Fake It Till You Bake It(58)

His eyes twinkled. “Riiiight.” He quieted for a moment, then looked her way. “That was cool how you handled her asking you to read the cue cards.”

The muscles in Jada’s shoulders locked. There it was. She’d been wondering how long it would take him to bring that up. “I was kinda hoping you would forget that.”

Donovan’s eyebrows drew into a deep vee. “Why? A learning disability is nothing to be ashamed of.”

Her shoulders relaxed marginally. “I know that, and yet…” She shrugged.

“And yet what? People have given you shit for being dyslexic?”

Jada looked out the passenger-side window at the passing scenery to give herself a few extra seconds before responding. She hated talking about this. But he’d revealed a part of himself in that supply closet, and no matter how far things had gone left afterward, she’d never forget that. “Mainly my parents.”

“Are you serious? Why would they do that?”

She shook her head, like that simple act could dislodge all the painful memories that had collected there since childhood. “Dyslexia didn’t fit into their narrative of the perfect, intelligent elite family.”

“Dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence.” He sounded so forceful, so shocked people would peddle that type of bullshit. Having this man in her corner gave her a strength she hadn’t even known she was missing.

She shrugged. “They expected effortless perfection. A learning disability kind of got in the way of that, and I don’t think they ever forgave me for it.”

“That sucks.”

Jada looked his way. “Yeah, as far as they’re concerned, you’re either a genius who gets straight A’s or you’re not bright. Not much room for a gray area.” Her voice trailed off as she remembered all the times they’d unintentionally made her feel like shit. Like she was unworthy of love because of something she had no control over.

“I’m sorry.” His deep voice brought her back to the present. “I get it. Well kind of. It’s not exactly the same, but my whole life, when people hear athlete, they tend to automatically think ‘dumb jock,’ even some of the coaches, who regard us as muscled game pieces they can move around at will on the chessboard known as the football field. I got a degree in business admin even though my college coaches didn’t want me to.”

“What did they want you to major in?” Yes, she was happy to move on, but mostly, she wanted every piece of info she could about him. She wanted to know everything. She wanted to know him.

He lifted his wide shoulders. “Basket weaving. I don’t know. Whatever wouldn’t take away from my focus on the field. Business economics requires a much too strenuous workload for student-athletes.”

Jada harrumphed. “Student-athletes? Seem like they didn’t care too much about the student part of that phrase.”

“Nope. That’s not what they’re paid to care about. It wouldn’t have been so bad if one of my coaches hadn’t told me he didn’t think I was smart enough to pass the classes.”

Her jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”

“Oh, yeah. His so-called concern backfired. I became even more determined to be a business major.”

Jada nodded. “People judging and underestimating you. I totally understand that.”

She met his eyes. He did understand what she’d gone through. Warmth spread from her heart through her veins.

“I know you do, and I appreciate it. Seriously though, it’s hard, I know, but try not to let your parents get into your head or stay there.”

“Thanks. And not that it matters, but I know you’re not dumb. No one is. You are a little uptight.” She wrinkled her nose. “A lot uptight.”

Donovan chuckled as he pulled up to a red light. “You’re right.”

Jada perked up. “I am?”

“Yes, about no one being dumb. But that’s not all. You’re also impulsive. A lot impulsive, actually. A regular troublemaker who creates mayhem wherever you go.”

He didn’t say it like he was annoyed by that fact. He sounded almost okay with her state of being. Dare she say he sounded almost … impressed? She grinned. “Thank you.”

He raised his hand for a high five. With a laugh, she slapped palms with him and did her best to ignore the zap of electricity that traveled up her arm.



* * *



“If it isn’t the conquering hero and heroine returning,” Nicholas called out when Jada and Donovan stepped into the shop.

“You’re ridiculous,” Donovan said, shaking his head.

“I’m right.” Nicholas spread his arms wide. “Most of the people here saw the lovebirds on Good Day, San Diego and came to see y’all in person. Or at least that’s the word on the street.”

And since Nicholas was the head gossip, Donovan didn’t doubt the veracity of his statement.

“Y’all did a great job,” Ella said. “Everyone’s been asking when you would get back. I think it’s going to be a selfie parade.”

Jada looked slightly panicked, like she was having a hard time believing the customers had actually come in peace.

Right. “Before we do that, Jada, can I talk to you for a second in my office?”