Breaking the Rules (14 page)

Why was she disappointed? She was the one who told him only friends and they had to stop. But, for some reason, her heart and body wouldn't listen to her.

Colin walked to the door and opened it. “What did you call me earlier? McSteamy?”

Hope covered her face with a pillow. “Can't you forget that?”

“Never.” He pulled his cap down and walked out the door. “Have a nice night, Soxy.”

Hope sat in the farthest booth in the back of Luigi's. She knew she acted like a teenager hiding from her parents, but if she wanted to enjoy time with Colin, she didn't want it to be in the open for all the Mrs. Moraleses to see. She purposefully arrived ten minutes earlier than the agreed time so she could choose their seats. Just thinking about her actions made her cheeks burn. Ridiculous.

Before she even ordered her tea, Colin and Jason marched up to the booth.

A grin passed over Colin's face. “Look Jason, Ms. Robinson is here. All the way in the back.” He winked at her. “Can we join you?”

“Of course.” Again, Colin's sexy appearance had her palms sweating like a schoolgirl. He wore jeans and a polo shirt that highlighted his strong biceps underneath. His cap sat on top of his head, as usual.

Jason looked at the floor and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
Uh-oh.
He hadn't told Colin. Damn! She'd have to talk to Colin about it.

Colin and Jason scooted across from her at the precise time the waitress showed up with her iced tea. “Hi, Doctor Calaway. You want the usual?”

“What do you think, Jas?”

Jason only shrugged, stealing a glance at her and looking back down.

“We'll have our regular. Thanks, Jenny.” When the waitress walked away, Colin eyed his son. “What's with you?” He looked at Hope who only half-smiled in return.

“Can I go play?”

After a few beats, Colin agreed and handed Jason some cash. “I'll call you when the pizza comes.”

Jason ran off without looking back.

Colin frowned. “I don't know what's up with him.”

“I think I do.” An ache sat in the back of her throat. She didn't want to tell him, but she had to.

“Really?” He leaned back. “I don't like the sound of this.”

“I was going to call you today, but Jason promised he would talk to you. Looks like he didn't.” She folded her hands together.

Colin crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Let's hear it.”

A wave of apprehension coursed through her. She took a deep breath. “He had another run-in with Brett Wilson.”

Colin shook his head. “What is it with that boy?”

The waitress arrived with breadsticks and two sodas. “Here you go.”

“Thanks, Jenny.” Colin rested his elbows on the table, a frown on his face. “So, what happened?”

“From what I can gather, the boys were playing foursquare out at the recess area, and Brett threw the ball at Jason too hard. It hit him in the face. Then Jason pushed him and Brett fell down. Things got heated.”

“How heated?” Colin tapped his fingers on the table.

“Not quite a fight, but enough to warrant a call to the office and now … ” She sat up straight and swallowed. “A day's suspension.”

“Are you kidding?” Colin's eyebrows lowered and pinched together. “Why didn't you call me?”

“Look, I know this is bad news. I wanted to give him a chance to tell you. Plus, I knew we'd see each other tonight. There was no need to call you away from work.”

Colin slowly shook his head. “What about the other boy?”

“He's suspended, too. Both on Monday.” She placed her hand on his forearm. “I'm sorry, Colin, but it's the school's policy. I'm only following protocol.”

Colin sighed deeply and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I get it, Hope.”

His stony expression sent a shiver down to her toes. She hated to spread the bad news to him, but it was her job. And that was the prime reason they shouldn't be having dinner together.

She grabbed her purse and pulled it on her shoulder. “I'm going to leave.”

When she stepped by his side of the table, Colin captured her wrist. “Don't go. I'm just disappointed in Jason, that's all.”

“I hate telling you this, but I had to.” She looked around and ran a hand through her hair. “We shouldn't even be here together.”

He let go and pulled his hat down. “Look, Hope, I'm tired of always repeating the same thing. We're friends. Now, sit your butt down and let's have dinner together. I'll speak to Jason and I'm going to call Brett's dad.”

She huffed out a sigh and fidgeted with her purse strap. “I don't know.”

He bent forward and half smiled. “Sit down, Hope. You're making a scene.”

She moaned. “Okay.” Holding her purse in front of her like a shield, she sat down and stared at Colin. “But — ”

He reached over the table, took her purse and laid it beside her on her seat. Then he stroked his fingers across her arm for a few seconds.

Hope stared into Colin's dreamy eyes, wondering how he handled everything so well. He just heard bad news, but he kept himself together. Sure, he was pissed, but he retained his composure. She guessed doctors had to do that. When he stopped touching her and drew back on his side of the booth, she missed the feel. He had a soothing effect on her. “Okay, no more buts.”

“Now, let's enjoy our dinner. I'll talk to Jason later.” He took a deep breath. “It's not the end of the world.”

She formed a steeple with her hands and leaned into them. “You're right.” Here she thought he would be furious at her for imposing such a rigid consequence. But he surprised her with understanding. Another bonus point for Dr. Calaway.

Colin drank his soda and looked at her over the brim. “You look really nice tonight. Did you go to yoga again?”

Hope looked down at her workout clothes and frowned. “Yeah. Yoga at five. You should try it out.”

He laughed lightly. “No thanks. I'll stick to swimming. That's relaxing enough. Still want to learn to surf?”

“It's on my list.” She cocked an eyebrow at him.

Colin placed his cup down. “You going to Tim's birthday bash tomorrow at the beach?”

“Yeah. Um, about that — ” She clutched at her necklace, swinging it from side to side. She had to tell him. She owed him that much.

Before she could say anything more, the waitress approached the table, pizza in her hands. Jason followed close behind her.

“I'm starving,” Jason whined, still not looking in Hope's direction.

Colin cut two slices and Hope rose to go to the salad bar. Since Colin brought up Tim's birthday bash, she knew she had to talk to Colin, privately. She had thought she'd text him later to tell him the news, but now that he convinced her into staying for dinner, she knew this was the best time to do it. She wished she could just leave, not face any more bad news, the worst part of any relationship.

But she and Colin didn't have a relationship. Right? So, it didn't matter.

Hope finished dishing up her salad and made her way back to the table. As she approached, she could tell by their body language that Colin and Jason were involved in a heated discussion. No doubt they talked about Jason's suspension. She eased slowly into the booth, wondering if she should have stayed away longer.

Colin cut off Jason's remark. “We'll continue talking at home. This is not the time or place to discuss the matter.”

Jason nodded solemnly.

Colin pointed in Hope's direction. “You have something to say to Ms. Robinson?”

He finally looked at her with a pained expression. It broke her heart. “I'm sorry, Ms. Robinson, that I didn't tell my dad. I was going to — ”

“That's enough, Jas. We'll talk more at home.” Colin placed a slice of pizza on Jason's plate. “Now eat.”

They ate in uncomfortable silence until Jason finished his second slice and asked to go back to the arcade area. Once Jason left the table, Colin wiped his hands on a napkin. “Sorry about that.”

“Parenting is hard work.”

He nodded and smiled at her. “So, back to what we were talking about. Tim and Kelly always have a beach celebration. The whole gang will be there. I can pull out the surfboard and show you some tricks.”

“I'd love to see them.” Hope straightened her shoulders. “But, Colin, I need to talk to you.”

He flinched back slightly. “Another talk?”

“Nothing about Jason this time.”

“Good. I don't think I could handle something else.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “What's this about?”

She felt a tingling across her face, but she had to get herself together, and show him that she was in control. “About tomorrow. I, um, won't be going alone.”

He stopped chewing and nodded. “Yeah, I won't be either. I'm bringing Jason.”

“No, I mean, I'm going with a date.” She looked around the room, not at Colin, because she didn't want to see his reaction. But she couldn't hold herself back. She looked at him and he had narrowed his eyes.

“Okay.” He looked down at his pizza and then took a sip of his drink. “Good. I mean, I'm glad you're not going alone. That's … good.”

“I'm sorry, Colin. I told Kelly to set me up on a blind date a few weeks ago. She doesn't know that we … ” She gestured between them. “You know.”

“Look, you've made it clear we aren't anything but friends. So, I'm fine. You don't have to explain.” The grimace on Colin's face transformed into a passable smile. “What's his name?”

Hope bit her lip. “Um, Kevin, I think.”

“Good. Kevin. Sounds nice.” He rubbed his brow. “I guess we'll get going. It's late and I need to talk to Jason at home.” He stood, not looking at Hope.

She rushed to his side. “Colin, I'm sorry.”

He stared at her. “Yeah, me too.” Then he half-smiled, those dimples calling out to her. It made her remember when they last kissed on her couch. “See you tomorrow, I guess.”

He walked to the gaming area and tapped Jason on the shoulder. He said something to him and the boy pouted.

Jason strode back to the table. “Good night, Ms. Robinson. And I'm sorry again.”

“It's a night full of regrets, Jason.” She touched his shoulder. “Don't worry. Everything will be all right.”

She wished she believed her own words. It didn't feel like everything would be all right.

And to hell with it! Colin wasn't her boyfriend and they weren't really dating, so why did she feel so bad? The look on his face was engraved in her mind. He tried to look unaffected, but she knew he was. All those shared kisses had to mean something.

She didn't want to be just friends. Going on a date with someone else was a bad idea, but it was necessary. Maybe it would help them both to move on … past whatever this was between them. It had to be done. If only she could tell her heart to move on, too.

Hope sat at the picnic table under an awning by the beach. Her date, Kevin Strider, slumped next to her sipping bottled water.

Kevin picked her up at her place around ten thirty that morning, wearing jeans and a t-shirt. His dark hair was short, and he had a small goatee. He wasn't bad looking, but he wouldn't have caught her eye immediately. She wondered why he wore jeans when they were heading to the beach, and she felt under dressed in her bikini with a shirt cover-up.

Her beach bag was full of suntan lotions, two towels, two different hats, her Kindle for reading and a change of clothes. She was ready. Kevin, on the other hand, only brought a bag full of sunscreen and a pair of shorts, “In case he decided to get out in the sun.”

What kind of guy goes to the beach and thinks about getting out in the sun?
It was going to be an interesting day.

Tim had just finished grilling the hot dogs and they sat around chatting while they ate. She got to know Colin's brother, Scott, and his wife, Sarah, better. Their kids played at the playground next to them — two cute-as-a-button kids, who never had anything but a smile on their faces. It was already noon and Hope wondered where Colin and Jason were. Maybe he didn't come because of Jason's trouble … or worse, maybe he didn't come because she had a date.

She put her chin to her chest. He wouldn't do that, would he?

At that thought, she heard Tim shout out, “There he is. Where ya been, buddy?”

“I thought we said lunchtime. It's noon now.” Colin and Jason stood at the end of the table. “Hey everyone.” He held his hand up and waved.

Hope's heart rate increased at the sound of his voice, but she came crashing back to earth just as suddenly. He didn't look her way. Not even once. True, she sat at the far end with Kevin, but Colin looked at everyone else.

“Wanna hot dog, Jason?” Tim stood.

He shrugged. “Sure.”

“Come on, little man.” Tim walked him over to the grill.

Scott shouted over, “Jas, your cousins are over on the swings.”

Sarah batted Scott's arm. “Let him eat first. Gosh.”

“He might want to play, honey.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her. “Who wants to sit with all these boring adults, anyway?”

Hope laughed and looked back in Colin's direction. He stared at her and her cheeks flushed with heat. Nodding, they said their quiet hello, then he roamed over to the grill to chat with Tim and Jason.

Great. He pretended they were only acquaintances. No verbal hello. No smile. He acted weird. She totally didn't need or want this. Kelly kicked her under the table and it surprised Hope. Her friend had a question in her eye.

Kevin continued to ramble next to her, “So, then I took my weed eater and tried to get that one spot in the corner.”

Was Tim's brother really listening to him jabber on about a weed eater? Hope bit her lip and looked at Kelly again. Kelly laughed and rolled her eyes.