Catching Lucas Riley (12 page)

As the marching band began playing their halftime show, Sealey turned once again to Alex. “You hungry?” he asked. “Want to come grab something to eat with me?”

“Sure,” she answered, rising to her feet. Ashley watched them go, her arms folded sourly across her chest and her eyebrows scrunched. The sight made Alex want to laugh.

“How about pizza?” Sealey asked as they walked past the various food vendors. “I’m craving bread and cheese right now.”

“Sounds good to me,” Alex said, reaching in her purse for her wallet. She was always up for a good pepperoni pizza.

“I got it,” Sealey said, gesturing to the wallet in her hand.

“Huh?” she asked vaguely.

“I’ll pay,” Sealey clarified. “I pretty much forced you here. Lunch is on me.”

“Oh . . . well, thanks,” Alex said, disconcerted. The Sealey she was seeing today seemed like a completely different person than she was
used to. She wondered if all the talking about Olivia had improved his mood.

“By the way, I’m sorry about Ashley,” Sealey said, not looking at her. “I wasn’t sure if she would be here. She doesn’t come to all the games. But if Lucas really told her about your date last night, then I’m not surprised she’s here.”

“Yeah, she’s . . . you know, charming,” Alex replied, biting her lip.

Sealey chuckled. “Yeah, she’s a piece of work.”

“She seems to like
you
, though,” Alex said, elbowing him in the ribs. “Have you ever been out with her?”

“Not really . . . not in the way you mean,” Sealey replied, shrugging. “We’ve been out before, I guess, in the sense that she’s invited me as her ‘plus one.’ But there’s nothing going on between us.”

“No thanks to you,” Alex said, laughing. “I’m sure she’d like nothing better than to rectify that situation.”

Sealey smiled wryly and shrugged again. “She’s not my type,” he said simply. “She’s beautiful and really smart, but she’s also incredibly manipulative. Her dad spoils her rotten, so she’s gotten used to getting her way. She gets downright irritating when she wants something.”

“Sounds about right,” Alex surmised.

Once they had their personal-size pizzas in hand, they headed back for the stairs to their section.

“Hey, let’s stay down here and eat, if you don’t mind,” Sealey suggested. “Ashley’s driving me nuts, and I’d rather postpone going back up there until Luke’s on the field again.”

“Sure,” Alex agreed, rather relieved that he suggested it. They sat on a bench side-by-side and opened their pizza boxes. “So, how long ago did you start your company?” Alex asked, taking her first careful bite of the steaming pizza. “Have you been doing this long?”

“Well, technically, I started my company while I was still in grad school,” Sealey responded, trying to detach a string of cheese from his slice with his fingers. “I knew I didn’t want to work for anyone else, so I decided to do my own thing and focus on advertising for smaller businesses here in the valley.” He took a big bite of pizza and immediately coughed, his eyes watering. “Holy moly, that’s hot!” he exclaimed.

Alex started laughing. “I’ve never heard you use an expletive before.
It’s nice to know that you do that kind of thing, even if you used the goofiest one you could’ve chosen.”

Sealey looked at her through his tearing eyes and shook his head. “I don’t know where you come up with these ideas about me,” he sputtered, trying to keep his mouth open to let the heat from his pizza escape. “Why wouldn’t I use expletives?
Everyone
uses expletives. Even goofy ones.”

“Yeah, well, you’re not everyone,” Alex claimed, taking another tiny bite. “You’re the untouchable, imperturbable Sealey Witchburn. Nothing and no one surprises you. Well, except for thoroughly heated pizza, apparently.”

Sealey rolled his eyes. “Well,
anyway
, I picked up a few clients while I was finishing up my MBA. But once I graduated and was able to focus solely on my company, the business really took off. Turns out the small mom-and-pops in the valley really like a locally owned firm promoting them. Plus, due to my ‘single and fancy-free’ status, I’m able to travel wherever and whenever I need to for work, so I can do some advertising for them in other areas of the state if needed. Sometimes in other areas of the country.”

“Wow, that sounds exciting,” Alex replied. “I have to admit, I’m really jealous.”

“Jealous?” Sealey asked, his eyebrow raised. “Have ambitions in advertising yourself, Foamer?”

“No, not about that,” Alex said, smiling. “I just . . . I’ve always wanted to make a difference, you know? Not just here in Logan, but out there.” She gestured widely with her arms. “In the wide world. I feel so strongly about the importance of nutrition, especially for children. I just wish I could do more to educate people.”

“It sounds like you make a big impact where you are right now,” Sealey reminded her. “Don’t sell yourself short.”

“Oh, I know I make a difference with the individual people I work with,” Alex assured him. “I just wish that I could reach more. That I could, I don’t know, change the world.” She laughed self-consciously. “Wow, that sounds really corny.”

“Sure does,” Sealey said and winked at her. “No, it’s not corny. I think it sounds kind of noble, actually. It’s not like you’re aspiring to become famous or wealthy. You’re aspiring to change people for the better. It’s a very unselfish goal.”

“Yeah, well, it’s unlikely I’ll get anywhere with it.”

“Probably not, with that attitude,” Sealey said, with a smirk. “Come on! Where’s that confidence you’re so famous for?”

Alex chuckled. “I’ll find it someday.” She watched him as he enthusiastically downed the rest of his pizza. “Sealey?” she finally said, capturing his attention.

“Yeah?” he asked, looking at her with his mouth full. It was adorable.

“I just wanted to let you know”—she looked down at her half empty pizza box so she wouldn’t have to meet his eyes—“I’m grateful for all you’re doing for me.” She looked back up at him, her expression sincere. “And I’m really impressed with you. You’ve done really well for yourself. I hope I can someday accomplish all that you have.”

Sealey was quiet for a moment as he studied her expression. “Thanks, Foamer,” he finally replied, nudging her with his shoulder and grinning. He had pizza sauce stuck in his teeth. She laughed.

The last half of the game passed quickly, now that Alex understood the rules. She cheered at all the right moments and kept her eyes focused on Lucas’s form. When he caught a pass and ran it in for a touchdown, she thought she might have screamed louder than anyone in the stadium. By the end of the game she was slightly hoarse.

“Well, let’s head down,” Sealey said, as the navy-clad USU fans began to stream gloomily toward the exits. Utah State had fought bravely, but unfortunately, the University of Utah had managed to emerge victorious. “Lucas will likely need some cheering up after that whooping.”

“Are we meeting up with him?” Alex asked, the fluttering of butterflies beginning in her middle.

“Yep, we’re going to take him to dinner,” Sealey replied. Alex heard Ashley huff behind them.

“Honestly, I don’t know why we have to change plans last minute,” Ashley protested. “We told him that you and I were going to meet him. He’s not expecting Alex. Don’t you think he’ll be a little irritated?”

“I doubt it, Ash,” Sealey said over his shoulder as he once again took Alex’s arm above the elbow and led her toward the exit. “Lucas really likes Alex.”

Ashley muttered something under her breath, but Alex didn’t catch
it. She gritted her teeth for what felt like the fiftieth time that day and clenched her fists, trying to stifle her irritation.

Twenty minutes later, the three of them stood outside the stadium in an uncomfortable silence.

Alex didn’t want to say anything to Sealey, knowing that Ashley would hear every word, and she assumed Sealey felt the same way. She rocked back and forth on her heels, willing Lucas to hurry up.

“There he is,” Ashley said suddenly, pointing to the form of her brother emerging from a metal door to their left. She raised her arms and waved, even though he was only twenty feet away and couldn’t possibly have missed the tall, white-blond figure of Sealey Witchburn.

“Oh, hey, guys,” Lucas said in a slightly morose voice. “I almost wish you hadn’t—” Suddenly he froze, his eyes falling on Alex. “Alex!” he exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

It was at that point that Alex realized she didn’t have a story. She couldn’t tell him that Sealey had insisted she come because she didn’t know football. She glanced, panicked, up at Sealey’s face, but he looked utterly unconcerned.

“Oh, I invited her,” Sealey said easily. “I ran into her this morning and mentioned I was going to the game. She told me she didn’t know much about football, and since I had an extra ticket and knew you two went out last night, I figured it would be a good thing to educate her. After all, how can you ever expect to get a repeat date with her if she doesn’t fully appreciate your football brilliance? I mean, really, what motivation does she have to say yes?” Sealey smiled teasingly at his friend.

Alex glanced at Lucas, noticing how red he appeared. Wait a minute, was he blushing? Could it be possible that Lucas had mentioned something about wanting a repeat date with her to Sealey? She suddenly felt like singing.

“Well, if I was hoping to impress her, I’ve done a poor job,” Lucas said ruefully to Sealey, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. He glanced self-consciously again at Alex and shifted his gym bag uncomfortably on his shoulder.

“Well, we’re giving you the opportunity to redeem yourself,” Sealey announced. “We’re going to take you out to dinner.”

“Not sure I’ll be the best company tonight,” Lucas said, wincing. “This was a painful one.”

“Oh, come on,” Ashley said, running to him and giving him a hug. “Even if your team lost, at least you did well personally.”

“Wish I could see it that way,” Lucas said glumly.

“Well, not that what I think means anything, but you certainly seemed faster than anyone else on the field,” Alex spoke up, feeling stupid for her contribution to the conversation. “I imagine that makes a big difference.”

“Speed is very important for a wide receiver,” Sealey agreed, nodding. “And nobody is faster than Luke.”

Lucas grinned. “Well, if you’re trying to cheer me up, you guys are definitely off to a good start.” They started toward the parking lot.

“Hey, Alex, why don’t you drive with me?” Lucas said, brushing his fingers down her arm to get her attention. “I’d love to hear your impressions of your first real college football game.”

Alex opened her mouth to enthusiastically agree, but Ashley interrupted her.

“Oh, don’t be silly, Luke,” she said with a saccharine smile. “Alex doesn’t want to talk football with you. Alex, why don’t you come with me? I’d love to get to know you better.” Alex could see the cunning behind Ashley’s offer, but Lucas looked at her with an expression of shocked approval on his face.

“That’s a great idea!” he exclaimed. “We’ll meet you guys at Angie’s.”

Alex had to stifle a groan at the choice of restaurant. Angie’s was always packed to bursting after sporting events, which was why she always made a point to avoid it. But at least she was going with Lucas. She would put up with anything to be with Lucas. Even his snotty sister.

“So, Alex,” Ashley said as they climbed into her sleek, black Infiniti. “I’m just going to be straight with you, okay?”

“Please do,” Alex said, again through gritted teeth. She felt a headache coming on.

“Lucas is taken,” the curly-headed witch said bluntly. “Okay? He’s off the market. You really shouldn’t waste your time. Sorry to disappoint you.”

“I appreciate you letting me know,” Alex said, melting her voice into sugary tones. “But if Lucas really was taken, I doubt he’d be interested
in dating me, would he? He doesn’t seem like that kind of guy, and I assure you, I have no intention of forcing myself on him.”

Ashley looked at her disbelievingly. “Then what are you doing here? If you have no interest in snatching my brother away from his steady girlfriend, then why did you show up today?”

“Sealey invited me,” Alex returned simply. “Like he said, I’d never been to a football game before, and I’m all about new experiences. So I said yes. And if Lucas really does have a steady girlfriend, then there is no reason to expect that he’ll ask me out again. So you needn’t worry your pretty head about it, Ashley.” She turned her head to stare out the window, willing the scenery to go by faster, desperate to escape the bratty brunette’s company.

“Look, I’ll be blunt,” Ashley said, and Alex rolled her eyes, wondering how on earth the girl could have been classifying her communications up to this point if not as “blunt.” “Lucas is too nice for his own good. Seriously, he will ask you out just because he feels sorry for you. But he is in love with someone else. A girl who is a much better match for him than you are. So I’m telling you now, really, for your own sake, back off.”

Alex turned to face Ashley, full-on, eyes narrowed and snapping with furious energy. She’d promised Sealey she would keep tight rein on her tongue when speaking to Lucas, but he’d said nothing about Ashley. She decided to take that oversight as his permission to completely unload on Lucas’s nasty sister.