Free Breaking Even by Lily Bishop Page B

Lindsey
said, taking a sip of the cider.
    “A little bit. Downstairs is standing room
only now. Who is this guy? He’s good.”
    “I don’t know. I guess he’s somebody
local. He’s got a great voice.”
    Sarah ignored them, watching Rocky as if
he were the best thing she had seen in months. At least she had moved on from
looking at Ric like he could be her last meal.
    Lindsey finished her second cider about
the time Rocky took a break and nudged to Ric that she was ready to go. They
said their good-byes and made their way downstairs.
    Ric was right. Downstairs, the bar was ten
deep, and everyone crowded around. The few lucky enough to have tables or seats
on the couches were moving. Ric pushed through, holding onto Lindsey’s hand and
pulling her in his wake.
    “Lindsey! Over here!”
    Lindsey turned when she heard her name and
saw one of the guys from the fencing club.
    “Who is that?” Ric asked.
    “Just a guy I met at fencing. Let’s go
speak,” she told Ric, pulling him toward the back of the bar. She could feel
Ric bristle beside her like a dog sensing another animal on his turf.
    “Ric, this is Cayden, the president of the
local fencing club. Cayden, this is my boyfriend Ric Salzana.”
    Cayden’s eyes widened at the mention of
Ric’s name. “Were you at the U.S. Fencing Championship in 2012?”
    “I was,” Ric said, giving a short bow in
acknowledgment.
    “That was an amazing match. To lose in the
finals like that. Wow.”
    “It was a tough match, but I was proud to
be there,” Ric said. “How long have you been fencing?”
    “Ten years. I love it, but I’ve never
managed to make it past regionals.”
    Ric fished a business card out of his
wallet. “Email me. I don’t have time this trip, but the next time I visit
Lindsey I can look at your form and offer pointers.”
    “Wow. Thank you. We tried to get Lindsey
to train with us, but she said she doesn’t have the time.”
    “My game has gotten rusty,” Lindsey
admitted.
    “Well, we are all still learning, and you
almost beat Lilah, who is our best woman player.”
    “You didn’t tell me that,” Ric said.
    “Almost doesn’t matter,” Lindsey argued.
“Cayden, good to see you again.”
    “It was nice to meet you,” Ric echoed.
    “Likewise. And Lindsey, come back to the
club. We’d love to have you.”
    “I’m not making any promises, but I will
try.” She smiled to soften the words, having no intention in joining them. She
couldn't keep her head above water now.
    When they opened the door to go outside,
the heat rushed at them like they had opened an oven door. Lindsey’s glasses
fogged up completely, and she pulled them off. Now that it was dark, the
sidewalks were even more crowded with students heading in and out of bars. They
held hands and didn’t even try to talk until they were at the car. Lindsey
enjoyed his comforting grip on her hand as they navigated the crowds.
    She leaned against her car door and looked
up at him. He reached out and idly traced her nose and the small indent that
her glasses had left.
    “You are so beautiful—with or without your
glasses. Your eyes are so expressive. How could you ever wear those horrible
blue-colored contacts?”
    Lindsey felt her face warm at the compliment.
He remembered the fake contact lenses she had worn when they first met. “And
you don’t miss the platinum hair? I can dye it you know.”
    “God no. Even before I realized it was a
wig, the color didn’t suit you.”
    “And mousy brown does?” she said, but it came
out more bitter than she intended. She buried her face in his shirt,
embarrassed.
    “Mousy brown? All I see is warm chestnut.”
His finger lifted her chin up. “I love your hair.” She thought he was going to
kiss her, but he pulled back.
    “You have men left and right chasing after
you. Should I be jealous of this Cayden?”
    Lindsey laughed. “No, I think Cayden has
his own boyfriend. At least, that was the impression that I got.”
    “Why