Just a Little Hope

by Amy J. Norris

  Sebastian lifted his hand to his chin and nodded his head, but beyond that she got no reaction. Pax began to wonder if he could speak at all. She’d seen him, on occasion, give the token interview after a game, but that wasn’t like carrying on an actual conversation.

  Pax furrowed her brow as she tried to figure out just what his problem was. Maybe she was boring him to tears? Was this his standard behavior? If so, his looks must be what attracted others to him, because as far as Pax could tell, his conversation skills were clearly lacking. They were going to have their work cut out for them. How did you take a great-looking guy with the personality of milk toast, and make him appealing?

  She laughed to herself. Milk toast. Ha! In this town, no matter his past indiscretions, his name alone would draw the crowds, but Pax still wasn’t sure she wanted someone with his playboy status affiliated with a charity she loved so much.

  As the meeting progressed, Seb rarely seemed to take his eyes off her face. Flummoxed, Pax tried to not squirm in her seat under his intense scrutiny. Only on rare occasions would she glance in his direction and find his eyes focused elsewhere around the office.

  Jim’s gaze met hers. “I know LLS has been looking to get more notoriety. I also know you didn’t have to take this situation on, but I can assure you, Seb will do everything you want and more. Won’t you Seb?”

  Sebastian cut his eyes to Jim, but didn’t say a word.

  Jim sighed. “Thanks again for your time and willingness to work with his hectic schedule, Ms. Taylor. It does not go unappreciated.”

  Jim stood from the table and slipped his coat on. Seb remained quiet as he continued to look at her like some sort of abstract art work he didn’t understand. After an awkward few seconds, he stood, and they walked out toward the lobby.

  Pax wondered if she had something stuck between her teeth and resisted the urge to come right out and ask him. His behavior confused her to no end. Her first impression of Sebastian as a jock with an attitude hadn’t changed in the past thirty minutes. In fact, it might have intensified. Oh well, she didn’t have a lot of choice in the matter. Pax could deal with his odd behavior. She hoped.

  Shaking hands with Jim then Seb, she wished them both a good day. Pax watched until the doors of the lobby were closed before turning to Tori, a small smile on her face. “Well, I think it went well.” Pax let out a deep sigh.

  Tori grinned. “No matter the circumstances, it was worth getting an up close and personal look at him. Isn’t he dreamy?”

  Pax rolled her eyes. “I’ll give you dreamy, but he’s also kind of strange. We sat through the entire meeting, and he never said one word. I mean he didn’t say ‘yes’, ’no’, ’booya’ or ’you and your charity are crazy loons.’ It was a bit unsettling, actually.”

  Pax continued to watch the men through the front office window as they spoke to each other in the parking lot before quickly turning to face Tori. “By the way, do you notice anything in my teeth?”

  “What? I don’t see anything. You’re just being paranoid.”

  As Pax retraced her steps to her office, she told Tori, “Well, I think his agent makes the decisions in all he does, so satisfying his questions seemed to be most important. I think I accomplished that, at least.”

  With a sigh of relief she sat behind her desk. She should go and give Michael an account of the meeting, but she needed a few moments to go over things in her mind first. Yes… she felt good about how the discussion had gone with Mr. Thompson. He seemed pleased with everything presented.

  Pax grabbed her water bottle off the desk and started to head over to Michael’s office when her phone rang. She leaned over the desk and grabbed the handset putting it to her ear.

  “Yes, Tori?”

  “Um, Pax… Mr. Quinn would like to know if he could have a minute with you in your office?”

  “Sebastian Quinn?” Pax’s heart rate rose with every syllable.

  “Yes ma’am. Can I send him back to your office?”

  “Um…Of course send him on back.”

  She placed the phone back in the cradle and sat down in shock. What could have happened in the last two minutes that would have caused him to want to speak with her?

  A few seconds later, she heard a light tap on the door. She looked up to see Sebastian standing in her doorway with his hands shoved in his pockets and a sheepish smile on his face. A stark difference from the imposing presence Pax noticed earlier.

  “I, uh…hate to bother you. But I was wondering if I could speak to you a minute?”

  Pax put what she hoped was a bright smile on her face. Her thoughts were spinning in twenty different directions.

  “Sure. What can I do for you, Mr. Quinn? Did you have some more questions?”

  More questions? This would be his first question, the first instance of opening his mouth.

  “Please, call me Seb. I, uh, I didn’t have a question about the presentation. I, well, I’m curious if perhaps you might like to go and get a drink sometime?”

  Pax worked hard not let her mouth fall open. Did she just hear him right? Sebastian Quinn was asking her out on a date?