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“You going to play?”
“I think we’ve established basketball is not my game.”
Jesse laughed. “Yeah, but is sure if fun to watch you try.”
Peyton narrowed her eyes and mock glared at the youth. “Ha-ha and that right there,” she said, pointing at their mocking faces. “Is exactly why I won’t be playing. I have other gifts I bring to the table.”
“I’ll say you do,” Tyson mumbled.
“Ew, Tyson. Just… no… that’s inappropriate on so many levels.” Peyton stared the teen down and he dropped his head.
“Sorry, Peyton. Won’t happen again.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your apology.” When Tyson looked her in the eye, she saw his remorse. He’d come a long way since he started coming to the center. The first few times he’d come, they’d had to ask him to leave for breaking rules, and she hadn’t been sure he’d come back. But he had. And over the past several months, he’d really made strides toward being a different kind of kid. There’s no way the Tyson who had shown up here six months ago would have apologized for his comment let alone meant it. The fact he clearly did warmed her heart and gave her hope for his chances. This was why she did what she did, because this place mattered.
“Give me a couple minutes to unlock everything,” she told them.
“Cool,” Jesse replied.
She unlocked the front door of the center and punched in the code for the alarm, and flipped on the lights in the main area. She walked down the hall and unlocked the gym, turned on lights in the weight room then turned back around and opened the front door to call the boys in. “Alright, come on in. Enjoy your workout. James should be here in about five minutes, so he’ll be out front if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Peyton,” they called.
“No problem. I’m glad you came by when school was canceled.”
“Yeah well, Cy’s arms look like little chicken wings so…” Jesse poked the other boy in the arm.
Cy spun and wrapped Jesse in a headlock. “Chicken wing this, motherfucker."
Peyton rolled her eyes as the two boys wrestled to the ground. Why was it boys loved to play that way?
“Hello?” a male voice called from out front.
“Sounds like James is here. Make good choices, boys,” Peyton called as she walked out of the weight room.
Peyton turned on the coffeemaker in the kitchen, then wandered out front to say good morning to James.
“Soo, how was your weekend? How’d the party go?” James leaned his elbows on the counter and watched her expectantly. “Give me all the tea.”
“Well, he’s married, so there’s that.”
“Holy shit, he’s married?” James stood up straight and stared at her. “Didn’t you google him?”
“No, why does everyone keep asking me that?” Peyton grumbled.
“Well, because that’s dating 101, sweetie,” James replied. His nose wrinkled up as he looked at her sadly.
“Seeing how I haven’t had a date in three years, I wasn’t aware that was like a rule.”
“Honey, it’s been a rule since the internet was invented.”
“Yeah, well, it’s been a hot minute since I had to worry about any of that. And I kind of thought it would be nice to get to know someone with no preconceived ideas.” She blew her bangs off her face. “Why didn’t you tell me to research him online first?”
“I figured you knew. You’ve helped me deep dive before my dates.”
“Yeah, but that’s before you hook up with some rando you met online and you want to make sure you aren’t going to end up a skin suit.”
“True, but the concept is the same, sweetie.”
