Jameson (Face-Off 4)

She has a certain ease about her that reminds me of Charlie. You can be yourself around girls like them. Except, for some reason, she makes me nervous. I think of asking her out as we wait for Joe to fill the plastic containers with cheese. What if she shoots me down? Not that it would matter. It’s not like we will see each other again. What do I have to lose?

Joe hands the nachos to Rico first, and then, the other set to me. Regan takes a chip from my tray, dunks it in cheese, and shoves it into her mouth with her eyes trained on me. We share a moment. With me focusing on her mouth as she chews, it takes me a second before I realize Joe is trying to get my attention to hand me a cup of soda.

“Thank you.” I lift the drink from the counter and hold it up in acknowledgment. Then, I turn to Regan, who has stolen another chip from me. “How is it that you have the hook up around here?”

“I know a guy who knows a guy,” she deadpans, laughing to herself.

“What are you doing this weekend?”

I’m usually not so forward with women. My question surprises me just as much as Regan. I like to check women out, make sure they’re not crazy or up to Charlie’s standards before I ask them out on a date. But I feel comfortable around Regan. Plus, she didn't even know me and went out of her way to get Rico food. The least I can do is return the favor and buy her a decent meal that doesn’t consist of processed cheese and corn chips.

“Umm…nothing much. Are you asking me out, Jameson O’Connor?” She inches closer to me and the tension between us is burning like a lit match.

“Yeah, I suppose I am asking you out. So, what do you say? Do you want to have dinner with me on Saturday night?”

She holds her finger up to her lips, pretending to think it over. The wait is killing me. Say yes already.

Before she can respond, I hear Alex call out, “There’s the man-of-honor. We’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

I was so caught up in Regan and getting Rico his nachos that I’d forgotten about the game. How is it I didn’t even notice the buzzer go off, only the people tearing through the halls in a rush to get out of the building?

“I’m right here,” I say, annoyed.

Our entire wedding party follows behind Alex, including Charlie, who has a strange look on her face. She seems confused, but I have no idea why.

Coming up next to me, Charlie does something I least expect when she locks onto Regan. She hugs her as if they have known each other for years.

“How are you?” Charlie asks, taking a step back from Regan to stand next to me. “It’s been a while. Is your dad keeping you busy?”

Regan shrugs. “You know my dad.”

Alex glances at me, confused, and then, back to Regan. “What are you doing out here with Jamie? How do you guys know each other?”

“We don’t,” I interject before she can respond. “They were out of nachos at the concession by our seats, and Regan helped us out.”

“Mind your own business, Parker.” Regan’s tone is playful. She speaks to him as if she’s good friends with Alex.

Who is this chick?

“Oh, shit,” Tyler says, stealing the show with his dominance, as he moves through the crowd to get to Regan. “Are you gonna tell your dad we’re up to no good again?”

Regan blushes, looking away from him and to me. She holds my gaze for a few seconds before rolling her eyes at Tyler. “Will you ever let me live that down, Kane? I was a teenager back then.”

“You’re not a kid anymore,” he jokes, and that earns him an elbow to the biceps from Regan.

“Shut it, Kane, before I shut it for you.”

After Carter exchanges pleasantries with Regan, I start to feel left out of this conversation. Everyone seems to know Regan except for me. And she never had the chance to answer my question.

“So, you’re with Coach,” Regan says to me. “I had no idea.”

“Why? Would you have treated me differently if you had known?”

She nods. “Yes, actually, I would have.”

“Meaning?” I ask, hoping she will elaborate.

“I was about to say yes, but now…” Her voice trails off, leaving me even more confused by the conversation.