Trapped and Tackled (Knoxville Coyotes Football #3)

6. Talon

Chapter 6

Talon

She’s nervous.

As I follow her to my ride, I take in the rigidity of her posture. The clasp she keeps on her purse. Twice she reaches for the side of her neck as if searching for…what?

Is she nervous about spending time with me? Is she angry with Coach? Is it something else?

I can’t tell. But her reaction is unsettling and I don’t know what the hell to do about it. I’m going to spend an entire weekend with this woman in two and a half weeks’ time and I don’t know a damn thing about her. Except that, despite her being easy to talk to, she’s more difficult to get a read on than any other woman I’ve hung out with.

She’s both warm and reserved. Quirky and disciplined. Sweet and standoffish. The woman she is when we’re in the swimming pool—just the two of us—is different than the anxious version that emerges once a crowd forms, like in the bustling ice cream shop. I catch glimpses of two Lenis—one version echoes everything Coach shared about her and one is at odds with Coach’s stories.

My daughter’s not herself lately.

Knowing that Coach and Vicki are worried about Leni triggers my concern for her.

Leni slides into the passenger seat of my SUV and I round the front, slipping behind the wheel. I gaze over at her as I turn on the engine. “You sure you’re good?”

She clicks in her seat belt before meeting my gaze. Her smile is tight and her eyes—so damn blue—are guarded. “Yeah. Yes. I’m fine.”

I lift a skeptical eyebrow.

“I love Alberto’s,” she chatters, clearly wanting to change the subject.

Sighing, I back out of Coach’s driveway and point my SUV toward the main road. “It’s a good spot. You’ve been hitting it for years?”

“Since high school,” she confirms.

“Did you miss it here? When you were in New York?” I ask, trying to keep a conversation going. When we went out for ice cream, it was easy but something about tonight is off and I have no clue what the hell it is.

This is why I don’t do this shit. Women are complicated and that means more distractions. I’m not the type of guy who tries to figure out women’s moods. I keep my shit light. Fleeting. Temporary.

And I really don’t have any female friendships to speak of either so it’s not like I possess any insight into the inner workings of a woman’s mind. I’m happier being on the outside. At least, I used to be.

I’d be lying if I said Leni doesn’t fascinate me.

“I did,” she says on a sigh. And it sounds like the weight of the world whooshes out of her on that exhale.

“That why you came home?” I press.

Her head snaps toward me and her eyes narrow. I glance at her, confused by her reaction.

“Yeah. Why else would I come home?” She sounds defensive.

I shrug. “Just trying to get to know you, Leni.”

She sighs heavily again. “I know. I’m…I’m sorry, Talon. The truth is, I’m really embarrassed that my dad reached out to you about Marlowe’s birthday weekend. And I know this”—she gestures between is—“is you feeling bad for me and?—”

“I don’t feel bad for you,” I cut in.

She rears back slightly. “Really? This isn’t some pity dinner offer?”

“No,” I say, meaning it. “This is me really trying to get to know you so we can have fun at the lake instead of shit being awkward between us. You know what my lifestyle is like, Len. I don’t get a lot of time off. If I get a free weekend at a lake house during the summer, I don’t want to waste that shit. I want to enjoy it.”

She rolls her lips together, weighing my words. “You want to go?”

“Sure. Why not?”

“And you’re not mad my dad put you up to this?” She gestures toward herself like she’s some pain in the ass nuisance. And a part of me hates that she thinks that about herself.

“Look,” I say, hanging a right and pulling into the parking lot of Alberto’s. “Your dad’s done a lot for me. Professionally and personally. I’d say yeah, no questions asked, to almost anything he asks of me. But hanging with you for a weekend, swimming in a lake, drinking a beer? It’s hardly a hardship, Leni.” I park my SUV, flip the ignition, and turn to look at her. “Now, can we please cut this weird awkward shit and eat some tacos? I’d prefer to go into the weekend as friends.”

“Friends,” she repeats, as if testing out the word. I can’t tell if she’s relieved or disappointed by the label, but it’s the best I can do. I mean, yeah, she’s gorgeous and sweet and if I met her somewhere other than Knoxville, I’d probably try to get in her pants.

But she’s Coach’s kid. I’m about to start the season. And I know better than to shit where I eat.

So… “Friends,” I confirm.

She grins and it’s the first real smile she’s given me all night. “I’d like that.”

“Good. Now come on. Today was brutal and I’m fucking starving.” I push open the driver’s side door.

Leni meets me at the back of my SUV and we walk into Alberto’s together. It’s hopping, with nearly full tables and pockets of loud conversations. The walls are bright, with colorful calavera paintings decorating the space.

An empty high-top table sits off to the side and I hope Leni and I can snag it before a group from the bar relocates.

“Oh my God!” a woman shrieks, waving at us. “Leni! I didn’t know you were coming here for dinner!” Her eyes dart to me and her mouth drops open. “Holy shit! Is that Talon Miller?”

Beside me, Leni straightens, her body on alert. All that stress that seeped from her on the ride over gathers once more, causing her shoulder blades to nearly touch.

I place a hand on her lower back in an attempt to soothe her. She flinches and I drop my hand immediately. Her eyes snap to mine, horror filling them.

“Sorry,” we say in unison.

I shake my head. “I’m sorry,” I bite out the words, completely out of my element. I obviously made her uncomfortable. What the hell do I do now?

“Join us!” The woman rushes forward. She throws her arms around Leni, hugging her hard, before facing me. “Hi! I’m Marlowe.”

“The birthday girl,” I say, putting two and two together.

Marlowe beams. “Yes!” she squeals, her eyes widening as she bounces up onto her toes. “Do you want to come to my party?”

Finding my footing, I manage an easy smirk. “Can’t wait. Leni invited me.”

“Leni!” Marlowe shrieks again. God, she’s loud. Or, I narrow my eyes, a little drunk. “You didn’t tell me.”

“I hope that’s okay,” Leni says.

Her friend frowns. “Of course, it’s okay.” She laughs. “Are you crazy?” She glances at me again. “I’d love for you to join, Talon.”

“Thanks,” I say, my attention snagging on the guy stepping up behind Marlowe. He looks the opposite of happy at this news.

“Babe,” Marlowe gushes, grabbing his forearm. “Leni is bringing Talon to the lake house. Isn’t that great?”

“Hey, Toby.” Leni lifts a hand in a halfhearted wave.

“You dating football players now, Len?” Toby asks, ignoring me. His eyes narrow on Leni as if she owes him an explanation.

What the hell is that about?

I widen my stance, crossing my arms over my chest. I know I’m not for everyone, but this dude doesn’t even know me. To flat out ignore me is…fucking odd. I hold a hand out anyway, trying to take the higher road. “Talon.”

He stares at my hand for a beat before shaking it. Weak-ass grip. “Toby.”

“This is my boyfriend.” Marlowe bounces again. Definitely tipsy.

“Well, I’m looking forward to your party,” I tell her. “We’re going to grab a bite.”

“You should sit with us,” Marlowe continues, pointing to a back table where another guy is seated. This guy waves easily and Leni grins, waving back.

While the second dude seems cool, I’m not really interested in having a group dinner with strangers.

I want to get to know Leni, who is confounding me with each passing second.

Marlowe continues to gush, and Toby’s scowl deepens. I frown, trying to get a read on their dynamic. It’s fucking weird.

“Oh my God! Is this a date?” Marlowe asks, her gaze darting between Leni and me. I amend my earlier observation. She not tipsy; she’s drunk. That flat-out question can’t be part of girl code.

Deciding I don’t want to be part of this conversation a second longer, I reach for Leni’s hand. “Too early to tell, Marlowe. We’re going to grab a table but see you soon, yeah?”

“Oh yes. Of course!” She grabs Leni’s other arm and does some weird girl shriek and arm flapping. “Call me later, Leni.”

“I will,” Leni promises.

Toby says nothing. In fact, he sneers at Leni, almost like he’s mad that she’s here.

I flag down a server and we’re seated at the high-top table.

Leni reaches for a menu.

“What was that about?” I ask, flipping my chin in the direction of Toby.

“What?” Leni follows my line of sight. “Oh, that’s just Toby.”

“He’s kind of a douche.”

Her eyes widen and a snort of laughter erupts. “He is.” She nods. “He’s a huge douche.” She shakes her head. “But Marlowe’s my best friend so…”

“You play nice.”

“I try,” Leni admits. “Her cousin Keller, the other guy at the table, is much better at it than I am. Most of the time, it takes everything I have not to lose my shit on Toby. Mar deserves so much better. They’ve been together since high school though—there’s a lot of history there.”

“Right,” I say, reaching for a menu. But…there’s something else there too. Something I can’t put my finger on. And for the first time, I think Coach may be right. I can’t call it father’s intuition, but I wouldn’t want Leni spending solo time at a lake house with a guy like that either.

So, it’s a good thing I’m going.