First and Goal (Moving the Chains #1) (18 page)

“Well, considering she never apologized to me for her little stunt last week, I’m guessing she never apologized to you, either, so you’re welcome.”

“I don’t need any favors from you, Superjock. Mind your own business.” I hope he gets what I’m hinting at without having to blatantly throw it out there. I can’t let what happened yesterday afternoon go unaddressed. Not only do I not want him getting the wrong idea about Eddie, but I don’t want him playing the “hero,” either.

He opens his mouth, but YiaYia stalks into the kitchen. I shoot him a quick glare and subtle shake of my head to shut him up.

“Robbie, I apologize that Eva is being a terrible hostess.” She throws me her perfected guilt-inducing glare. “Would you like something to drink? Some lunch, perhaps? You must be very hungry after practicing for the football.”

“Oh, no…that’s okay. You don’t have to. I’m just here to do homework with Eva.”

YiaYia ignores him and prepares to introduce my school’s all-American stud to Greek food.

I know I promised not to be a bitch anymore. But I need to remember all the mistakes I made last year and how greatly I’m still paying for them. I can’t let myself get too comfortable.

I set my mug down on the counter and move out of YiaYia’s way as she flits about the kitchen, casting me dirty looks. I guess I’m really not getting out of this. “I’ll be right back. I have to go get my books out of my room.”

When I return to the kitchen with my backpack, YiaYia is hard at work making fresh htipiti. The table is already laden with feta, olives, bread, and a pitcher of lemonade. A pot of strong coffee is brewing. She’s regaling Rob with embarrassing tales of my childhood.

“You wanted to be a nun, huh?” He laughs, his stupid eyes sparkling as he inhales a chunk of feta pressed against an olive.

“That idea has recently been rekindled, yes. And they may be called nuns in the Catholic Church, but they are simply sisters in the Orthodox Church.”

“Eva,” YiaYia interrupts sharply. “Make Robbie a sandwich. This is not enough food for such a strong, young man. You should be ashamed of yourself for not offering sooner. If you keep treating your suitors like this, you will indeed be a bride of the Church instead of the bride of some handsome man like this one. Your Papou and I expect to live long enough to see great-grandchildren. Since you are the eldest grandchild, you are our best hope.”

My cheeks burn with mortification. Rob chokes on his food. The mood in the room instantly turns from jovial to awkward. I silently busy myself with making a sandwich as YiaYia carries the bowl of dip over to the table. Out of the corner of my eye I watch as she graces Rob with a loving pat on the arm.

“You are a good boy. Gus and I approve. But you should know that if you treat our precious Eva dishonorably, there is a shotgun upstairs with your name on it.”

“I would
never
do anything to hurt your granddaughter. My promise to God.” His efforts at playing along for her sake are admirable if the seriousness of his tone is anything to go by.

She leaves to rejoin Papou in the living room, unaware of the damage control I’m left to dispense. Or I could ignore it all and pretend it never happened. I choose the latter. Practically throwing the sandwich on the table at Rob, I turn my attention to pulling my materials out of my backpack in an effort to run the play option that I’ve selected.

“You’ve always been my favorite waitress,” Rob mumbles by way of thanks, his mouth already full. So much for his previous entreaties on gender equality. “How many times have they tried to marry you off? I’m gonna go with at least fifty if the guys who’ve been after you at school are any indication. I’m sure only half of them made it far enough to be sitting where I am.”

So much for ignoring it. “This is the first time, actually. They didn’t care much for Eddie. No one has ever made it into our kitchen to be served food by YiaYia.” Why I tell him this is beyond me. He certainly doesn’t need my help to feed his precious ego.

As if reading my thoughts, his face brightens up. “Ooh. I’m special. I don’t particularly care much for Eddie, either, so I get where they’re coming from.”

“Don’t flatter yourself. And I’m not saying another word to you about Eddie so don’t even think about it.”

“I’m sorry,” he replies quietly, looking down at the plate in front of him. “I’ve been sorry for a lot of things these past two weeks, but I’m sorriest that you’re afraid of me. I meant what I told YiaYia. I would never hurt you in a million years, Eva.”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

He reaches over to place his hand on top of my own. I flinch. Dammit.

“Well, I’ll believe you when you don’t do that whenever I touch you.”

“Well, stop touching me, and it won’t be an issue.”

He sighs, but pulls his hand away and reaches into his backpack. Thank God we’re going to start doing our homework. He slowly pulls a small, white, cardboard box out of his bag and sets it down on the table in front of me.

“What’s this?”

“I brought you something.”

“I can see that. What is it?”

“Peace offering. Go on, open it.”

I’m not sure I want to. I’m not sure it’s a good idea to accept anything from him at all.

He drums his fingers on the tabletop and heaves another sigh. “I’m sorry I frightened you yesterday. I’m sorry I misread what I thought happened with you and Eddie. It’s none of my business. But I still want us to at least be friends. I promise, if you keep trying to let me in, then I’ll try to hold my temper. No matter what.”

I shouldn’t listen to his sweet, softly spoken words. I really, really know I shouldn’t. A friendship with him can lead to nothing good. Time and experience has already taught me this lesson. But I simply can’t help myself. I lift the lid, revealing a beautiful, pink, sparkly cupcake nestled inside the box. Sure beats a granola bar. “I dunno. It’s not a ring, so I’m not sure Papou and YiaYia would want me to accept this.”

He laughs. “Well, you know…I usually like to get to know a girl a little better before I propose, so how about you eat your cupcake, and we finish up these questions?”

“Deal.” I hand him my bio folder.

He rifles through the papers for the questions. “Since Mrs. Anderson isn’t around, we’re skipping eighteen.”

Question eighteen asks, what is your most terrible memory?

“Agreed.”

“Nineteen: If you knew you were going to die in a year, would you change anything about your current life, and why?”

“Yes. I would eat more of these cupcakes.” I mean to ask him where he got it. I take another bite instead. This cupcake tastes suspiciously like hope. I don’t want to fill up too quickly, but it’s completely out of my hands at this point. I’m a sucker for sweet things.

“Hmm, this is another one I’d have to think about for a while. I guess I’d settle for bringing you more of those cupcakes.” He chuckles while I motion for him to read the next question. “Twenty: What does friendship mean to you? Wait, didn’t we already answer this one?”

I nod my head.

“All right, moving on. Twenty-one: What roles do love and affection play in your life?”

My cupcake finished in record time, I can finally answer without sounding like a hungry jock. “I don’t know. This one is weird too. My family loves me. I guess that’s it.”

He shakes his head. “Lots of people love you; you just don’t see it.”

“That’s weird and creepy.” Do I have a stalker that I don’t know about?

“I mean you have lots of friends who love you, jeez. You think that no one likes you or respects you, but that’s just not true.”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.” I wave my hand dismissively. “Your answer?”

He blows out an uncomfortable breath. “Uh, I dunno. My mom would do anything for me, and she’s really affectionate. Seriously, don’t laugh, but I’m totally a mama’s boy. If she calls, I come a runnin’. I don’t have any siblings, but Alex and Mike are like my brothers. Even though we’re guys, and we don’t hug and all that crap, they really are loyal. I know they’d do anything for me.”

I’m craving a glass of milk after that rich baked goodness, so I call to him over my shoulder as I head to the fridge. “Tini loves you. And she was
very
affectionate until you embarrassed the crap out of her.”

Rob shudders. “I do not want that kind of love. It’s creepy enough coming from the girls in our class but your little sister? Blech.”

“Hey, what do you have against my sister?” I can’t hold back my laughter. It’s just too gross to even contemplate seriously.

“Uh, maybe that she’s only fifteen, and I’m almost eighteen? That’s practically statutory.”

I try out my best slimy wink. “I don’t think she’d mind.”

“Yeah, see, that’s my other problem with it. Even though I’m apparently a manwhore in the rumor mill…” He rolls his eyes. “I’ve honestly never tried flirting with girls. It feels wrong that I don’t have to put in any effort for them to want me.”

His face takes on a sad expression. “Maybe you’ll think I’m a prude, but it bothers me that all they’re interested in is what I might have to offer them in the back seat of my car. I don’t wanna be someone’s quick screw, and that’s it. Maybe it’s because I went to Catholic school for so long. I dunno.”

The bitterness of his admission creates a feeling of empathy that I don’t want to acknowledge, so I change the subject. “Yeah, if being a good Catholic boy is your reason for not screwing every willing girl, then explain Alex’s whoring.”

He gives me a weak glare. “I can’t actually explain that to you. There
is
a reason, but I can’t betray his trust and tell you about it, sorry. You’re just gonna have to take my word for it.”

“Okay, then. And I don’t think you’re a prude for wanting a girlfriend instead of an easy lay. Honestly, maybe if the rumors about all the girls you’ve been with had never started, then you’d have found a girl that’s interested in more than just your supposed sex skills by now.”

His discomfort grows exponentially. “Would you date again if you thought the guy wasn’t only interested in one thing?”

Well, if that’s not a loaded question. “I don’t know. I think there’ll always be a part of me that believes easy sex is all they’re interested in.”

“Let me phrase it another way. If none of those rumors about you being easy had ever gotten started, would you still feel the way you do now?”

“I guess not.” I totally would, but I’m not about to admit that to Rob. “If, um,
the ego
rumor had never been started about you, do you think you’d have a girlfriend by now?”

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “Maybe, but I doubt it. I’m kind of a loser when it comes to girls. I never know what to say.”

The honesty in his voice wars against the bitchy murmur in my head that still insists he’s playing me somehow.

“You can always just start with ‘hello.’” I offer him the lamest advice I can think of. I can’t believe a guy his age would ever refuse sex. It’s unnatural.

“Question twenty-two,” I read. “Alternate sharing five positive traits of your partner.”

Well, this isn’t going to be awkward or anything.

“Okay, you’re gorgeous.” And he says he doesn’t know what to say to girls, even if it is a total lie. Right.

“You’re good at calculus.” Better than me.

“You are not a slut.”

“You’re worth more than your looks.” And I feel really bad about all the rumors about him.

“You have a beautiful voice.” He’s already told me that before, but whatever. Let’s just get through these.

“You’re the best quarterback I’ve ever seen.” Shit. Should not have said that as evidenced by his wide smile.

“You’re really easy to talk to when you’re not telling me you hate me. I actually really like talking to you.” Ah, so he doesn’t think I’m a horny moron. Good to know. He probably just enjoys me inflating his ego.

“You’re really nice to talk with too.” Better than any of my other friends in fact.

“You have the most beautiful hair I’ve ever seen.” Yeah, right. It probably does resemble a rat’s nest, like Tini said…

“You have honest eyes.” And looking at them is the only time I feel quiet and peaceful. Our silent staring is interrupted by a country song emanating from his cell.

“Sorry, it’s my mom.” He stands up to answer the call and moves away a bit. He wasn’t joking about being a mama’s boy. According to his side of the conversation, it appears he will be leaving before we finish the question packet. Something about needing groceries and not wanting her to give up sleep. He’s very sweet with her. It’s easy to see that he loves her with all his heart.

“I’m sorry, but I have to go. She was calling to ask what I want from the grocery store this week. We’re practically out of food at home. My dad’s away on a business trip, and my mom’s been working midnight shifts at the hospital, so I don’t want her to have to go to the store instead of sleep.” A sheepish smile spreads across his face. “I eat most of the food, so it only seems fair.”

Be still my heart; that is so…so…perfect. “Is your mom a doctor?”

“She’s an ER nurse, actually.”

“Okay. We don’t have to finish these last two. I don’t think Mrs. Anderson will know.”

“We didn’t get to go over the calc homework.” He quickly repacks his bag. “Call me tonight when you have some time, and we can finish up.”

“I work tonight until close so maybe tomorrow. Have fun grocery shopping.” I get up to walk him to the door, bracing myself for whatever embarrassment the grandparental units will unleash in the next few minutes. The living room is blessedly empty. “Thank you for the cupcake. It really was the best I’ve ever had.”

“Thanks for not kicking me out. I know I was a total jerk yesterday. I swear, I’m trying to earn your trust. And Eva,” he waits until I look at him, making sure he has my full attention. “I would never, ever hurt you. Please know that.”

I politely smile rather than engage that topic of conversation further, then close the door behind him.

The tiny, sadistic part of my brain enjoys a mental image of Rob kicking Eddie’s ass. The more rational part of my brain shivers at the thought of how much more Rob could hurt me.