Fourth Down Baby: A May-December Romance Read Online Free

kernel of popcorn out of the tub he's holding and munching while we finish watching Jennifer Garner get her man in the end. We sit through the credits, and as the lights come up, I see that Cory's looking at me, his blue eyes filled with . . . desire? Is he seriously thinking about that?
    I give him a smile and pat his knee, setting the now empty popcorn aside and getting up. “That was fun. How about some dinner?”
    He blinks, and then he nods, getting up slowly. “Sure,” Cory says once he's got his jacket on. He's wearing some chinos and a button down shirt again, and he looks handsome as we walk out of the theater, not at all like a high schooler but more like a mature young man. He stops when I reach over and take his hand, looking down before giving me a smile. “Thanks. I'm having my best Valentine's Day ever.”
    We drive to the restaurant, which is not the best seafood restaurant in town, but nearly so, and it's better than the chain place I was expecting. Instead, we get seated at a real table and served by the daughter of the owner, who gives Cory a little smile after taking our drink order. As she leaves, I lean over and give him a little nudge, teasing him.
    “She and I dated for a while,” Cory admits sheepishly. “Sorry, I forgot about that when I booked the reservation.”
    “Don't sweat it,” I tell him. “This town's small enough that just about everyone knows everyone. You aren't worried that being seen with me will get around?”
    Cory shakes his head and picks up a breadstick out of the basket, setting it on his plate. “I mean, I haven't exactly run around saying that I'm working for you, but I haven't lied about it either. Dani knows, so most of the school knows. I'm sure even Troy knows, although he and I don't talk about it.”
    “How's he doing, by the way?” I ask, surprised. I'm still angry at Troy for getting Whitney pregnant, but that anger is fading as the time goes on and my missing Whitney becomes more painful. “Training still?”
    “He's getting swollen,” Cory says admiringly. “He's up to two twenty now. I figure he'll hit two thirty before the end of school. I lift with him twice a week, but it's more like he and I lift in the same room. There's no way I'm keeping up with him nowadays. He's gonna tear it up down at Clement next year.”
    “And you? Where are you going to go?” I ask. I'm having a fun date , and here I am talking about Cory most likely leaving town.
    “Well . . . I haven't decided yet,” Cory answers, and the tension is cut when our appetizers arrive. “Oh good. Well, to Valentine's Day, Patricia. I hope this is a good one for you.”
    I toast glasses with him and give him a smile. “Cory, this has been the best Valentine's Day I've ever had.”

    * * *
    “ N o way .”
    I can't believe it. He and I are actually arguing over his going to the prom. “I'm serious, Cory. You need to find yourself a date for the prom. It's your senior prom, after all!”
    The snows have stopped, but it's still a little chilly. Spring hasn't quite woken up here in the Northwest, although it's not too bad since the sun's shining today. We're sitting at the kitchen table, and for the first time in the four months that he's been coming over, he's being stubborn and mulish, his face dead-set against what I'm saying.
    “I've thought a lot about this, and I decided. I'm not going to the prom. I've been to proms twice already, and the winter formals, and everything else. Only difference between the prom and the formal is that I have to fork over money for a tux instead of just wearing my suit.”
    “Come on, Cory. I know what you're saying, but it's going to be the last big event for you in high school. You don't want to say you missed it.”
    “There's nobody I want to take to the prom,” Cory protests. “I mean, if this is supposed to be some sort of special event, shouldn't I take someone special too? All the girls who might even be interesting already have boyfriends,