Against All Odds by Kels Barnholdt Page A

I’ll run into Tony’s and pick up the food so she doesn’t have to deal with Jeff.
    She smiles at me gratefully. “No problem dad,” she says into her speakers before clicking the off button on the Bluetooth.
    “Thank you,” she says to me.
    “No problem,” I tell her honestly.
    What do I care if Jeff wants to hit on me? Maybe he’ll be the perfect person to try out my new flirting skills on! Or my new confidence skills! Or whatever you want to call them.
    Angelina pulls up to Tony’s and parks in one of the spaces closest to the front.
    “Okay,” she says, “your goal is to get in and out as fast as you can.”
    “Got it,” I say grabbing her debit card from her.
    The second I step inside I can feel Jeff’s eyes on me. He’s standing in the back of the restaurant, but it suddenly seems like he can fly since he’s in front of me that fast.
    “Victoria,” he says, a grin spreading all over his face.
    He’s kind of short with shaggy brown hair and a nice enough face, not awful looking. His personality kind of kills it though.
    “Hi Jeff,” I say forcing a smile.
    “What brings you in here?” he asks, looking me up and down.
    Ugh. That’s the thing about Jeff. It doesn’t matter if you came in here for food.
    He always acts like you’re there just for him. Like somehow I tracked down his work schedule and came in just to see him.
    “Just picking up food,” I say casually. “I’m eating at Angelina’s tonight so…”
    Jeff nods. “I saw that her family placed an order. She didn’t want to pick it up?”
    “She’s in the car,” I say without thinking. The minute I see the look on his face I kick myself. Of course now he’ll assume that she didn’t come in because seeing him is too painful for her. Who am I kidding? No way in hell can I flirt with Jeff. He’s way too weird and creepy.
    I try to walk past him toward the register, but he puts his hand on my arm to stop me. “And how have you been Victoria?”
    I’m in too much shock to speak. This is totally forward of him. He’s never once touched me since that night at Angelina’s. I want to take this chance to flirt back, to practice being confident, but I can’t. It just feels wrong with Jeff. I don’t want his attention.
    “Little close, aren’t you?”
    Then suddenly I look up and meet Nathan’s intense blue eyes from across the room. And for the second time today he looks like he wants to kill someone.
    Jeff’s face turns from satisfaction to shock when he sees Nathan. He drops my arm and immediately backs away.
    “I was just…we were just…” Jeff stutters.
    Nathan reaches out and pulls me close to him, trying to put distance between Jeff and I.
    Jeff still can’t find his words. “She was just…”
    “She was just not interested,” Nathan replies sharply.
    Jeff backs away as Nathan switches his attention over to me.
    “Why are you scowling like that?” he asks me, taking a step closer.
    “You do realize this is the second time you’ve gotten jealous today, right?”
    He rolls his eyes. “I’m not getting jealous! I’m just looking out for you.”
    He must have just come from practice because he’s still in his workout clothes. I catch myself staring at his arms before I tear my eyes away.
    “From Jeff?” I ask, frowning. “He’s harmless.”
    “He’s also a little too touchy for my taste.”
    “Well, don’t worry. I couldn’t even flirt with him right.”
    Nathan frowns. “Your flirting is fine. He’s just an idiot.”
    “An idiot who you’re jealous of.”
    He then reaches out and ruffles my hair. “I don’t get jealous Shell.”
    “Oh you don’t?” I say cocking my head to the side. “Okay then, I’ll just go find Jeff.”
    I take a few steps away from him and he rolls his eyes, grabbing my arm and pulling me back toward him. “Okay, okay point proven.”
    I grin and cross my arms over my chest. “What are you doing here anyway?”
    “Some of the guys wanted to get food after