Allison
Allison had already explained to her sister about the Jelly misunderstanding with Leonardo earlier that day. Even over the phone, it was clear her easily annoyed and worrywart sister hadn’t been too convinced that it was nothing more than just that—an innocent misunderstanding. Despite the odd vibe Allison thought she’d picked up from him during the interview and the compliment that’d left her breathless, she knew better. She’d chalk up his reaction to her as just how he explained it. Like everyone else, he’d simply been caught off guard by how different she looked. And the compliment? Well, that was something she’d be keeping for herself, but she refused to make anything more of it than him trying to explain himself out of a comment that had initially come out all wrong.
She could now admit her new look did make a big difference. She smiled, remembering how even Carson, the pompous editor of her school paper, had done a double take the first day she’d gone into class after her makeover. Normally, the only time he focused that much on her was when they disagreed about something—which was often—though he called it healthy debating.
It’d made her nervous at first. Allison had never been one to enjoy the spotlight, and ever since the makeover, it was exactly where she’d been—at school, her job, and now at the gym. But regardless of her sister’s misgivings about Leonardo, his reaction to her, even if, at first, it’d had her heart thundering because he remembered her, was perfectly in line with everyone else’s.
But maybe the fact that he’d remembered her enough to even have a reaction was a little inappropriately exciting. When Allison had called Lila earlier to explain the misunderstanding to her, she’d stupidly been too giddy about it. Lila had instantly called her on it. If Allison had thought for even a minute that the man could possibly ever look at her in any other way than he had that time, she never would’ve admitted to her sister she thought he was sexy. She managed to backpedal today when Lila questioned why his remembering her excited Allison so.
Breathing in a little too deeply, she realized she’d really have to play this down around Lila. As close as she was to her sister, this would not be a subject they could giggle about the way they often did about other things. Lila had so much on her plate lately. Her career as both a boxer and fitness model was taking off, and she had the upcoming fight for the title she was training so hard for. Allison refused to give her more to worry about. And she knew this would worry her sister to no end, even if it was nothing. So, she’d save any silly thoughts of Leonardo for Jen or even Drew.
As she’d predicted, Carson had been impressed with the story. She felt even better now about not chickening out when she’d had the presence of mind to ask Leonardo for his number. Carson did have more questions. Questions Allison felt stupid about not having thought to ask, but then the conversation had veered off into a far more interesting one. As interested as she’d been to hear more about Leonardo’s work-release experience at the gym, she’d been strangely fascinated hearing about his underground fighting. Just another thing she’d have to tone down when she told Lila about it.
Leonardo had been frustratingly hard to read. One moment he indulged her with a smile; then the next he was glaring. Her heart fluttered, remembering how at times that same glare seemed to wane, and there was something almost vulnerable about the way his panicked eyes had taken her in then quickly glanced away. She had no idea what to make of it, but it was why she’d rewritten the text she’d sent him earlier half a dozen times. She wanted to get the tone just right. Professional but not too stuffy. Friendly but not overly playful. Despite his questioning her about her age and the comments that followed, he just didn’t seem the type to be open and social. As broodingly skittish as he’d seemed half the time, she didn’t want to spook him into not responding. His kid remark had been duly noted.
That coupled with his remark about it not being up to him when she asked if she could interview him again, not to mention his comment about not having signed up for this shit in the first place, confirmed what she’d begun to think. Given all his restrictions, he really was walking on thin ice. And just like his reason for stretching the fact that he knew her, he wasn’t looking to piss anyone off or break any rules. So, while she’d finally decided on just the amount of friendliness, she worried now maybe it’d been too long. Glancing down at her phone, she read the unanswered wordy text she’d sent.
Hello, Leonardo, Ali here. Thank you again for the opportunity to interview you. I spoke with my editor, and just like me, he’s highly intrigued by your story. But he also had more questions. So do I. Not just about the work-release program either. Let me know how you’d prefer to do this. Via text, over a phone call, or we could set up another in-person interview. Your choice. Looking forward to hearing back from you! =D
Allison frowned, hitting speed dial as she walked over to the fridge. Maybe she shouldn’t have used the word intrigued. It was too telling of how she was really feeling about him. But who wouldn’t be? Allison hadn’t shared with Carson what she’d spoken to Leonardo about off the record. All she told Carson about Leonardo’s charges was that he’d violated his probation due to some prior fighting conviction. She’d left out the illegal fighting ring he’d done it in. Even without knowing that, Carson really was interested in hearing about Leonardo’s plans for becoming a boxer.
“Hey, how’d it go?” Jen answered, sounding as enthused as Allison knew she’d be.
“It was very . . . interesting.”
Allison had told Jen all about her only other encounter with Mr. Disgusted. By the time she done so, she’d been over feeling so humiliated about the incident, and they’d been able to laugh about it. Unlike Lila, Jen had appreciated Allison’s hot description of the bad boy. She told her about both interviews, beginning with the near disastrous start.
“He remembered you!” Jen gasped as excited as Allison had to admit she’d been for a minute there.
Jen’s excitement made Allison’s insides do a little fluttering, but she made sure to go back and forth about each guy’s interview and not just focus on Leonardo’s. Unlike with Carson, Allison told Jen everything, including about Leonardo’s underground fighting club. She knew without a doubt she could trust Jen to keep it to herself. He hadn’t said it was a secret anyway. But sharing something so personal about him with Carson versus her trusted friend just felt wrong.
She did however share what she’d been dying to share with someone because she could hardly stand it anymore. “Leonardo is so freakin’ hot!” she blurted out after calmly letting Jen in on the other more professional stuff that went on during her interviews. “I mean like nerve-wrackingly so. The whole time I was talking to him I had to remind myself to breathe.”
“The cage fighter?”
“Not cage fighter.” Allison laughed. “Underground fighter. EX underground fighter,” she clarified further. “Pay attention, will you?”
Jen laughed now too. “Whatever. Like I’d know the difference. I’m still trying to get straight what’s considered country and what’s redneck. You don’t even wanna know how many times I’ve insulted Jaxson. But forget him. Right now, I wanna know about your man.”
“My man?” Allison laughed nervously, feeling her face heat as she leaned against the kitchen counter. “All I said was that he’s hot, and I’ll add deliciously intimidating because he is. He’s a mountain of muscles, tattoos, and mystery. But don’t get any crazy ideas.”
“Why not? You said he remembered you. Not just you but a pretty significant detail.”
“About me inhaling that donut.” Allison huffed as she poured herself some juice. “He was probably just that disgusted,” she added, ignoring her still-sputtering heart and for some reason keeping to herself that he’d said she looked amazing and that he didn’t think she needed a makeover.
With her heart speeding up again, she did share with Jen something she would not be sharing with her sister: that, unlike Leonardo who’d been the far more reserved of the two, Rodney had been quite the obnoxious flirt. Thankfully, before Allison could put even another thought into what Jen had previously tried to imply about there being more to Leo remembering her, Jen suddenly remembered something about the other story they were working on together. She began filling Allison in on it. Allison tried to concentrate on what her friend was saying but couldn’t help being distracted with thoughts of Leonardo. She reminded herself that even her excitement over his remembering her, the profound way he’d looked at her at that moment, and his saying she looked amazing were just all new to her. She’d never gotten much attention from guys—especially ones as daunting as Leonardo. She refused to even entertain the ridiculous notion.
Jen got back to the subject of Allison’s more exciting assignment—the hot ex-cons. Allison took it in stride as their normal boy-crazy girl talk. It was nothing more than harmless intrigue. Her journalist’s mind was hungry to know more about his situation. The underground fighting. Was that where he’d gotten all the scars she’d noticed? She could interview the guy for hours if he let her.
There was a beep in her ear, and Allison gasped when she pulled the phone away to see what it was. “Oh my God.” The words escaped her before she could compose herself.
“What?”
“Uh . . .” She tried to click over to read the text response from Leonardo, but her phone wouldn’t allow it. “I, uh . . . I just got a text from . . . Carson. I forgot to turn something in,” she added quickly to explain her knee-jerk reaction to seeing the text. “Let me call you back.”
As soon as she was off the call with Jen, she clicked over to read the text. “This should not excite you so much, Allison.” She mimicked her sister’s admonishing tone, even if she was smiling from ear to ear as she began to read Leonardo’s response.
Text me whatever you need to know and I’ll try to get back to you as soon as I can.
There was hardly a trace of affability. Nothing cutesy about it at all. Yet, Allison couldn’t wipe the ridiculous smile off her face. She knew her text had been too assuming. She hadn’t asked if he’d be okay with more questions, simply asked how he’d like to go about it. She was being trained to do that as a journalist. If she wanted the story—the facts—she had to be unrelenting. Go after it, without the slightest hesitation. It was why, in spite of how nervous he’d made her, she’d forced the courage to ask him for his number today. Part of her had wondered if, even after he’d given her his number knowing full well it was what she’d be texting him for, maybe he’d still turn down the request. That’s what had her smiling so big now. She was in.
Regardless of how doubtful she’d been that he’d agree to more questions or even bother to respond, Allison was always prepared. She already had a list ready to go. But then who was she kidding? Off the top of her head, she could think of a million things she’d like to ask him. The list wasn’t necessary.
Without bothering to look for said list, she decided to try and keep this response shorter.
Leonardo.
She changed her mind about starting it that way and tried to hit delete, but she hit send instead. “Ugh! Damn it.”
As quickly as she could, she put together another one, then reread it.
Thank you, Leonardo. I appreciate this. I’ll have the questions for you in the next day or so. You can respond at your earliest convenience. There’s no rush.
She hit send, smiling a little too big. The high of any new exciting story always got her giddy. She knew this was all this was, especially because, from her conversation with Carson, it appeared this story might have a better chance of making the bigger headlines.
As much as she’d like to even entertain more silly thoughts of the intriguing Leonardo, for the fun of it, she worried it might affect the way she handled this story. She may not be as professional if she had any diversions while she was supposed to be focusing on just the story. Like now for instance. She shook her head almost laughing at the irony.
“Stop thinking about it,” she muttered to herself as she pranced back to the table with her juice.
The sound of the apartment door opening had her turning without thought before taking a seat. It wasn’t until she’d made eye contact with Lila’s disapproving scowl that she realized how big she was still smiling.
“Okay,” Lila said, dropping her purse down on the sofa. “What else did this man say to you that still has you all smiles?”
Shit.