Chapter 7

An hour after being shoved into Randy's pool A.J. stood out front of his house, waving off her sister and John as they blasted music and got pumped for the baseball game. Jessie was wearing John's hat, his usual camouflage Red Sox hat and waving a foam number 1 hand at her. Randy was still shuffling around inside the house looking for his keys as they drove away.

"Okay, I found them. Almost threw them out actually," he muttered, closing the front door behind him.

A.J. smiled, her eyes studying his physique. He was in a black t-shirt with a strange faded design on it and jeans. He looked good in it so she did not complain. A.J. had changed out of her wet clothes and was now wearing a black camisole and camouflage capris. She was too lazy to wear anything too glamorous so instead of high-heeled boots she wore her favorite black Etnies.

"Are we ready now?" she asked, a hint of laughter in her voice as Randy checked his pockets. "Do you have everything: Keys, wallet, date?"

"Very funny," he smirked over his shoulder and they climbed into his car.

Randy pulled out and they headed to a local Italian restaurant for dinner. A.J. glanced around the place with interest as they were seated and Randy watched her with a smile. Her turquoise gaze fell on him and she blushed when their eyes met. She instead dropped her gaze to her napkin shyly.

"So, what do you think?" Randy asked when he saw her gaze shift away from him again.

She was still embarrassed to look at him but she snuck a glance every few seconds, "It's nice, I like it. It's just a question of, how's the food?"

Randy laughed and glanced down at him menu trying to decide what he wanted. Their waiter presented them with a bottle of red wine and two glasses. She thanked him politely and ordered a water while Randy put in their main course orders.

As the waiter walked away he turned his attention back to A.J. and this time she gazed determinedly back at him, her cheeks still a soft pink as she blushed.

"Something's been bugging me about you and I haven't been able to ask you in person," Randy started, getting A.J.'s curiosity. "You mentioned something about your father when I was at your place, but you said with a pained expression, is there something about your father that you regret?"

A.J. was surprised by the question. She blinked, not knowing what to say. Randy's blue eyes bore into hers as she tried to find a way out of answering his question. He noticed a shadow pass over her face and she sighed.

"I-I do r-remember that conversation. I had mention that my father d-drank," she stuttered.

Randy nodded and she bowed her head, talking to the table as she fought back the memories of her childhood before Jessie. Randy watched her as she hid her face behind her bangs. He could see her fighting desperately for words and he suddenly felt guilty.

"I'm sorry, A.J., I shouldn't have asked. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," he whispered softly, taking her hand in his.

A.J. swallowed hard, her eyes moving back to Randy's face. He could see them swimming with painful tears and instantly knew something had definitely been wrong and he was determined to find out.

"I- I just don't think I can talk about that," she muttered, looking guilty. "I'm sorry."

Randy nodded and leaned forward, cupping her cheek in his hand, "Hey, you have nothing to be sorry for, A.J. It was my stupid mistake. I should be apologizing, not you."

She bit her lip and shrugged and the waiter returned with A.J.'s water. She thanked him with a wavering voice before taking a sip to calm her nerves.

Randy avoided the subject of A.J.'s family for the rest of the night. After dinner they went to a late movie and then headed back to Randy's house for the night. A.J. had brightened considerably since dinner. Her mood was light and carefree by the time they left the movie. When they walked in the house she was laughing at a joke Randy had just cracked.

John and Jessie were watching Friday Night Lights in the living room when the two got home and the younger girl bounded into the foyer when the front door open.

"Hey, how was the date? Did you have fun?" she asked excitedly.

Her sister nodded, still laughing and she slipped off her Etnies and followed her sister into the living room. John looked up when she walked in and smiled.

"Good evening, A.J. It looks like you and Mr. Legend Killer had a good time."

"Hi John," she waved and sat down next to her sister. "How was the game?"

"It was so much fun!" Jessie started excitedly before John even opened his mouth. "We played in the arcade and ate cotton candy and almost a dozen hotdogs, I ate more. And I got to run the bases at the end and John bought me a jersey and I got a matching hat and everything!"

A.J. nodded, looking taken aback by her sister's enthusiasm. She glanced at John, who was shaking his head at Jessie and smiled.

"Well, thank you for occupying my sister's time while I was gone, John. She's not normally the sports fan. That's usually me."

John looked interested and Randy sat down next to A.J. He draped his arm around her shoulders and she had to fight a smile.

"What sports are you in to?" John asked curiously. "You're from Philly, right?"

"Yep, and I'm a hardcore Eagles fan. Not so much the Phillies lately, they're not doing very well…and haven't been. Although hockey is nothing compared to football I'll sit though a game every once in a while. But Mainly I'm a huge football fan."

John looked impressed, "Then I'm assuming you despise the Patriots, considering they beat the Eagles at the Super Bowl."

"Actually, I think the Pats are a great team. I don't hold grudges like most fans. The only team I absolutely despise is the Cowboys, but that rivalry goes way back." A.J. shrugged and John look more interested than ever.

"Have you been to an Eagles game before?" he asked and was surprised when A.J. nodded.

"Three, I get great deals from working at McFadden's…and dating a few of the players," she added quietly.

"You dated Eagles players?" Randy asked, looking dumbfounded.

"Yes…" she looked guiltily at her hands. "I was never with any of them for more than at month, they both decided they were too good for me and ended up ditching me for a cheerleader," she shrugged. She knew the next question before Randy even asked it and added, "I dated Jason Short, the third string Line Backer and, when he was still in Philly, A.J. Feeley the third string Quarterback."

John looked impressed and Randy piped up before he could ask another question. "But you said you've been single for ages, how long ago did you date those two?'

"Well, I dated A.J. when he first started becoming popular with the women after Donovan went out with… I think it was a broken thumb or something and he played in place of Detmer after he dislocated his shoulder. That was like two or three years ago. I dated Jason for not even a month two years ago when they went to the Super Bowl. He got me a spot on the field with the team for the Championship game. But we broke up just before the Super Bowl so I didn't get lucky enough to go."

Randy nodded, satisfied that A.J. had been single for over a year before he came along and kept silent, his eyes on the screen as Lucas Black and Garrett Headlund ran across it. A.J. took his silence to be a satisfied one and glanced at Jessie, who was secretly staring at John with loving admiration. She smiled and leaned down to whisper in her sister's ear.

"He's too old for you, Jess. You're twelve, he's twenty nine, no chance," she grinned and Jessie jumped, glaring at her.

"I know! It's so not fair! Why do you have to be the oldest!" she pouted and A.J. laughed.

John turned his gaze away from the movie to look at Jessie curiously. She turned scarlet and stared determinedly at the TV screen, making A.J. laugh even more.

"What's wrong with her?" he asked as Jessie stared with pure determination at the screen, her cheek almost glowing she was so red.

"She's just upset that she's not old enough for you. She's been complaining about being so young for a while," A.J. grinned, her turquoise gaze on her sister.

John laughed and pulled Jessie into his arms so that she was sitting on his lap. He kissed her on the cheek and squeezed her, trying to make her laugh. When she finally cracked a hard fought smile he let her go and she ran from the room.

Randy shook his head at their antics and A.J. cuddled closer to him, resting her head on his chest as she watched the movie. She fell asleep soon after and John figured it was time to take his leave.

"Well, I'll see you in a few days, Rand. I'm just gonna go say goodbye to Jessie," he muttered, careful to not wake up A.J.

Randy nodded and John crept form the room. When Randy heard the front door close and John's car pull out of the driveway he picked A.J. up into his arms and carried her upstairs to her room. He was hesitant to change her into pajamas so he pulled back the covers of the bed and placed her in it fully clothed. She sighed peacefully, her face relaxed as he tucked her under the covers.

"Goodnight, A.J. sleep well," he muttered, kissing her gently and getting up to leave the room.

A warm hand closed around his wrist and he stopped. He turned to see A.J. gripping his wrist, her turquoise eyes almost glowing in the dark of the room. For a moment he was a bit nervous at the sight of her eyes in the dark but shrugged it off and moved back to the bed, sitting down on the edge of it.

"What is it?" he asked quietly and she sat up on her elbows next to him.

"Thank you," she whispered her voice a low purr. "I had a lot of fun tonight, Randy."

He smiled and she let go of his wrist, moving her hand to his cheek, pulling him down to her. She smiled before kissing him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Randy leaned into her kiss, deepening it as she pulled him closer. He wrapped his arms around her middle, pulling her into his chest and she pulled away, her breath coming in short gasps.

"What's wrong?" he asked huskily, his eyes locked with hers in the pressing darkness.

"Nothing, just a little short of breath is all," she shrugged.

Randy chuckled and kissed her again, this time ending it quickly, he knew he was pressing his luck with her so soon. He whispered another goodnight and she rolled onto her side away from him, her breath slowing as she fell asleep. Randy inched quietly to the door and closed it behind him, making his way to his own room to turn in for the night.