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A Perfect Day

“The Bumble Bees? As in bzzz bzzz?”

“Yeah.” He snorted and then imitated a little kid’s voice. “‘It’s cuz we have gots a stinger, and stingers hurts.’”

“Didn’t you tell them that once a bee stings someone, it dies?”

“Ah, man. I should’ve thought of that. Where were you when I needed you?”

I chuckled. “So, what team are you playing against?”

“Uh, today that would be the Fighting Ninja Warriors.”

I burst into laughter.

“Yeah, I’m totally expecting to get our butts kicked.” He laughed with me. “Something tells me Fighting Ninja Warriors aren’t afraid of little Bumble Bees.”

“Ya think?” I giggled again. I couldn’t help it.

“You want to know the worst part?” His eyes playfully sparkled into mine for a second.

“There’s more?”

“Yep.” He nodded and focused back on the road. “Our uniforms are purple.”

“Purple bees?” I bit back a grin. “Purple bees can be cute.”

“Yeah, if you’re a Care Bear, maybe.”

That was it—I lost it. I totally cracked up all over again. Tony was seriously so cute. He kept me giggling the whole way to the soccer field. It was amazing, the direct contrast between him and Jaden.

I should’ve never gone out with that wolf! If I hadn’t, I could’ve already seen the Bumble Bees play. Besides, who wouldn’t love to hang out with a vampire all day? Especially if he was as cute as Tony.

Since he was the assistant coach and expected to be early, we were the first ones on the field. I unloaded the cones while he hauled out the big net of balls he had stashed in his trunk. It only took a few moments to get the cones set out and the soccer balls freed and lined up for the children.

He was teaching me a few dribbling tricks with the ball when the kids started to show up. He was super good—his feet were so quick and light, by the time my feet would make it to where I’d seen the ball, it was already gone. I really didn’t want to stop, but the kids had other ideas. They were way too excited to see Tony.

As they came on the field, they raced right over and started ganging up on him, each little guy eager to be the one who stripped the ball from him. Tony laughed and ran all over the field, barely keeping the ball in front, with loads of kids chasing from behind. It was easy to see that this was a warm-up game he played with them all the time. Everyone was laughing, and some of the parents egged the kids on.

“Come on, Max! Get ’im! Get Mr. Tony.”

“Kayla! The other way! Go the other way! Look, Mr. Tony’s comin’ up behind you!”

“Go, Justin! You can do it! Get the ball from Mr. Tony!”

I decided it was my turn. “Run, Mr. Tony! Run!” I shouted loud enough to be heard over the parents’ laughter and shouts as I climbed up to sit on the bleachers.

Tony must’ve heard me because he whipped his head up and smiled the cutest smile I’d ever seen just before a little girl rammed right into him, causing him to trip over the ball and go sprawling onto the field.

Oops.

It became a mad chaos of chuckles and whoops as the kids all tackled him in one large, purple dog pile.

Tony finally emerged the winner, smiling triumphantly with the ball in his hand and children dripping from him. It was the most charming thing I’d ever seen. My heart practically burst from my chest with happiness.

Is there a more perfect guy on the planet? No way—it has to be him. Eeeh! And he’s smiling right at me.

It became all seriousness once the coach arrived and blew his whistle. The children and Tony jumped to attention immediately and jogged over to the man, who looked like he was in his early forties. Within seconds, the team was back on the field, and Tony was leading them through a series of proper warm-ups. Even that was fun to watch.

Of course, it helped that every few minutes Tony would look up from what he was doing and grin at me.

Just before the game started, it was discovered that they were short a referee, so Tony quickly volunteered. He grabbed a black referee shirt and ran across the field up to the stand where I was sitting.

“Hey, can you hold this?” he asked, not even slightly winded. He looked up at me mischievously.

I bit my lip and stared down at him.
He is so hot.
“Hold what?”

“This.”

Before I could blink, Tony leaned forward and whisked off his shirt right in front of me.
Oh!
I glanced away as he pulled the other one over his head.

“Thanks,” he replied. He flung the shirt in my lap and climbed up the side of the bleachers, giving me a swift kiss on the cheek before dashing back out to the field again.

My hand flew to my cheek, while my other one clasped the white coach uniform. I didn’t care that it was slightly damp—he’d just been wearing it! Once he made it out to the field again, he ran backward a few steps and gave me a wink and a little salute, then focused solely on the game about to begin.

There was something almost magical about that game. Even though the Bumble Bees lost, they didn’t seem upset or disappointed. In fact, every one of the little guys got a special hug and a high-five from Tony at the end. He also made it a point to exclaim in the coolest, older-brother voice I’d ever heard, “Man, you rocked! You are the best soccer player in the whole world!” Every kid heard the same thing. And they knew he told them all the same thing—they were all standing right there—but they didn’t care. They knew they were special and that Tony loved them. I could tell that was all that mattered.

I’d never seen so many happy, excited kids run home after losing a game, but it made me think,
really
think.
Just who are you, Tony Russo? How can one guy capture the hearts of so many people around him? And does your heart have room for one more?
All at once, I wanted to be a part of his life—that is, if he’d let me.

***

When I got home, Darlene announced that we’d all been invited to the Russos’ for a get-together Tuesday evening. My heart flip-flopped when she said the words. I couldn’t believe we’d been invited to Tony’s house.
His house.
Just like when Bella was invited over to Edward’s home for the first time. I couldn’t wait to see what it looked like inside.

Tuesday couldn’t come fast enough for me. When it did, I was just so darned excited that nothing could’ve stopped me from going. Nothing.

Just as I finished putting on my makeup, I got a text. I thought it might’ve been Tony because we had been texting on and off all day. I opened it and was surprised to see it was from Jaden.

hey think we should go 2 the movie 2nite. what u say?

Yeah, right. Not on your life.

sorry I have plans already :oP

Jaden was undaunted.

why dont U cancel them?

cant but thx 4 asking.

It wasn’t thirty minutes later when the wolf came to the door, holding two movie tickets. “Hi. I thought if you saw the tickets, you wouldn’t be able to say no.”

Darlene came to the door just as I answered him. “Look, Jaden, I’m sorry you bought them already, but I told you I’m going somewhere else. I can’t.”

“Wait a minute.” Darlene leaned over my shoulder and tugged the tickets out of Jaden’s hand. “Hey, this looks like a good movie. You don’t have to go to the Russos’ house if you don’t want to.”

“I want to.” My smile tightened.

“I’m sure they’d be fine if you went with Jaden. Besides, you can’t waste these.” Darlene held the tickets in front of my face.

Jaden went in for the kill. “Yeah. You don’t want me to waste them, do you?”

I would’ve smacked the smug look off his face if Darlene hadn’t been standing right there. Instead, I heaved an exasperated sigh. “Look, I know you spent money, but I did text you and say I wasn’t coming. I can’t just bail on my friends. Sorry.”

“Oh, go with Jaden, Claire. I’m sure it’ll be more fun watching a movie than hanging out with us old folks, anyway.”

“Exactly. Looks like you’re leaving with me.”

“Come on, out you go.” Darlene began to nudge me out the door. “I’ll tell the Russos what happened. I’m sure they’ll understand. And don’t worry about the Dating Ritual thingy—we already know Jaden’s a good guy.”

I could see my hopes and dreams of spending time with Tony vanish in a puff of smoke. “No. I’m not going—the Russos won’t understand. Besides, Jaden’s not as good as you think.” I dug in my heels just as he leaned in and swung one arm around my waist. I was no match for his strength. In less than a second I found myself heading toward his car as he hollered out behind him, “Thanks, Darlene. I’ll bring her back safe and sound.”

“Jaden, stop!” I pushed against him, and to my surprise, he let me go.

“What?”

“I’m not going with you.”

“But— ”

“No.” I folded my arms and glared, daring him to challenge me again.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me. You’re still mad about the other day? Seriously?”

“Yes, I am, but this has nothing to do with it. The issue here is I’ve told you repeatedly I’m going somewhere, and you still expect me to drop everything and run off with you.”

“So, what’s the big deal? It’s just a boring dinner, right? Wouldn’t you rather go see a movie?”

Why is it so hard to talk to this guy?
“It wouldn’t matter if you were taking me to Paris—I still wouldn’t miss this dinner. You know why? Because they asked me first. Period. End of discussion.”

“So, I just spent money on these tickets, and you won’t go, even though Darlene says you can?”

“Yep.”

“That’s just stupid.”

“No, standing here debating with you is stupid.” I spun around and stomped up to the house. Jaden was hot on my heels.

“Come on, Claire. You’re just being immature. I don’t know why I even bothered coming here in the first place.”

Grr.
“Neither do I!” I didn’t realize Darlene was still standing at the door until I looked up as I came toward it. She quickly scuttled out of the way. “I’m staying here,” I announced to them both, just to be clear. Once I entered, I turned and put a hand up to stop Jaden from coming in. “Thank you for inviting me. Now go find someone else to take.” I plastered a smile on my face to placate Darlene’s shocked gasp. “Look, you’re a nice guy. Just listen to what I say next time, okay?”

He rested a hand on the doorframe and shook his head like he couldn’t believe I was actually turning him down. “Fine. Whatever. I hope you have fun.” With a sneer, he pushed himself away.

I hardened my heart against the nagging self-pressure that insisted I was wrong as he walked back to his car. I was right. I
knew
I was right. It was the principle of the matter.

It was also the first time I had ever been faced with opposition, done what I wanted to do, and really stuck with it. I glanced over at Darlene. She wasn’t happy with me. Thank goodness she didn’t say anything, but by the way she was biting her lip, I knew I had gone down a few points in her book.

That hurt.

Jaden roaring the car to life and pulling out of the driveway hurt.

I don’t like people to be mad at me. I straightened my shoulders and quickly climbed the stairs to my room, reminding myself as I did that I would’ve hurt Tony more if I hadn’t stood my ground.

***

Tony Russo was most definitely a vampire. I knew it as soon as we drove down the long, winding road that led to the large, many-windowed home.

Cassidy must’ve seen the look on my face, because she grabbed my hand and whispered, “Not one word about them being vampires. Do you hear me?”

“But look at the house,” I whispered back, pointing to an almost exact replica of Edward Cullen’s home. “Oh my gosh! It even has a huge garage.” As soon as the car stopped, I jumped out of my seat and out the door.