“Everyone gets sad sometimes, sugar. Even happy, well-adjusted folks like myself.”
There was an odd chord in his voice, an emotion she couldn’t quite put her finger on, but he flashed another smile before she could try to decipher it. “Anyway, tell me how your day was. Are you working a new job?”
She nodded. “Yeah, we just got contracted by the city to redo all those little parks near the waterfront. It’s a lot of work, but it pays an obscene amount, so my boss promised everyone big bonuses once it’s done.”
“Nice. Oh, and by the way, Miranda loved what you did at their place. She’s telling all her clients about you. I’m not sure you know this, but she owns a dance school in the city.”
“She mentioned that, yes.” Mia paused. “I really liked her. We’re going to try to have lunch next week.”
He offered a mock pout. “So you’ll make time for Miranda like that—” he snapped his fingers, “—but you make me beg for it? Evil woman.”
“Hey, I made time for you, pal. Are we not having a second date at the moment?”
“Damn right we are.”
He sounded so overjoyed about it that she had to grin. “Better make this one good too or you won’t get a third.”
“Oh, I’ll get a third. Just you wait.”
They reached Madison High five minutes later, then spent a full ten minutes cruising the jam-packed lot for a parking space. Apparently everyone and their grandmother had shown up for the season opener, and Mia experienced a burst of pride that her brother was starting tonight. She’d taken him out for a steak dinner when he’d gotten the coveted position, an achievement that was made all the more impressive because the coach had chosen a junior for his varsity quarterback over the current senior starter.
A pang of nervousness tickled her belly. “I really hope he does well,” she told Jackson.
“I’m sure he will. You don’t become the starting QB unless you’re good.”
“And he better not get hurt,” she added anxiously. “I’m always so worried he’ll get sacked and break his neck out there.”
“Injuries are a risk in every sport,” he agreed in a serious voice. “But worrying doesn’t achieve anything. There’s nothing you can do to protect him when he’s out there on the field, short of forbidding him to play.”
She bit her lip. “I know.”
They finally found an empty parking spot a million yards from the entrance of the field, then trekked across the paved lot toward the gate. Jackson didn’t take her hand or walk overly close to her, but she was completely aware of his presence.
And she wasn’t the only one. Female heads swiveled sharply as Jackson sauntered past, his long strides eating the pavement. Every single woman, young and old, gazed at him with blatant appreciation, gawking as if they simply couldn’t believe their eyes.
Jackson, however, seemed oblivious to the admiring stares. “Football and injuries go hand in hand,” he said, picking up where they’d left off. “My teammate Cash learned that the hard way.”
“How so?”
“He was at Notre Dame, guaranteed to be the first overall pick in the NFL draft when he busted his shoulder. Took him a year to get back to playing shape, and by then the draft had passed and a whole new group of young QBs were anglin’ for the pros. So he enlisted.”
“I don’t want that to happen to Danny. Not the enlisting part—I wouldn’t be mad if he did that,” she said quickly. “But he has his heart set on playing college ball and then making it to the pros. I want him to achieve his dreams.”
“What about your dreams? What do you want out of life?”
“I’m doing what I want. Working outdoors, gardening, landscaping. I love what I do.”
“That’s good to hear, darlin’. Not many people are able to do what they love.”
They reached the main gate, where three bored-looking teens sat behind a long table collecting entrance fees.
“Dang, shit’s changed since I was in high school,” Jackson remarked. “When did folks start payin’ to watch the games?”
“Nothing comes free anymore,” Mia said with a sigh.
Despite their murmured complaints, the tickets only cost five bucks apiece, and Jackson dutifully handed one of the kids a ten-dollar bill.
“Want somethin’ to drink?” he asked as they walked through the gate.
“Sure.”
A quick stop at the concessions stand got them two plastic cups of Pepsi, and then they wandered over to the row of bleachers that were closest to the home team’s bench. The players weren’t on the field yet, but the cheerleaders were, and Mia immediately spotted Angie among a large group of girls and guys clad in the black and silver Warriors colors.
She pointed the pretty blonde out to Jackson. “That’s Danny’s girlfriend. She’s a total sweetheart.”