“Romantic, huh?” Emily winked at Cage.
“No comment.”
“He felt bad you know?” Emily gave Cage a sad smile.
“He should have. My new roommate has a weird obsession with Minecraft.”
“No. I’m talking about your dad. Eddie really wanted to be at the funeral, he just couldn’t get the travel arrangements made with the busy holiday weekend.”
Lake sank back into the couch. Emily had breached a subject that was not up for discussion, at least it hadn’t been earlier that day.
“It’s fine. The whole thing was kind of a blur. I couldn’t even tell you who was or wasn’t there. Except—” Cage hopped up when the doorbell rang. He paid for the pizzas then set them on the counter.
“I think there may be a few cans of beer still in the refrigerator and maybe a can or two of Coke. Help yourself, ladies.”
Emily grabbed a beer and slice of pizza before planting herself back in the chair, giving her phone more attention.
“We can eat at the dining room table if it’s easier.”
Lake shrugged. “Doesn’t matter to me.”
He grabbed his glass of water and one of the pizza boxes then motioned toward the dining room. Lake followed, not questioning why they didn’t just sit at the small table in the kitchen.
“So you are definitely a pleasant surprise tonight.”
Lake felt her skin heat from his compliment that took her by equal surprise.
“Thank you. I haven’t been anyone’s pleasant surprise in a long time. Probably not since my mom found out she was pregnant with me.” She gave him a small smirk. “I wasn’t exactly planned. I honestly don’t think any of my siblings were either. Our parents just can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. Even now, after five kids, they embarrass us with their excessive PDAs.”
Cage laughed, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “What do they do? Are they retired?”
“No. They own a bed and breakfast in T—” She grimaced. “Times Square.”
“In Times Square?”
“Uh … yeah, that’s in New York.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Lake blushed from her own crazy statement.
“I just didn’t realize there’s a bed and breakfast in Times Square.”
There probably wasn’t.
“I meant in walking distance.” She looked for confirmation on his face that a walking distance bed and breakfast was feasible.
His forehead still held lines of confusion.
“Or driving distance.” She nodded. Surely that would pass as a plausible explanation.
“So basically they have a bed and breakfast within the state of New York?”
No. Tahoe.
“Yes.” She nodded again. Dammit. Dammit. Dammit Jones!
“So you must do more than play football. What are you studying?” She needed a subject change, STAT.
“I’m in elementary education.”
“Holy shit, you’re kidding?”
“Um … nope. I’m not.”
“You like kids?”
He chuckled. “I do. I think it’s a requirement for my major.”
Lake shoved a big bite into her mouth, chewing on it as well as thoughts of the perfect—no, beyond perfect—guy before her. Getting a job was no longer an option. She would go home and spend at least forty hours a week dreaming about Cage Monaghan.
“Girlfriend? Oh God…” she covered her mouth and finished chewing “…did I say that out loud?”
Cage had a cool persona. He never fumbled his words or acted nervous or awkward. Yet, he wasn’t cocky. He was the guy that was truly “all that” but had no idea.
“No girlfriend right now. Just casual dating.”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “Me too.” Her nod shifted into a head shake. “Actually, that’s a lie. I’m not casually dating or dating at all for that matter.”
“Really? I’m surprised.”
She returned the “come on, be serious” look. Her, look-at-my-leg-or-lack-there-of speech hung on the tip of her tongue. She swallowed it back down. “I’m a bit of a handful.”
Cage laughed, the kind of laugh that felt like the warm sun on a bikini-clad body sprawled out on a beach in Southern California—not that she had done that since the accident. But she still remembered the feeling.
“I kind of gathered that from the two hundred dollars cash in my pocket. Babysitting you pays much better than teaching.”
The doorbell rang again. Cage’s brow furrowed. “It’s too early for Eddie to be here.” He excused himself from the table. Guys his age didn’t do that. Lake quickly added manners to her He’s Perfect list.
“I’ve posted bail, Sis. Time to go.”
She narrowed her eyes a fraction at Luke, just enough that only he would detect her displeasure. “How did you get here? I have the rental car.”
“They’re called cabs, Lake. There’s a ton of them in New York too.”
She loved her brother, but that remark earned him her best fuck-you smile.
“Thanks for dinner.” She stood and tossed her napkin on the table.
“Thank Jackson.” Cage grinned.
“Nice to meet you, Emily.”
“You too.”
“I’ll have to look up your parents’ B&B in Times Square when I’m there next time.”
She ignored the look she knew Luke gave her behind her back. “Yes, the one in driving distance of Times Square.”