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Grant leans closer and kisses the side of my head.
* * *
We exit Talon Hall the way we came. Before Grant can finish his goodbyes and head toward G-lot for his appointment, we run into Connor just outside the exit doors.
He catches my gaze and my entire body shudders.
Just be cool.
“Connor!” Grant says. “How are ya?”
“Hey, Grant,” Connor says, always happy to see the man who used to babysit him.
“What brings you to Talon?” Grant laughs. “Jocks typically don’t set foot here.”
“Well—”
“You know, your dad used to sneak in under the cover of darkness when he was secretly dating your mom. If anyone spotted him hanging out in there, that jig was up.”
Connor stutters. “Oh, I’m... nothing like that. I was just... meeting Dana for...”
“Lunch,” I say. “We both have a free hour, but not enough time to drive home, so...”
“We’re getting lunch.”
“Correct.”
Grant furrows his brow, his eyes bouncing between us through his glasses. “All right.” He straightens up. “So, I heard about your dad’s new gig,” he says to Connor, his tone soft and ready to comfort if needed. “How are you doing with that?”
Connor shrugs a shoulder. “Don’t have much say either way.”
“You know, Ty thinks it’s great. Having your grandfather as a coach, albeit briefly, changed his life. Your dad’s going to do the same for your teammates. Guarantee it.”
Connor nods; a softness to his expression. “You’re probably right.”
Grant pats Connor’s shoulder. “I’ve gotta scoot. I, too, have a date. Shouldn’t be nearly as fun, though.”
“It’s not a date,” Connor and I say, completely in unison.
Well, that didn’t look suspicious at all.
Grant chuckles. “Bye, guys.”
“Bye, Grant,” we say, also in unison.
Biting down, I wait for Grant to get far enough out of earshot before looking up at Connor. As I do, he smiles nervously.
“Hey,” he says.
“Hey,” I say.
“Grant has a date?”
“Doctor’s appointment,” I say, explaining the joke.
“Ah.” He nods. “Got it.”
“So…” I hesitate. “What are you doing here?”
