Sparks the Matchmaker (Aaron Sparks Series) (10 page)

He still needed some sort of excuse, so he grabbed a cream soda and made his way through the bookstore to Joy’s register. He was nervous. As the line got short enough for her to be able to see his face, he was rewarded with a radiant smile.

“Well, you’re a fun surprise,” Joy said.

“I was thinking, maybe you were just about to get off from work and that you could use some company walking home,” Ollie said.

“Maybe I’m not walking home.”

“Is that a rejection? Because I can take a hint. I can take my soda pop and drink it alone if that’s the case.”

“Joking,” she said. “No, I still need a few minutes after closing time to count my till. If you’re willing to wait, it could be fun to have some company on my way home.”

“I’ll just be out on the benches on the west side of the store, then,” Ollie said, and made his way back up the stairs.

Chapter 11

Ollie and Sparks sat on a bench, people-watching. During the day, the part of campus near the bookstore teemed with students, all of them hunched under backpacks, inching like ants down the sidewalks following the backpack in front of them. Every day as the sun sank slowly behind the mountains, though, foot traffic thinned out and their numbers dwindled significantly. Those left on the sidewalks were free to walk whichever way they wished without worrying about wandering into another person. Ollie and Sparks watched them all.

“Have you ever just sat and watched ants?” Sparks asked. “Just sat there and really watched them? It’s like they’re on autopilot, following after the ant right in front, not thinking about anything but their destination.”

“I’ve noticed it, yeah, but I can’t say I’ve ever really sat there and watched them for a long time.”

“That’s the difference between ants and people. Between classes, people are like ants, worrying about nothing but where they’re going. If something happens right in front of them, they just go around, zeroing in on nothing but their destination. People know how to turn that part of their brain off, though, always finding something new to worry about once they get there.”

“Is there a point to all of this, Bomber?”

“Not really, no. It’s just interesting.”

“You’re interesting, ya know that? Sometimes I try to get inside your head to figure out what’s going on, but you’re so out there. I don’t really even know where to start.”

“We’re not really that different… you and me.”

“Aren’t we? I mean, I spend my day working toward a career, or at least trying to figure out what I want to do with myself. Then there’s girls, sports, music, ya know. Whatever.”

“I like music, too.”

“Sports and girls— not so much, though? Why not? I can understand the sports thing. You probably know who’s gonna win long before the game is even over. But why not… I mean, have you ever had a girl? Someone special?”

Sparks was quiet.

“Surely you would have been able to calculate the probabilities, predict who might be your best fit.”

“I think I’m gonna take off now. You’ll be good on your own. You don’t need me.”

“Seriously? I’m sorry, man. I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just curious.”

“It’s nothing like that. Joy’s almost done and I’ve got things to do.”

“You promise? You’re not ditching me because I’m asking personal questions?”

“No. Do I seem like the kind of guy who’s worried about personal questions? C’mon. Want me to prove it? I’ll answer the other personal question on your mind.”

There had been two questions on Ollie’s mind about Sparks: one was the question about girls, the other he didn’t quite know how to articulate politely.

“Home,” Sparks said. “When I’m not with you, I go home. I live with my parents right now.” He looked sad.

Ollie didn’t want to ask any more questions. Sparks didn’t give his reasons, which told Ollie he should probably leave it well enough alone. If Sparks ever wanted to share anything further with him, he would.

“I guess that helps me understand a little better about why you don’t just follow me around all the time. Sorry.”

“We’re good.” Sparks turned to leave, but stopped and turned back. That grin was there on his face again, as if he knew something.

“What?” Ollie asked, suspicious.

“Don’t you wish there was a way you could contact me? Just sort of… I dunno, a way you could let me know when you need to talk to me or something?”

“Sure. Why not; that might be good. Do you have a cell phone?”

“No phone. Did you ever wonder why I’ve been wearing this Yankees hat? You know I’m not into sports.”

“Of course I noticed. I thought it was just so you could irritate me endlessly because I hate the Yankees. So what?”

“Did you ever notice that it’s just a little too big for my head?”

“I don’t like where this is going, Bomber. Isn’t there some other way to do this?”

Sparks took the cap off and stuck it on Ollie’s head, slightly sideways. “There. I’m not the Bronx Bomber anymore. You are. Just slip it on when you need me. That’ll make it easier for me to know when you really want me around.”

“I don’t get it. How is putting a hat on going to tell you when to pop in… or where to come?”

“Hmmm. How do I explain this? Let’s just say I’ve gotten pretty good at tuning in to Ollie Radio, all Ollie, all the time. It’s not like I know where everyone in the world is at all times or what they’re doing, but I can focus on one or two people at a time.”

“I don’t get it.”

“It doesn’t matter. All you need to know is that I can read you like a book. I know when you’re going to put that hat on and where you’ll be when you do it. I’ll show up, give or take a few minutes, of course.”

“Can’t it be one of my other hats? Like, any of them?”

“Nope,” he grinned. “Gotta be this one.” Sparks reached out and straightened the hat. “You look great, Bomber.”

“Dude, don’t call me that.”

“Really? You can call me Bomber, but I can’t say it?”

“Seriously. Why a Yankees hat?” Ollie was whining. “My friends are never going to let this go.”

“I know.” He turned to go.

“You’re sort of a jerk. You know that, right?”

“Oh yeah!” He pumped his fist as if he had just won a game. “Catch ya later, Bomber.”

Ollie turned to look for Joy. She wasn’t coming yet. When he turned back toward Sparks, he was gone. He took the cap off and twirled it in his hands, waiting. Students continued to wander, milling about the campus in twos and threes, groups and gaggles of friends. He knew exactly why Sparks had chosen a Yankees hat over everything else in the world. Ollie would resist wearing that thing in public at all costs, like it was against every principle inside him to let something like that crown his head.

“Hey there,” Joy said as she approached. “You come here often?”

“No, not a whole lot. I don’t have many classes on this side of campus.”

“Uh, that was a joke. You know, a cheesy pick up line.”

“Are you flirting with me?” Ollie smirked, standing up.

“Whatever it takes,” she said. “I need a big strong burly man to walk me home and protect me from the muggers in the dark.”

“Muggers, yeah. It’s not dark yet.”

“Hey. This is serious business.”

“Oh, I know. That’s what I was about to say,” he said. “If it was dark I’d have to charge you my usual anti-mugger fee. But seeing as how it’s still light out,” he looked at the horizon, a fiery pink-orange band, “at least a little bit anyway, I guess you don’t really need my services. I’ll walk with you for free.”

“Wow. You’re a heck of a guy.” She punched him in the shoulder.

He smiled. “Shall we?”

“We shall,” she said, starting to walk. “I walk pretty slowly, Ollie. So stick with me. Don’t leave me stranded, okay?”

Ollie picked up on the joke. “I won’t. Muggers are like lions. Fierce and scary, but they always go after the easiest catch. In our world, that means they go after the girls who have overstuffed backpacks with broken zippers.”

“I see. So with you around I’m safe? I’m no longer the easiest catch?”

“Guess I asked for that one,” he said, smiling. He was surprised at how easily things were picking up between them. After having spent the afternoon with Marie though, everything was bound to be easy. Joy also didn’t seem intimidated or uncomfortable that he stopped by just to see her. She wasn’t afraid of his interest in her, and that encouraged him greatly, lifting his spirits.

“Are you going to watch the World Series in a few weeks?” she asked.

“Definitely. Don’t tell me you’re a baseball fan?”

“No, not really,” she said. “I mean, I don’t
dislike
it, but I’ve never been able to watch it on TV— too boring. Dad used to take me to see the Rockies play once every summer when I was growing up, but that’s about it. It’s just different in person. When you’re at a live baseball game, you only watch the game about half the time anyway. I mainly loved it because it was one-on-one time with my pop.”

“Hey, that’s cool. If he likes baseball, he’s all right in my book.” Ollie kicked a stone as he walked. “Yeah, I haven’t really decided who I’m rooting for this year in the playoffs, since my team didn’t make it.”

“Wait, your team didn’t make it? I thought the Yankees were in the playoffs.”

“Oh, this hat.” Ollie hadn’t thought about the cap in his hands. He quickly shoved it into his back pocket. “I know this won’t make any sense, but I can’t stand the Yankees. I’ll root for anyone over the Bronx Bombers.”

“Yeah, it doesn’t make any sense at all. But then again, you’re a guy. Guys don’t have to make any sense.”

“Yeah, and girls are so much easier to figure out.”

She laughed. “So tell me about your first day at work. It sounds like a job that’ll keep you on your toes.”

Ollie started with his experience at the office and continued all the way up to when he left. She laughed at all the right moments, hanging on every word, asking questions along the way. That was a good sign. She seemed interested, not just trying to make conversation.

But now it was time to move the conversation around to the whole reason he had come to see her. He had a good feeling she’d accept his invitation to the circus— as long as she didn’t already have plans. “So...” Ollie paused, a little nervous.

“Uh oh,” she said, looking over at him.

“Uh,” he stammered. He’d taken the big step of visiting her at work, but asking her out on a first date was a big deal, even if he would technically be at work for the duration. Though Sparks assured him he had nothing to worry about, this could be one of those pivotal moments in life. He’d had enough rejection lately. He blurted it out. “We’re going to the circus this Friday, and Lynn told me I should invite someone to come along. You interested?”

“Sure.”

“What? Just like that? You don’t need to check your schedule or—”

“Or what? Ask my probation officer?”

“No! No. I just didn’t know if you had plans already with that one guy or not.”

“Oh,
that
guy. Yeah, he’s gone for good.”

“Gone, huh? Sorry to hear that.”

She scoffed. “No, you’re not. You wouldn’t have stopped by to walk me home if that kind of news disappointed you. And,” she nudged him with an elbow, “you wouldn’t have asked me to go to the circus with you either.”

“Okay. You’re right. Pretty forward, aren’t you?”

“Sometimes. Sorry. My Dad always tells me to be a little less blunt. Then again, I let my last relationship drag out a little too long before I finally said something. I can be inconsistent.”

“Well, you’re a girl.” He grinned at her.

“You know what—”

“Don’t get me wrong,” he said, trying to save the moment. “I don’t mind it. I guess it’s nice to know where I stand. It makes it a little easier to know you’re not playing games with me.”

“See! That’s what I always say! Don’t you just get frustrated with people who let you go on thinking one thing while they’re on a completely different page, especially with relationships?”

“Uh, yeah.
Especially
with relationships. Tell me about it.”

“Oh, that’s right. You almost married that last girlfriend of yours.”

“Oh yeah, thanks for bringing that up, Joy.”

“Sorry. There I go again, being forward.”

“Joking,” he laughed. “And in hindsight, I did almost marry her… but I don’t think she was very close to marrying me.”

“Shocking insight. Maybe this is a little blunt as well, but it’s probably for the best in the end. You’ll see. You’ll find your match.”

Ollie’s smile faded slowly with that.
That’s an odd thing for her to say. It’s like she’s exempting herself from that list of potential matches.
Still, he thought he knew something she didn’t, and the weaker part of him wanted to just come on out and tell her he’d found his match, that all she had to do was open her eyes to it as well. But the stronger part of him knew that would definitely be
too
blunt, whether she preferred transparency or not.

In any case, all of him was excited for Friday. They’d jump into the car and drive to the circus, on their first date. Still though.
Why would she say that?