Page 37 of Chasing Headlines
“I'll just . . . grab his cleat.” I bent and retrieved a lone, upside-down shoe from behind Hilda. Antonio's bag had fallen, nearly tripping my friend. I'm not entirely sure what happened in the aftermath of their meetcute. But, wow, he managed to step in something.
I tried to hand the shoe back to Antonio. Hilda grabbed it and shook the thing in his face. “You need this, right?”
He grinned that Antonio grin and leaned down closer to her ear. “Not as much as I need you.”
She pushed at his chest. He took a step back with a good-natured chuckle.
“I hate the sight of-of everything about you.” She scowled with her whole body—crossed arms, pinched features.
And he was staring at her like he'd just been shot by Cupid himself.
“You're a little overboard on this one, Hilda. Come on, Antonio didn't mean any?—”
“Whose side are you on, chica?” She hissed and turned her glare on me. My heart leapt into my throat.
I glanced from Antonio to Hilda as I inched back a step. “Yours? Definitely yours.”
“This-this miscreant.” She gestured at him. “He thinks that because he's some kinda giant with abs of steel in an athletic uniform, he can just hit people with his gym bag. Instead of saying sorry, like a normal human. He juststands therelike an estupido imbecil—staring down my dress!”
“I'll buy you a new dress. Your favorite dinner. Anything you want. You name it.” He ducked his head and tried to meet her gaze. She turned away. “Please, pretty please, just go out with me.”
She spiked his cleat and stormed off in the other direction, muttering a string of Spanish obscenities. Some of my favorites, actually. Hilda's the one who taught me how to swear in Spanish. For various reasons . . . that make complete sense. Truly.
Antonio turned that 'hey baby' grin at me. My heart slid back into place. I shook my head. Retreated several more steps. Oh, I did not need to get involved in this. Whatever 'this' was.
“Liv? My second favorite chica in the whole world . . .”
I cleared my throat. “I see you've been spending too much time around your less desirable teammates.”
“I swear, she's the one. I don't know which part of heaven she came from, but I will die if I can't get her to love me back.” He let out an exaggerated sigh.
I dropped my head into my palm.
“Pretty sure you said that about the last girl, too, Casanova.” Tanner's voice sounded from behind me. I looked up in time to see him toss Antonio's cleat at him.
“No way, pito. I said that chica would be the death of me. As in, I think she tried to kill me once.” He stuffed both his shoes into his bag and lifted it from the ground.
“Just once?” Coop's deep voice caught me around the chest and squeezed. “Most of us consider it once a day.Everyday.”
“Oh ha ha ha. Look who dug up a sense of humor. Where'd you find it, mamón, cadaver lab?”
Coop held up his middle finger before disappearing into the locker room. Tanner, however, continued to hover nearby.
“Liv, you'll help me, won't you?” Antonio grasped my shoulder and shook me gently.
I pulled away. “Are you trying to getmekilled?”
“She's your friend?” Tanner pushed wheat-colored hair from his eyes and met my gaze.
“Mybestfriend in the whole world. Known her since middle school. She's uh, a bit high strung lately. Pre-med, on partialscholarship, but her parents just want her to take over their restaurants. It's a whole thing.”
“In other words, don't fuck with the lady, asshole.” Tanner unfolded his arms, shook his head and ducked into the locker room.
“I'm gonna marry that girl. You mark my words.” Antonio called out over his shoulder. Then fixed his eyes back on me. “Liv?”
My stomach twisted and rung itself out. Oh, no. “Please don't ask me . . .”
“Put in a good word for me? Pretty please?” He pouted and gave me a pathetic look. The kind that should be illegal for a man like him—with long, dark eyelashes. And deep brown eyes.