Running Back (New York Leopards 2)

Chapter Seventeen

The next morning, I found Lauren and Anna poking at a half disintegrated brick of grain flakes with their spoons. Anna pointed hers at me. “Yo. World traveler. What the hell is this?”

I peered into their bowl at the soggy mess. “Um.”

Lauren forlornly settled her chin her hands. “I just wanted cereal.”

“Seriously.” Anna rocked her chair back on two feet. “They have Domino’s and McDonald’s here. Well, not here here, but in Cork. Why can’t they have Honey Nut Cheerios?”

Lauren took a very tentative bite, and swallowed exaggeratedly. “It’s like—either throat scrapingly dry or super mushy grain flakes.”

Do not make a Lucky Charms and Ireland joke. Do. Not. Do it.

Anna rolled her eyes. “They could at least have Lucky Charms.”

“That’s what I was thinking!” Lauren and I shouted at the same time.

Mike came in as we were laughing, and looked at us like we were crazy. I froze. He shook his head, picked up a banana and frowned at the grains, and then made to walk out.

“Hey.” Lauren’s voice stopped him. “I found us a tour to go on. It’s three nights—takes us up to the Ring of Kerry and the Cliffs of Moher and all that good stuff.” She glanced at me uncertainly. “I don’t know what your schedule looks like—if you could take Friday off we could wait until next weekend—”

“It’s okay,” I said quickly. “The dig’s just starting in earnest. I’ll need to be here.”

“Why don’t we go now?” Mike sounded almost emotionless. I searched his face, but he’d entirely closed himself off. At least he didn’t insult me by pulling on the charming mask. “That’d be better timing for me, since I have to go back to New York this weekend.”

It felt like he’d ripped my guts out of me. “Wait, what?”

“It’s the veterans’ minicamp.” His eyes caught mine and a slow flicker warmed his face. “Why, you going to miss me?”

Relief flooded the sudden hole in my stomach. He’d be back. “I...”

He finished the banana and tossed the peel in the trash. “Don’t have too much fun while I’m gone.” He headed out.

We all stared after him, then Anna glared at me accusingly. “You guys had a fight.”

“Um. Well. Just a...little...” If I kept spacing my words farther and farther apart, I’d never have to finish, right? An asymptotic sentence.

Lauren pressed the heel of her hand against her eye. “What’d he do?”

I felt my cheeks warming. “Did he say anything to you?”

“Only that he didn’t want to talk about it. And—um—” She glanced at her little sister.

“Jesus.” Anna rolled her eyes. “I promise not to faint at whatever scandalous news you have.”

“It’s none of your business.”

“Well, it’s none of your business either, but you still know.”

I raised a hand, curiosity beating out embarrassment. “It’s fine. What did he say?”

“Well.” Lauren still obviously didn’t want to say much. “It was sort of confusing. But maybe that you’re hung up on your professor.”

Anna’s brows shot up, just like her brother’s. “What, the old guy?”

“He’s not that old.”

Lauren’s eyes caught mine, and I made a face. “And no, I’m not, and that’s not what we argued about.”