Page 33 of Running
“What a find you are, my dear,” Margaret says towards me, nodding.
“Isn’t she?” Johnson says.
As soon as the words are out of his mouth, I look abruptly at him, not expecting that particular kind of compliment from him during the meeting. He looks as startled as I am that he let the words slip out, but swiftly clears the emotion away.
Margaret doesn’t miss any of this it seems, her eyes scrutinizing Johnson. Mrs. Blunt either, her smile widening.
Susie jumps in to restore focus back on the discussion. “Do any of you have other donation ideas?”
Laurel shares an idea about local fun park passes, oriented to parents who attend the auction. We don’t have a lot of donations that would suit younger families, so I take a note to follow up.
“That’s great. Anything else?”
“Well, I had an idea yesterday when I stopped home for the day off,” Johnson offers, sitting up a little straighter. “I havea bunch of sports collectibles from when I was younger that may be of interest for someone? They’re not worth much, but maybe bidders will like that the items are from my childhood collection. And then I also have a lot of Alabama gear. I’m happy to sign any of it too, or something like that.”
Susie nods. “Those could work, Johnson.”
Margaret speaks up next, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “Maybe Grace can come by and look it all over with you? Figure out what fits best? You know, next Sunday when you get to go home from training camp for a bit again.”
Oh my god. Go to Johnson’s house, alone?
“What a wonderful idea,” Mrs. Blunt says, lightly clasping her hands together, glancing between Johnson and me.
“Sure?” Johnson says. Wait, did his face just get slightly red?
Well, we both seem to be in the hot seat, so I don’t blame him. I don’t know what these ladies are doing, but it’s making things awkward.
“So Grace, tell us what you think at the next co-chairs meeting once you’ve seen what Johnson has,” Susie instructs. Ugh, she’s supposed to keep things on track, not play into whatever scheme these ladies are hatching.
Before I can respond, I see out of the corner of my eye that Johnson’s looking at his phone, wearing a different kind of alarmed expression.
He stands up a beat later. “I’m sorry. I need to leave now, ladies, or I’ll be late for the next practice. Get back to the grind on the field.”
The rest of us also stand up as he waves one hand goodbye, briefly scanning the room before his eyes rest on mine and he gives a deep nod.
Seconds later he’s out the door, and we’re all quiet for a moment before Margaret breaks the silence.
“I think someone has taken a shine to you, Grace.”
What?
Susie grabs control of the meeting shortly afterwards, and I try to push Margaret’s observation out of my mind.
But the combination of Johnson’s words and actions, along with her voicing her suspicions, is seeping past my best defenses.
Is he really interested in me?
The question triggers a mix of reactions, and I really don’t know what to do about them.
Excitement. Check.
Skepticism. Also check.
Fear of being hurt. Most definitely check.
Confusion over what that means with Landon. Check again.
One thing I can’t deny, now added to the mix? That I’m genuinely attracted to him.
