“No,” I admitted. “But I did do a drawing, which you will find in the back. But if you turn to page three, you will see a detailed budget.”
He flipped the first two pages to get there.
“You’re over budget,” he said, sounding almost triumphant.
“I am. But if you turn to the next page, I’m confident I can get philanthropic funding. A Mr. and Mrs. Benvos contribute to projects like this annually.”
Though this was a fictious project, I had done my research as if it were real.
By the time I left his office, I’d answered what felt like a million questions.
There waiting for me was Shepard leaning against the wall in the hallway.
I crossed the distance in two strides and flung my arms around him.
“Did you pass?” he asked.
I nodded, though it was only the first step in the process. It was a win.
“He actually said my ideas were solid.” I grinned. “He also said it was so unexpected. He figured I would be transforming a house into another house or a building into a building or something.”
He flashed his sexy smirk.
I swatted him. “Don’t say it.”
“What? I told you so. That you are so incredibly amazing, I never had a doubt you’d pull it off,” he said.
I lifted up to give him a quick kiss, uncaring of the people in the hall.
“Yes. My personal cheerleader. Will you wear one of those pleated skirts for me tonight?”
He grinned. “I’ll wear one of yours. Oh . . . that’s right,” he teased. “You didn’t cheer.”
My smile only widened. “That’s okay. I have a friend who’s a cheerleader.” I laughed when his face soured thinking of Emily. “Don’t back down now.”
“I’ll wear whatever you want me to if you do that thing with your tongue again.”
“Care to be specific? I’ve done a lot of things with my tongue.”
37
shepard
My girl was brilliant and would one day set the world on fire with her ideas. After I whispered all the things I planned to do to her when we got home, I dragged her from the spot we’d claimed on the wall across from her professor’s office. I didn’t want to walk around hard until we got home, so I switched subjects, and I asked her more about her meeting. She brightened like she’d won the lottery and spoke animatedly as her excitement mounted for her project. She was amazing, and she stole my breath every time I looked her way.
“You should pitch it to the county. It’s a great idea.”
There was a hopeful glint in her eyes. “You think so?”
“Yes.” I really did.
I slipped my hand in hers as we stepped out of the building. I was done with hiding. I thought we’d get some alone time, but she ran into Tori. While they talked, Cooper arrived and asked me to do him a solid and go grab food so Tori would join us. I whispered the plan in Finley’s ear, and she talked Tori into lunch.
With my girl next to me, I walked to the café with our fingers linked together. After getting our food, I took a chance and sat next to August. At least he didn’t glare at me. But there were shadows in his eyes. Something was most definitely going on. Though he held court telling some story, I saw the pain underneath his plastic smile and vowed to fix our friendship. It wouldn’t be overnight, but I wouldn’t give up on a lifetime of memories. And from what I could tell, he needed a friend.
“To the game tomorrow,” he said, lifting his cup.
The chant began. I joined in. Billy’s eyes landed on me and went to Finley who was tucked up against me. That could spell trouble. I let it go for now, enjoying the revelry. Tomorrow would be my first game, and I was juiced. With no practice, we got home early to find my mom there. I knew she was coming for the game. I didn’t know she was coming tonight.
“Shepard,” she cried, tears in her eyes. “How come you didn’t tell me?”
Shit, she’d found out. I’d made a ton of excuses, which she’d accepted.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to worry you.”
“Worry? You’re my baby. I’ll always worry about you.”
She pulled me down for a hug and kissed my cheeks like she’d done when I was a boy.
“Mom,” I said, a heat coloring my cheeks.
Finley only grinned at my embarrassment.
Mom patted my shoulder. “Give me this. You’re my only son.”
I squeezed her tight and said, “I missed you too, Mom.”
She whispered back. “Did you get the girl?”
I nodded, and she gave me a cheesy smile.
I held out my arm to Finley, and she tucked herself at my side, a perfect fit.
“Nice to see you, Ms. Connelly.”
That was when I noticed the man in the background. Mom turned to follow my line of sight. She waved him over.
“Shepard, this is Hank Brownly.”
Though I shook his hand, I found myself sizing him up. “Let’s go inside,” Finley said because I was noticeably distracted checking his shoes.
Were they too beat up or too new or just well-worn? I studied them while Finley played hostess, and I stewed on the living room sofa.
Finn rolled over to the corner of the room I’d taken up residence in. “You’re burning holes into the guy.”
I looked at him. “He’s Mom’s new boyfriend.”
“Yep.” He laughed. “Starting to feel like August, huh?”
I hated to admit that everything August had done made sense. Not only did I worry if the guy treated her right, I wondered how much of her attention he would take from me.
“Maybe, but the difference between him and me is that in the end, it doesn’t matter as long as she is happy.”
“Are you sure about that?” Finn asked, head tilted in query. I nodded. “Go ahead and tell yourself that. But don’t give up on August.”
I wasn’t, but I was curious what, if anything more, Finn had found out.
“You know something?”
“Only that he appears to be at
