her face flush. “Nevermind…”
“IwishI’dhave thought of that,”Spencecut her off. “Butnever any of thoseFloridablooms with allergy-inducing fragrances.”
“Good, thenI’lltell youIhad to throw them away.”Kimscrolled her camera and showed him the photo she’d snapped yesterday.
Spencegave a low whistle. “That’sone mega-bouquet.Iread somewhere that the scent from some yellow flowers can cause allergic reactions… probably those lilies and bright yellow flowers.”
