Flagrant Foul (gxg)

Chapter 20

I learned something new today. It turns out that that the water bath for the chicken was called sous vide, and when the wings came out Skye dropped them into the fryer before coating them in some soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil mix that had me licking my fingers clean when I was done. The fries had been fried up too, and I knew I was being unhealthy, but I didn't care. I'd eaten back at the bar, and it was starting to get busy again, but Skye still found time for me.

"The shoes aren't going to be enough," she said while I finished off the food. Did I make sure I didn't wipe my face enough, so she had to help me clean my lips again? Maybe. Can I plead the fifth on that?

"Why won't they be enough?" I wondered. "That will have to get people to start believing."

"Yeah, but the people that need to believe won't be convinced by you having a pair of shoes. You already said you couldn't play there again, right? So that means you need to convince the NCAA that you should be allowed to immediately transfer to another school, even though you're out of the transfer portal. Now, that can happen, they've given waivers like that in the past. But it means getting more evidence."

"What kind of evidence? The shoes are all I have!"

"You're right. But I'm hoping that Tegan will provide the rest. See if you can get her here later this week, and we'll try to trap her."

"I doubt she'd meet me; she has the restraining order after all," I pointed out.

"True, but she'd be coming to you, so it isn't your fault if she is close. Just remind her you have her shoes and can prove your story about spring break and you're going to the coach unless she meets you here."

"You seem pretty sure that she'll show up." I hoped she was right, and it would be nice to at least know why she'd done everything, but I wasn't convinced that she'd give us anything.

"She will. Whatever is going on, she's got some elaborate plan, and those shoes are the only thing that can fuck it up. Hopefully she doesn't expect anything beyond the obvious." It did make sense. Tegan had a carefully crafted narrative, and other than that one blip it all looked perfect to an outside observer. But if I got her to slip up, even a little, then I had a chance.

I nodded slowly. "I could have Leah pass her a message. Would Wednesday be, okay? I know they have a scrimmage that day, but they could come afterwards. Tomorrow I could go to Charlotte to get the shoes."

"Wednesday is perfect. I have a few things to work out between now and then anyway." She put another Shirley Temple in front of me with a grin. "How about Sunday for dinner?"

"Sunday? Yeah, I'd like that. But you know I'll be here almost every night before then." I couldn't help but hide a grin. I already planned to leave for Charlotte early enough to be back here for dinner the following day. "Oh shit! I still owe you for Friday's dinner! And today's!"

She waved a hand. "Don't sweat it. I know the owner, and she might like keeping you around with free food so she can check you out in her spare time."

I could feel myself heating up as she said that and couldn't help but smile. She got me every time with her flirting, and I loved it. I knew that there was every chance she could flirt a lot with other customers, but I hadn't seen it. There had been several women flirting with her both last Friday, and again tonight, but she always ignored their comments and came back to my side when she was free. It felt good. It was hard not to overanalyze everything and not be scared after the Tegan betrayal, but it was a virtual impossibility to not be drawn to Skye. The way she stuck her tongue out in concentration as she mixed the drinks, or the sound of her giggle when another patron said something funny, or even better the mischievous twinkle in her eye when she leaned in and said something flirty to me.