I take a bite of cold tuna. “He wants to date Cadence, but isn’t sure if it’s a bad idea because they work together.”
Leah blinks as if this information does not compute. “Cadence Caine and West Dupont.” She tries their names out together. “Cest.” Her face contorts into a sickened twist. “No, that sounds like it’s short for incest.” She taps her shiny stiletto against the floor. “Wadence. No, that’s equally gross.” With a shrug she says, “I guess if they’re a couple, we’ll see what the kids come up with.”
I smirk. “I bet it’s ‘cest.”
She nods. “Same.” Picking lint from her pants she looks up. “Okay, the newspaper article about Tanner Colt being your starting QB, back from an injury, ready to grab the attention of scouts, ready to put Bluebell on the map, you know, that article?”
I don’t miss the way she nibbles at the inside of her cheek, and I narrow my eyes. “I am aware of the article, yes. I think it runs on Friday, on game day.”
Leah licks her lips. “I know you said you didn’t want to be part of it other than a quote or two,” she says, nibbling her cheek even harder, sending my hackles through the roof.
“Leah, if you roped me into something?—”
“The influential photo,” she spits out, bringing her thumbnail between her teeth. More nervous chewing.
The influential photo is part of the article’s main piece and in fact, the focal point of the front page, aside from the headline. Tanner was asked to name the people most influential in his life, and the paper was going to send a photographer out and take the photo of Tanner with those people. I know he already gave his interview, and assumed he’d had his photo taken with Clara June already. Now, though, I know what’s coming. And I know I can’t say no because of who’s requesting.
“I hate being the center of attention,” I complain, “and today’s my fantasy draft day and now I’m thinking about ‘Cest and getting my photo taken.”
Leah gets to her feet and pats me on the shoulder. “There, there. I’m sure Michael Jordan will be available after practice.”
I roll my eyes. “Wrong sport.”
She smiles, hand on the doorknob. “The photographer is hoping to snag the photo today. Ms. Colt is coming by after practice.”
I clear my throat, and run a finger around the collar of my polo. “Who all did Tanner request? Aside from me and his mom?”
Leah’s shoulder lift and fall, her face impassive. “No one.”
Looks like I’ll be seeing you this afternoon
I glance up at the students, heads down, deep in thought as they work on their five short-answer questions. This is the last quiz before their Revolutionary War papers are due. They’re focused, and a little burnt out. Which is the perfect time to talk to Clara June.
You coming to Goode’s for a bite?
Hadn’t planned on it but now, maybe so
For the photo, for the article that’s running on Friday
Tanner asked me to be in it
Or… he told the paper who he wanted in the photo and the paper told Leah to tell me
He didn’t share that with me
I take a pause, wondering if this makes her uncomfortable? It’s an honor, quite frankly, that Tanner would think so highly of me that he’d want me in a photo with just him and his mom. I don’t want to be in the paper, but I want to support this kid. And at the same time, I don’t want to upset his mom.
If it makes you uneasy at all, I can talk to him about it
I don’t want to make you uncomfortable
I only found out just now or else I would have brought it up the other night
The night where I stripped your dress and panties off and ate your pussy then fingered the places my tongue had been, getting you to moan and writhe all over me.
I’m not uncomfortable
He just didn’t tell me
