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Nick stood up from the bench, and she stood with him. “That’s enough of me moping out here,” he said.
“Hey, Nick?”
He raised his eyebrows in a silent question.
“Thank you for coming tonight,” she said. “I’m sorry your legs hurt.”
He grinned. “Totally worth it.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
He shook his head. “Calling me an asshole did the trick, I think.”
They laughed. “Seriously,” she said, “I know it’s been a long night. Can I grab you a chair or a drink, or something? Round up your adoring fans for you?” She watched him. “I feel like you’re afraid to ask.”
“Nah.” He was definitely embarrassed, and it was definitely cute. “No, I’m good.”
Hayley suddenly knew exactly what he needed. She impulsively wrapped him in the hug he couldn’t ask for, and her breath caught in her throat as his arms enfolded her.
15
“Ask her about Tom Cruise!” Mel yelled over the noise of the margarita blender she was using in the kitchen. “She’s got to knowRock of Ages.”
“Why can’t there be a trivia game just about Rocky?” Nick was texting from the recliner in the Beckett family room. “Or soundtrack albums,” he said to Gavin. “I could handle movie soundtracks.”
Gavin was loading a movie trivia game into the DVD player. “Sure,” he said. “But then you might beat her, and I’d have to handlethat.”
“I heard that.” Mel carried a couple of margaritas into the room and handed one to Nick. “What’d Hayley say?”
Nick looked at his new smartphone and laughed. “She knew about Tom Cruise.”
“And what’s so funny?”
“I told her there was no way I could beat you without her help, and she said I should refuse to acknowledge the filmography of anyone who’s played fewer than three disabled people.”
Mel laughed. “Pretty brave of her, going for the disabled joke.”
“Come on.” Nick was a little hurt. “I know things didn’t start well, but it’s not like she has to be afraid of me now.”
“I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Then what did you mean?”
Gavin stepped in. “You don’t exactly encourage those kinds of jokes, buddy.”
Mel nodded emphatically. “That’s what I mean.”
“Oh.” Nick sat back. “Well, she’s funny, for one thing. And I’d rather she joke than worry about saying the wrong thing.” Nick stopped. “Huh.”
Mel said, “What?”
“Nothing,” he said. “I just realized she doesn’t want me worrying either.”
Mel’s smile seemed just a bit smug.
Nick narrowed his eyes. “What?” he asked.
“Just glad to hear it’s going so well.”
