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His eyes searched mine. But he turned his head before asking, “How about we don’t focus on us and we focus on Phoenix?”
“Deal,” I blurted. “I can do that.” I started pointing to the buildings. “This area is uptown. Restaurants, shopping.” I grew excited. “One of my favorite spots is a few blocks over.”
“Oh yeah?” He nodded. “Okay. Uptown. How long have you lived here?”
My nose scrunched up. “My whole life.”
“Show me your hood.” His voice was high pitched, and I laughed again.
I warned, “It’s not like this.” When his shoulders shrugged I told him, “Alright.” Then I directed him to the highway. “Get off at the next exit.”
As he drove with the traffic he said, “I didn’t want to come here at first.”
“What’s changed?”
Having no sons, our dad enlisted us in watching sports with him. I knew enough to cheer for the team, not enough to know what went on behind the scenes. I never considered how players got picked, traded, and moved around. When I decided to move back home, it was my decision. Couldn’t imagine someone else making it for me.
“It’s not that bad,” he eyed me. “People seem decent.”
“People underrate us.” I felt my chest poke out like I was about to go to war for the people of Phoenix. “See that shop right there?” I pointed to the right. It wasn’t easy to see in the dark of the night. But the big red sign out front was bold enough to see from the moon. “Hayes Body Shop.”
“Hayes Body Shop?” he repeated as he slowed in front of it. “This you?” He looked me up and down like I was wearing coveralls and had a towel hanging out my back pocket.
I shook my head. “Not me.” A hand landed on my chest. “But my dad.”
“Dope.” He said, “So if this bad boy needs some work…”
“He happens to specialize in German-made cars.”
Angelo’s head tilted back, and he said, “And I see you know your shit.” He laughed. “I don’t even know if Jared or Cam know the Cayenne is a German-made car.”
I hunched my shoulder. “He kept us busy as kids.”
“And where you grew up is somewhere around here?” His head craned side to side like our house would appear beside the shop.
I jilted my thumb behind me. “Back that way, but that’s not part of this tour.” I pointed my hand forward and told him, “Let’s go this way.” I directed him toward my dental office. As he drove I asked, “What do your parents do?”
His beautiful white teeth were on full display as he described, “My dad is a software engineer. My mom, she’s a physical therapist.”
“Okay, that’s cool. And now their son a professional football player.” I beamed. “Bet they are proud.”
His smile tugged a little further when he said, “I hope so.”
“Right here.” I pointed when he almost drove past it. “That’s my office.”
His eyes narrowed. “Smile Bright. You’re a dentist?”
I laughed. “I am.” For some reason, I thought all twenty-eight of my teeth on display would be a sign of my profession. “And if you need help with your pearly whites, I got you.” My eyes clenched closed.What am I doing?
His hand was heavy, and warm. A little calloused on the palm. And as it rested on my thigh, I didn’t want to look down at it. I kept my eyes closed.
“Relax,” he said. “What’s going on?”
In the hours since we met, he didn’t know much about me. Not me outside of the calamity that was my failed relationship. And now, a little of my upbringing and career. How’d he know that wasn’t me relaxed? How’d he know that my shoulders were tense, my jaws were tight, and I resented his touch. It wasn’t Shawn’s. But I didn’t want to shove his hand away. I was conflicted.The hell?
I shook my head. “I’m good.” I blew air from my nose. “There’s more of Phoenix I can show you.”
He asked, “How about somewhere to eat?” He rubbed his stomach. “Before that alcohol settles.”
