Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

BECCA

“You have got to be kidding me?”

Maddie stared at her as she dug her keys from her purse that was lying under the seat in her friend’s car. She wasn’t too thrilled with the phone call either, but it was overtime, and she could use the money. Her brother thought she was nuts for trying to make it on her own when she could have lived at home, rent-free, and made a living. Besides, going to some bar hoping to meet a guy did not sound that appealing – especially when you’d already met someone today who knocked your socks off.

“I’m sure Maria would rather be working than to be rushing her kid off to the ER with a broken arm. I mean, how many times have we told her trampolines are dangerous? I’m just glad that it’s only a few more hours before the office closes.”

“Right?”

“Go,” Becca urged easily. “Have fun and be safe. I’m heading straight for the store, and then I’m going to go home, live a glamorous life by doing laundry, and second guess myself all night long about calling Mr. Golden Boy - number eighty.”

“You have to call him…”

“We both know what he’s looking for…”

“So give it to him – several times in fact – and if you need to tag off? I’m your girl.”

“Oh my gosh, I am not ‘tagging off’ with you,” Becca laughed easily, knowing Maddie was only joking. “No ‘phone a friend,’ no ‘doubling down,’ nothing… okay? And I am not ‘giving’ him anything. Sheesh!”

“When something like that happens, you know you have to call him, right? It’s like an unspoken galactic rule somewhere from one of your cartoons. Star Raiders? Trans Morphers? Robo-Snack? What’s the name of those corny cartoon shows?”

“Maddie?”

“What?”

“Go have fun,” Becca said flatly, rolling her eyes and laughing at her friend. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Unless you are having the greatest sex of your life with a certain hockey player…?”

“If I suddenly up and decide to act like my brother, Matthew, and sleep around with anything that has legs, I’ll let you know immediately.”

“Code word?”

“Sure. Code word.”

“What should we use?”

“I don’t know. Something easy to remember? Score? Beer run? Hockey puck? Slap shot?”

“Too obvious… how about something you’d know – like ‘ Til all are done ’ or ‘ anime bunny girl ’ or ‘ lettuce ’?

“Excuse me – did you say lettuce?”

“Yup – slang for hockey hair… or he could be tossing your lettuce.”

“You’re disgusting. Seriously. Why are we friends?” Becca laughed nervously. “The conversations we have sometimes are staggering.”

“Because you seriously love me?” Maddie beamed excitedly. And before Becca could say anything, the woman hopped into the driver’s seat of her car where they were both parked so they could walk from the garage to the arena together, loudly tossing over her shoulder. “Lettuce! Lots of lettuce, my darling Becca, go get ’em!”

Laughing and mortified at her friend, she shook her head and got into her car as her phone rang.

“Hey Tony, I’m on the way to the office now. I just got to my car.”

Hours later, it was twenty minutes before closing and she heard the front door to the glass-front store open as the bell chimed. Not looking up from the phone she was programming for the couple, she called out simply.

“Welcome to Cellular Central, I’ll be right with you… after this guest.”

As the screen in her hand flashed several times and began transferring data from one phone to another, she smiled at the couple easily and heard the newcomer’s voice.

“Take your time. I’ll wait.”

Becca would recognize that voice anywhere! Stunned, she stood up straight, almost like someone had put an electrical jolt on the metal stool she had been sitting on. Looking over, she did a double take, seeing the man standing there with a cap pulled down low, as he removed his sunglasses and smiled hesitantly at her.

Was he following her?

She finished the data transfer, rang them up, got several signatures before she was finally finished, and Travis walked up to the counter.

“Hi…” she said simply, looking at him in surprise.

“I have a slight problem with my phone.”

“How did you know I worked here? ”

“I didn’t, but it does happen to be very convenient considering what has happened.”

“Did your phone break?”

“You could say that,” he smiled… and he put the phone on the counter, display side up, and there were eleven-hundred and seventy-eight unread text messages. Her eyes shot up in alarm, meeting his, and she hesitated. Was he accusing her of sharing his phone number online?

“I didn’t…”

“I know…” he replied softly. “A camera caught me, zoomed in, and well – my phone number is all over the SportsNews Network and internet now.”

“Ohh no,” Becca said in dawning horror as the phone continued to vibrate with each text message.

“Even if you had texted me – I’m not sure how easy it would have been to find it,” Travis began and shrugged. “So, I need a new phone number, a new phone, whatever… and your number.”

Becca sucked in her breath and met his eyes.

“You’re that popular?”

“You don’t watch hockey, do you?” he asked, a smile touching his lips as they both stood there awkwardly at the counter in the middle of the Cellular Central store.

“I don’t,” she admitted in a hushed voice, feeling almost guilty. “I’ve been to several rodeos, tractor pulls, and a plethora of other things – but no, I don’t really follow hockey.”

“I’m kinda glad to hear that.”

“You are?”

“It means that you might actually be interested in me – and not my score card, wallet, or fame.”

“Either you’re famous or have a big ego,” she chuckled shyly.

“Maybe a little bit of both?”

“Maybe…”

“It’s well-deserved in the hockey world, but I’m not there right now. I’m just a guy with a cell phone issue, hoping to ask a really pretty girl out for a cup of coffee or dinner sometime,” he said softly, as her heart flipped wildly in her chest. “What do you say?”

“Well, if you are as famous as you say, then maybe we should hold off on the public dates and stick with just talking for a little bit.”

“Oh.”

His crestfallen face surprised her. Travis just stood there, almost like he didn’t know what to do or say to her response, which made her feel like a million bucks. Obviously, he really wanted her to say ‘yes’ and was trying to figure out how to win her over.

“But,” she said quietly, looking at him with a soft smile. “We could get this phone issue taken care of – and talk so we can get to know each other.”

His shoulders sagged in relief as he smiled at her, his shaggy hair hanging almost in his face, and she wanted to push a lock of it out of the way. He was extremely handsome with a winning smile, dark eyes, and a slightly crooked nose that had been obviously broken at one point – but none of that detracted from the overall package he presented. No, Travis Giroux was gorgeous, and she didn’t want to be like all the other girls.

“I would really like that, Becca… a lot.”

“Me too.”

They stood there, and she finally gave a nervous laugh, unsure how to respond or what to say to such attention. She had been on dates in the past, but they were usually a bunch of local guys who simply wanted to brag that they were dating one of the Baird’s. All of that small-minded, small-town gossip, combined with the stresses already going on at home, is how she ended up in Dallas, two hours away.

Everyone knew them – or at least had heard of them. If it wasn’t her oldest brother bossing people around, then it was one of her other siblings acting out, running around town, or all the fighting as they tried to manage after her father’s death. She felt like the black sheep of the family because she didn’t want to run a farm or smell like manure on a regular basis – nor did she want to work for her brother, Jason. He could be a real jerk, bossy as could be, and short-tempered. Since she moved away, they were only now getting back to having some sort of peaceful communication between them.

“Let’s get you fixed up then,” Becca said nervously, wondering how her family would be around Travis. You’re putting the cart in front of the horse, Becca… relax. She flashed him a smile – and then focused on the computer terminal before her, trying to ignore just how attractive she thought he was and what all of this could mean.

That evening, when Becca got home, she kicked off her shoes and plopped down onto the loveseat – exhausted. It had been a long night, incredibly exciting, and she hesitated.

The jersey Travis had given her was neatly folded and hidden under the driver’s seat of her car to keep it from getting stolen. Barefoot, she padded down the stairwell and ran back out to her car in a hurry. She wasn’t leaving it there to get forgotten. No, she wanted to savor those moments, relish what it felt like to suddenly get picked out of the crowd by a good-lookin’ guy; like she was something special.

“This is crazy…” she whispered before pressing her face into the material to see if she could smell his cologne – and sighed. Nothing, not even fabric softener. Yanking it over her head, she wrapped her arms around her waist and wondered if Travis meant what he said or if he was even thinking about her – only to hear her phone ding.

There on the screen was a picture of a mangled peanut butter and jelly sandwich on a paper plate with the words, ‘ This could be your dinner ’ and a smiley face emoji – and she laughed. The bread was torn, there was a lump of grape jelly hanging off the crust, and the used knife was stuck to the countertop.

Are you trying to impress me?

Is it working?

No. My bar is set just a bit higher.

So peanut butter isn’t your Achilles heel?

‘Fraid not…

I make an incredible box of Kraft Mac and Cheese

I take it you cannot cook?

I cannot… le sigh.

Is that French?

Naww, it’s kind of a joke.

Giroux is a French name but I’m not. I was born in Arlington and grew up there. A lot of guys on the team are from Canada – and they definitely speak French. If you need a French cuss word, I’ve got your back.

… Or if you need a dentist.

Becca laughed at the weird text messages that were flying between them. He was obviously interested in having dinner with her and had zero skills in the kitchen, which was kind of nice.

I think I’m good.

So, macaroni and cheese, huh?

I would make it special for you – if you gave me a chance to win you over.

Like what kind of ‘special’… consider me to be ‘on the fence.’

Okay! ‘On the fence’ isn’t a NO again. Cool. I can work with that.

Have I mentioned that I’m slightly nerdy? Do you like nerdy guys?

(please?) ????

One convo at a time, Mr. Giroux. Mac and cheese?

Oh – um – I crush Ritz crackers on top.

Chez Giroux for the win!

Crackers?

They’re RITZ crackers…

And she laughed happily as he sent her a smiley face and two thumbs up. He was really sweet and seemed pretty nice. She honestly thought he would end up being some arrogant jock or a macho guy like her brother, whose attitude rubbed her the wrong way sometimes.

True, true.

Ritz crackers are pretty good – and you have me intrigued. Now tell me about the nerdy stuff so I know what I’m getting into.

Whoa boy! It’s bad.

Maybe this should be a phone call?

My ‘nerd’ is epic and no one else on the team knows. Man, they would rag on me so badly if they knew. This has to be our secret – I mean, I’ve got an image and sponsorships. Okay, now I’m freaking out.

Could I just call?

Her phone rang not two seconds after she got that last text message. Sliding her thumb across the screen, she couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped her. How was this guy nervous?

“Um, hi.”

“Hello,” she drew out deliberately. “So how nerdy is ‘nerdy’? On a scale of one to a…”

“Billion,” he whispered, interrupting her.

“What. Do you have some secret room with a bunch of autographed comic books, toys, and props?”

“Maybe…”

“Oh. Huh. Okay, that’s kinda cool.”

“Tell me you aren’t pulling my leg…” he rushed out in hurry. “When I said it’s bad, it’s like really bad – and I don’t want to minimize this for you.”

“Well, I can deal with nerdy – and nerdy can be fun.”

“It gives me a way to hide.”

“What do you mean?”

“If I’m dressed up in a cosplay then…”

“OOOH,” she interrupted in dawning awareness. Her eyes widened and Travis got really quiet on the other end of the phone line. “You meant really nerdy.”

“I did,” he whispered and sounded almost… ashamed. That hurt because she knew what it was like to be ashamed of wanting to be yourself. Everyone expected a certain image, and when you didn’t fit the mold, it was hard to get questioned ‘why’ you were the ‘weird one’ in the family.

“Then you’ll have to show me, and wow me with that mysterious mac-and-cheese-with-Ritz-crackers. Don’t cheap out and saltine me, because I’ll be able to tell the difference.”

“Are you sure?” Travis chuckled nervously.

“Wow me,” she smiled. “And you never know… maybe your ‘nerd’ matches mine?”

“I doubt it.”

“Why? ”

“Because then you would be utterly perfect. How does Friday night sound?”

“Friday? Um, sorry. I’m kinda distracted, and my brain is still stumbling over the ‘perfect’ comment. Friday, as in six days from now, that kind of Friday?”

“Yes.”

“I’m free.”

“Perfect. Can I pick you up, or should I send a car?”

“Send a whaa-whaa? I’m sorry, did you say that you’d send a car? Like a legit-rich-witch-fancy-schmancy car?”

“Yeah,” he chuckled again. “Maybe I should send the car, so you see what a ‘legit-rich-witch-fancy-schmancy’ ride looks like…”

“I thought you were going to wow me with the mac-and-cheese? Does this mean you don’t spring for a chef, but you do for a car?”

“Oh gosh, Becca,” Travis was laughing again. “You are killing me – and I love it. I’ll see you Friday, okay? Can you text me your address?”

“Is this a stalker move?”

“Does my P, B, and J sandwich scream ‘stalker’ to you?”

“Naw, bruh – it says you’re a broke-broke, just like me.”

“I am,” he laughed. “I’m a broke-broke but with a little bit of bank that folds. Can we not discuss money, though?”

“I would hope that we didn’t – because that financial pendulum swings in two directions, buddy. You don’t tell me yours, and I won’t share mine.”

“Good. Let’s be normal, keep it that way, and I’ll come get you.”

“Send the car, let me live for a moment…”

“All right,” he chuckled. “See you Friday – and thank you.”

“For what?”

“For making a halfway decent day utterly fantastic. I needed the laugh and cannot wait to see you.”

“That’s me – completely laughable, into nerds, and likes pasta a little too much. Me in a nutshell.”

“Again – utterly perfect. Good night, Becca. ”

“Night, Travis.”