Overtime (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 11

I’ll walk right up to you and put one finger in the air. And make you understand, and make you understand, you had your chance.

I’m really hesitant with Kristen’s plan at first. It takes a while for me to warm up to the idea of talking to every attractive boy that comes in line. I don’t know why. Tanner had no problem with it so I don’t know why it’s such a big deal for me. It’s not that I have trouble with flirting. My usual problem is that I get really nervous around hot guys. Take Tanner for example. I was stuttering through all my sentences the first time I met him. But with all the practice I’ve gotten with him, these less attractive guys are much easier to nail.

My issue is that it just feels so forced. I may sound fine on the outside, but I’m constantly worrying about Tanner standing less than five feet away. He acts nonchalant, like he’s not paying attention but I see his eyes perk up every time a guy’s voice speaks.

By the end of the week, I’ve given out my number to fourteen guys, racking them up like books in a bookshelf. Tanner still attracts female attention, and for a while, we both go back and forth. Me with a guy, him swooping in with a girl. But eventually, he starts shrugging them off. First sign of jealousy. Instead of doing some eyelash batting with the ladies, he’s watching me work my name into guy’s phones.

My guilt wears off after a while, replaced by something much more effective. Victory. Now that I have Tanner’s attention, I’m not letting go.

I do checks with Kristen and Trinity every night. They absolutely love hearing about the guys I’m meeting, and even better, the cold glares Tanner sends my way.

He doesn’t say much to me at work. I usually can’t get more than a couple sentences out of him. Second sign of jealousy, according to Kristen. During our tutoring sessions, he seems fine. Still just as playful and talkative. At the store, he becomes less chatty and more attentive. And I’m loving every bit of it.

Week three begins on a Thursday afternoon. Tanner’s quiet again, texting in between customers rather than having to face me and spark up a conversation. By 5:15, a good hour before my shift ends, my name’s been programmed into two guys’ phones. Usually on a good day I can fit four in, but Thursdays are always dry here.

"Tanner!" A male voice calls out.

We both look up to see one of Tanner’s friends approaching. The same blonde one from the library. He’s somewhat cute. I think the freckles are adorable. I size him up from head to toe. Taylor, in my opinion, was clearly cuter.

I recognize him from the football team, in which case he knows Holden. Not only the same team, but both of them play defense. He’s a pretty good free safety, and Holden plays the cornerback position. Both of them are starters.

"Noah," Tanner says flatly, not even looking up from his phone.

"What’s up buddy?" Noah asks cheerily, patting Tanner on the shoulder. I hold back a giggle. Tanner’s totally unamused.

The two lean in close and talk in hushed voices. Noah’s eyes flicker over to me and he gives me a flirty wink.

"Is that your girl?" Noah implores, still whispering, but loud enough for me to hear. Tanner knows I’ve heard too.

He shakes his head, looking down at his phone. "Nope. Just Brinley."

I resist the urge to roll my eyes at Tanner’s remark. He’s so childish sometimes.

Noah turns to me. "Hey, I’m Noah," he says to me. He sneaks in a devious peek at Tanner. "Tanner’s told me a lot about you."

I giggle, waiting for some sort of reaction from Tanner. Absolutely nothing. That’s when the thought occurs to me. Flirting with one of Tanner’s friends is pure genius. Noah’s attractive enough. And if this doesn’t push some of Tanner’s buttons, I don’t know what will.