Even the Score(49)

He licked his lips and shrugged. “I watched you take a ton of pictures at the Home Run Derby last month, and when I overheard you and Ellie talking about cameras the other day, I heard you tell her what kind of camera you had and that you’d wanted this lens for a while. So I got it.”

My eyes stung with tears that I quickly tried to blink away. “Andy, this lens was really expensive, that’s why I was waiting to get it.”

“Eh.” He waved his hand nonchalantly. “It was a small price to pay for such an awesome partner.”

I looked down at the lens again, purposefully avoiding eye contact with him. “It’s not small to me. I haven’t had the type of life where people go out of their way for me or make a big deal over the little things, so this is just . . .” My voice trailed off as I shook my head, not wanting to embarrass myself by crying in front of him.

“Dani,” he said in a tone that was soft, yet pointed enough that it made me lift my eyes to his. “If that’s true, then you haven’t been hanging around the right people.”





CHAPTER 19

Andy

“Woo-hoo! Who’s ready to par-tay?” Ellie squealed, clapping her hands together.

Danicka chuckled. “If you’re this excited in the elevator, I’m not sure I can handle you at the bar.”

“I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to handle me at the bar.” Ellie giggled as Danicka and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes. From the minute Danicka stepped into the elevator, I was struggling to keep my eyes off of her. I don’t know if she had extra clothes in her office or went shopping or what, but the outfit she pulled together had me checking my chin for drool. A dark blue, shiny tank top with black jeans that looked like they were painted on her had my own pants feeling a little tight. Her hair fell down around her face in a wavy, wild mess in a way that I imagined it probably looked when she woke up in the morning, something I would love to witness firsthand. Images of her with hot, messy morning hair, wearing one of my button-down shirts, flooded my mind, and suddenly the elevator walls felt like they were closing in on us.

She’s your employee, Andy. Calm the fuck down.

“Wait a minute.” Danicka crinkled her eyebrows as she stood up straight. “I thought Ethan was coming. Did he change his mind?”

“He already had plans to have dinner with the boys, I guess, so he and Kevin are going to meet us there later,” Ellie answered.

“You and this guy seem pretty serious, huh?” I asked Ellie.

She shrugged. “Yeah, kinda. I guess so. We talk all the time and see each other almost every day. Does that make us serious?” Ellie looked over at Danicka, and my eyes followed. “Or are we supposed to have a conversation deciding whether or not we’re serious?”

“Don’t look at me.” She held her hands up in the air defensively, “I’ve never really had a serious boyfriend, so I have no clue.”

“Bullshit,” I said, a little harsher than I meant to.

Danicka’s eyes widened, and her brows shot up as she looked back and forth from me to Ellie. “I’m totally not kidding. I’ve dated a few guys here and there, but nothing serious. Nothing even remotely serious.”

I opened my mouth to ask her more about that when the elevator dinged. We all stepped out into the parking garage, heading toward our spots.

“Here’s what I’m thinking.” My voice echoed as we approached our cars. “I’m thinking I’ll drive all three of us. No reason for us to take three cars, right? Plus, after watching how Ellie was just acting in the elevator, she has no business being behind the wheel of a car tonight.”

Ellie threw her hands up in celebration. “I’m in!”

“Uh, you guys go ahead. I’m going to follow,” Danicka said, walking over toward her car.

“What? No, you’re not,” I argued. “That’s ridiculous. Get over here and drive with us.”

She shook her head as she dug around in her purse for her keys. “No, seriously. I hate not having my car with me and being able to leave when I want.”

“Come on, party pooper,” Ellie pleaded in a whiny voice. “Think about it this way, if he drives, we don’t have to count our drinks.”

Dani tilted her head to the side and stared at Ellie with a far-off gaze, contemplating what she’d just said. Finally she narrowed her eyes and said, “I don’t even remember the last time I was buzzed, let alone drunk.”

Ellie’s face lit up as she hurried around to Dani’s car, linking arms with her. “Even more reason to ride with us then!” she said excitedly as she dragged Dani over to my car.