9. Tara
9
TARA
When Cruz comes by to pick me up in the morning, I hide a yawn. I feel like I went on an all-night bender, and he looks completely put together… and handsome. I try to hide my thoughts since Lexi is standing beside me.
“Hey, big brother!”
He hands her a coffee from the tray he’s carrying, and she moans. “Oh thank you, just what I needed.”
He hands me the next cup. “Here you go. Lexi told me what you liked. Iced coffee, right?”
I moan the same way Lexi did. “Oh, I could just kiss you.” His eyes go straight to my mouth, and I start to stutter. “I mean, you know what I mean.” I grab the cup and try to change the subject. “Do you feel like you just left here?”
He’s watching me closely and nods his head. “I’ve been up since four.”
My mouth drops open. “Four? You left here at eleven last night.”
He doesn’t act like it’s a big deal at all. “Four is a habit. I’m sure it will change soon, but I’m used to getting up and working out.”
The open look he had before is gone, and now he appears guarded and somewhat worried, and I’m sure it’s about his announcement for tomorrow.
I want to reach for him, but I grip my drink tighter to refrain from doing just that. Lexi is already watching us with wide, curious eyes. The last thing I need is for her to think this is real. This is fake and doesn’t mean a thing.
“You ready to go?”
He nods. “Yeah. I got here early in case I could help you do anything before we go.”
I gesture around the store. “Are you kidding me? I can’t believe how much work we got done last night. You are a pro.” I hug Lexi. “Thanks for coming in to help. We won’t be gone long.”
She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively. “Take as much time as you need.”
I laugh. “You know you’re talking about your brother, right?”
She grimaces. “Ewwww. Yuck, you’re right. Go, get out of here.”
Cruz and I laugh as we walk out of the shop. Always the gentleman, he helps me into his SUV that is parked right outside, and soon we’re driving across town to the elementary school. “So your sister is a teacher,” he says.
I nod. “Yep. My dad says it’s a respectable profession.”
He shrugs. “Yeah, it is. But you’re a business owner. That’s pretty respectable too.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “I started working at the shop in high school. My parents wanted me to go to college, but instead I learned everything I could about floral arrangement. When the store owner wanted to sell the business and move to Florida last year, he gave me a great deal.”
He pulls into the school and parks but surprises me when he doesn’t get out. He turns to me. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
He puts his hand on the console between us. “Don’t make yourself little. What you are doing at that shop is amazing, and good for you for doing what you love.”
There’s no hiding the hope on my face. No one has ever said anything nice to me about my chosen profession. I open my mouth, close it, and then softly smile. “Thank you, Cruz. I am happy doing what I’m doing.”
He taps my leg. “Stay put. I’ll get the door for you.”
He gets out, and I watch as he walks around the front of the SUV. The man is dressed in khakis and a light blue button-down shirt with the Jasper Eagles logo on the left side of his chest. He looks handsome with his hair slicked back. I’ve never felt an attraction like this, and it sucks that I can’t give in to it.
He helps me out of the car and holds my hand as we walk across the parking lot. “Ya know, I didn’t picture your sister as a school teacher.”
“She says she’s quitting once she gets married.”
As he takes that in, we walk into the school and stop at the main office. One person recognizes Cruz and takes a few pictures. After we sign in, I assure them I know where Brynn’s classroom is.
“You’re like a celebrity.”
He takes a deep breath. “For now. They’ll forget about me soon.”
I’m not sure what it is, but it rubs me the wrong way. I stop walking and put my hand on his arm. “Hey.”
He looks at me, waiting.
I startle, being this close to him, but I have something I need to say. “You’re more than just a football player, you know that, right? Your job may change, but that’s not who you are.”
He shrugs, and his voice holds no emotion. “What if I don’t know who that is?”
My mouth drops. This man is an idol to so many people. Yeah, instead of going to bed last night when I got home, I searched for him on the Internet and learned everything I could about him. I put my hands on his waist. “Well, you're lucky you’re with me because I know exactly who you are.”
He rolls his eyes. “Right. Before this week, you’d said two—maybe three words to me.”
I shrug. “I learn fast. You’re the best big brother. You’ve sacrificed for your sister and provided for her and been both mom and dad to her these last eight years. You’re like in the one percent of people that make it to the big leagues. So many people look up to you and not just because you know how to play football but because of how you are with your teammates and the community. You give generously—heck, look at what you’re about to do now. You’re helping me with my… stuff. You’re a good person, Cruz Payne. That’s who you are.”
He covers my hands at his waist and then threads our fingers together. “Do you know how bad I wish you weren’t my little sister’s best friend right now?”
He must see the look of shock on my face because he continues. There’s no one else in the halls, but he leans in and whispers, “Because the things I want to do to you are not appropriate at all.”
I swear his lips touch my ear, and it’s like a jolt to my system. I am about to respond when a door opens, and I hear my sister calling my name. “Tara! Come on, the kids are waiting.”
I lick my lips and stare at Cruz. “We should probably go in.”
He releases one of my hands but holds on to the other, and we walk to where Brynn is waiting for us. Cruz has a smile on his face, but it’s his all business one. It’s not the one he gives me. “We’re ready.”
Brynn stops in front of me. “You can wait out here if you want.”
Cruz chuckles and holds my hand tighter. “She’s coming in.”
He walks into the classroom, and there are a few squeals and gasps. Cruz walks straight to the teacher’s desk and pulls out a chair. “Hey, everyone. How you doing this morning?”
The response is deafening, and Cruz and I both laugh. These kids are excited, and I can’t say I blame them. He holds his hand up. “Okay, okay! Wow, it’s good to be here. Before we get started, I wanted to introduce my girlfriend, Tara Brooks.”
A collective “ooohhh” and some kissing noises come from the kids. Cruz guides me to the pulled-out teacher’s chair and helps me sit down before turning to the class and gesturing to Brynn. “As Ms. Brooks probably told you, I’m Cruz Payne, defensive end for the Jasper Eagles…”
He goes on to tell them how he got started playing football in high school and with hard work and dedication he has made it to where he is today. He talks about what it’s like playing professional football, and he gives them the good and the bad. I look around the room and see that everyone is focused on him. I can’t blame them. He’s amazing to listen to. How did I not know this about him?
I don’t know anything about football, but he is making me feel like I can go out and conquer the world. He gives autographs and takes pictures, and by the time we walk out of that classroom, my cheeks are hurting from smiling so much.
He has my hand in his again, and as we step out of the school, I tell him, “I have it figured out.”
“What?” he asks. “What do you have figured out?”
“You should be a motivational speaker.”
His cheeks turn ruddy. “Whatever…”
I stop and look up at him. “No, seriously. I have never and will never play football, but you have me feeling like I can do anything right now. That thirty-minute talk had me believing in myself like I never have before. You spent thirty minutes talking to those kids, and did you see their little faces? They were filled with hope and inspiration. You have a gift, Cruz Payne.”
He opens the car door, and I get in. He doesn’t say anything as he closes it, and when he gets into the driver's side, he’s quiet.
When I start to feel like I’ve said the wrong thing, he looks almost embarrassed. “Don’t laugh.”
Wide-eyed, I shake my head.
He clears his throat. “I’ve always wanted to be a speaker. When I was younger and it was career day, one of my friend’s dads came in and talked about everything he’d overcome and went on to be. He made everyone in the class feel special. I wanted to do that. I wanted to be the one that talked to people and made them feel that way. Is that weird?”
I swear my heart does a flip in my chest. “That’s not weird at all, and I think you’d be perfect for it. That’s what you did for me and all those kids in there today, Cruz. You should do it.”
He grips the steering wheel and blurts out, “I’ve also started writing a book.”
My eyes light up. “Really? A motivational book?”
He nods.
I lean over to hug him. “Cruz, that’s amazing! You’re going to inspire and help so many people. Congratulations!”
He pulls me to him, and we hug. It’s awkward with the console between us, but it still feels good. His hands stroke my back, and eventually, I know it’s time to pull back even though it’s the last thing I want to do. I sit back in my chair. “I want to read it.”
He surprises me. “I want you to read it.”
We share a smile, and he holds my hand after he pulls out on the road. I’m not going to remind him that this is fake. There will be enough time for that later. Right now, I’m going to lean my head back on the seat and imagine this is real.