The Guy on the Left (The Underdogs, #2)(16)

Dante eyes me from where he sits on the couch, his feet swinging.

“Know what, little man?”

He rolls his eyes. My eyes. His mother’s eyes. We both have the tricked-out blue. Clarissa’s are lighter. Maybe they’re hers. “The trick I just showed you.”

“No, I didn’t. Good one.”

“You weren’t even listening,” he grumbles.

“Sorry. I was just wondering if you’re hungry?”

He shrugs, his attention back on his game. “I could eat.”

I shake my head. How does a five-year old speak like such an adult? His mother, that’s how. And I love that about her. She’s no bullshit. She wasn’t the night I met her. She’s brutally honest, and though she would never believe it now, aside from my lie and the fact that I lived for ball, I was myself with her. Dante commands respect, much like her, and much like my roommate who walks in the room, dumping his backpack on the floor.

“Sup, guys?” Theo asks, making his way toward the couch.

Dante’s eyes light up. “I showed Troy the trick you taught me.”

“Yeah?” Theo asks, taking a seat next to him. I pass him my controller.

“Grilled cheese?” I ask Dante.

His eyes light up. “Yes, please!”

Pride fills me. Dante has manners in abundance, though I can’t take any credit. Making my way to the kitchen, I hear Dante rambling to Theo.

“Cup your balls, you’re going down.”

Theo cracks up, and I do too. But I know Clarissa wouldn’t appreciate that language. Is this where I begin to parent? And if I do, will it break our new connection and embarrass him? His mother hasn’t given me any privileges yet, so I say nothing. That’s on her. Knowing what I do about Dante already, he wouldn’t take too kindly to discipline from a neighbor.

Dante devours his first grilled cheese and damned near begs for another, so I make myself busy catering to him as he slides into easy conversation with Theo. I think on some level, it’s easier for Theo because he grew up with siblings. I’d been more of a loner up until high school when I started running and hit a growth spurt. High school was easy for me because ball paved the way. It’d been an avenue of wealth after I got my braces off and discovered my talent for catching and running with that pigskin in my hands. I developed then too, along with my taste for pussy and it was a whole different world. I ran with the sudden attention and popularity, especially with the ladies, like every other red-blooded male would, but I wasn’t as privileged as my friends. Always driving my mother’s beat-up Dodge around on the weekends rather than getting my own, so I took and took until I choked on greed. All of that ended the day that fiery redhead slapped it out of me.

I deserved what I got. Karma and all of her friends, especially humility, came and made it known, a man is only as worthy as his last act.

As much as I want to admit I’ve grown up, I do still partake when the pressure gets to be too much. But that’s got its own set of problems.

The front door sounds and I glance at the clock knowing exactly who it is. She doesn’t let Dante hang for more than an hour or two without checking in. Opening the door, I see Clarissa waiting a few feet away as if she’s afraid to approach it. She might be a mama bear by nature, but she’s wary of me. I take note of her form-fitting blue sundress and pink painted toes.

“Hey, you look beautiful.”

She ignores my compliment, her eyes darting past my shoulder. “I, uh, was wondering if Dante could stay a little bit longer tonight?”

“Of course. My shift doesn’t start until two.”

“In the morning?”

I nod.

“You work nights?” She’s looking anywhere but at me.

“I’m sorry, are we having a conversation?”

Reluctantly her eyes meet mine, and I can’t help my smirk. I’m rewarded with a scowl. “You know how hard this is for me to ask.”

“Sorry, but I’m just wondering why you’re having such a hard time looking at me.”

“I have a date.” She swallows. “Well, not a date, kind of a date. An old friend from college. He wants to have a drink and catch up.”

“Good for you. Go. I’ll take good care of him.”

She hesitates, glancing over my shoulder. “Just forget it. I can do this another time.”

“What changed your mind in the five seconds since I agreed?”

“I just…he hasn’t eaten dinner.”

“I fed him already.”

She gapes at me. “What?”

“Grilled cheese.”

She palms her forehead. “He’s lactose intolerant.”

“Shit,” I glance back at Dante, who’s still mouthing off to Theo on the couch. “Do I need to take him to the doctor?”

“No,” she sighs. “He knows better. You’ve been suckered.”

“That’s my boy.”

Her glare has me swallowing.

“And there’s my hesitation. He’s probably going to run over you.”

I lift my hand, “I think I can handle him.”

“Do you?” The smile she’s sporting scares the hell out of me. She bites her lip and looks up at me through her lashes. “Good luck with that, neighbor.”