Page 105 of Just for the Plot

He nods. “I can get you tickets if you want.”

“Yeah, I think I’m visiting a friend,” I lie, because the thought of going to a game to cheer on a guy I barely know, it just doesn’t sit well. It’s not like going to Bennett’s game. The other night was so much fun. And not just because I was with Gabby and Ryland, but I actually liked watching him play. I liked cheering him on.

I can’t imagine doing that with Cougar.

“You think?” he asks, his brows shooting up.

“I mean, I’m waiting to hear back from her, but it’s pretty set in stone.”

“Ah.” He nods as the waitress drops off waters for us. “Is that real, or are you avoiding me?”

“Would you be offended if I was avoiding you?”

“Maybe a little,” he says, but he tacks on a smile.

“Then no, I’m not avoiding you.”

He chuckles. “How come I don’t believe that?”

“Trust issues?” I playfully ask before taking a sip of my drink.

“Funny.” He nods at me. “What do I have to do to get you to a game?”

“Why do you want me at a game so bad?” I ask, wondering why this is important to him.

“So I can show off to you.”Ah, there it is. It’s not about me. It’s all about him.

“I’m unimpressed by sports.”

Although, I was pretty impressed by Bennett’s home run. That was incredible. The ball seemed like it sailed forever.

“Really? Not even a little bit in awe over what I can do with a football?”

I shrug. “Not to sound like a dick, but not really. I’d be more impressed to see what you do with the popularity you’ve gained through playing your sport. What are you doing to give back?”

He slowly nods but doesn’t say anything.

“Sooo…are you going to answer the question?”

“What question?”

“What are you doing to give back?”

“Oh.” He scrubs his hand over the side of his cheek. “I do sick kid hospital visits.”

Sick kid hospital visits. Wow, what a way to put it.

“Do you have any charities you help? Anything that speaks to you? For instance, Bennett works with a lot of foster care charities.”

“He does? You don’t ever hear about it. There are clips of me talking to kids in hospital beds.”

I try not to flare my nostrils, because that’s a dense comment. Kids in hospital beds? Those kids are ill and going through such a tough time. For him to just throw it out like that is insensitive.

“You don’t have to record yourself doing good to prove that you’re a good person. You know it in your heart that you’re doing the right thing and helping, and that’s what should matter.”

“I can see that.”

“So then, if you were to put your name behind a charity, what would it be?”