Page 73 of Floored

Lewis: It would mean a lot.

I dropped my head back and let out a slow breath. That moment right there was when I should've canceled all of it.

Should've called Lia to reschedule meeting her sister until the next day.

Should've told Lewis to sod off because I was in a horrid mood.

But that useless feeling would've only intensified, and I knew it. The only thing worthwhile I'd done in the past few months was Lia. Just that one thing.

I took a deep breath, smoothed a hand down my weary, old, slow face, and turned the corner where I knew the two women would be waiting for me.

They were leaning up against the wall taking selfies of the Tottenham logo in the background, and I took a moment to study them. Lia's sister was taller than her with sharper cheekbones and a sharper jawline. Her hair was darker, and when she smiled, it didn't spread as widely as Lia's. But the similarities were stunning, and I could only imagine what the four sisters must look like all together.

Isabel saw me first, and the look she gave me reminded me of a flock guard dog that my parents used to have. In one split second, she assessed me with unguarded caginess. Are you a friend or a foe? That was what I saw in her eyes, with her arm around her younger sister.

Lia looked over, and the brilliant smile on her face swept away just a bit of my awful day.

"Hi," she said. "Rough game. I'm sorry."

If Isabel hadn't been there, I would've wrapped my arms around her to take whatever comfort she may have given me, but I couldn't shake the feeling that like the guard dog on my parents farm, she'd rip my arm off if I made the wrong move.

I attempted a smile. "Can't win them all, right?" Lia gave me a curious look, then slipped her arm around my waist. I sighed, kissing the top of her head. I'd missed her smell, missed the feel of her next to me over the past couple of weeks. My hand found her belly. "My how you've grown."

She pinched my side. "Thanks for pointing it out." She turned, gesturing behind her. "This is my sister, Isabel. Isabel, this is Jude McAllister."

I held out my hand, which she shook firmly. "Welcome to England, Isabel. I'm sorry we couldn't have given you a better match today."

Her smile was small, but her eyes had lost that initial wariness. "Can't win them all, like you said. Besides, it was a good match for the Spurs fans, right?"

I rubbed the spot on my chest over my heart. "I hope you're not describing yourself. I can't take it."

She laughed. "No. I'm a fan of sports, honestly. Any time I can see someone compete doing something they love, that's what I'm a fan of."

"A testament to your upbringing, no doubt. Unsurprising that you'd elevate the athlete over the team."

Isabel hummed, sharing a look with her sister. "Athletes are just normal people …"

"Who do abnormal jobs," finished Lia.

I raised an eyebrow.

Lia grinned. "Something drilled into our heads growing up so we didn't place athletes on a pedestal. Because when they mess up, and they will, you know they have bad days just like the rest of the world."

"Very smart," I said. "I know I said you could plan dinner wherever you wanted after this, but do you mind terribly if we stop by Lewis's pub after we leave? He asked if we would. Said he had something for us."

"Of course, we don't mind." Lia took my hand as we started walking, explaining who Lewis was to her sister.

"We're all going to be one big happy family now, right?" Isabel asked. "Might as well meet him now."

My head snapped in her direction because I couldn't tell if she was being serious or if she was baiting me. But from the look on her face, she meant it, which meant Lia probably hadn't told her about our stop at my parents' farm.

“You don’t need to ride with the team back to the hotel?” Lia asked.

I shook my head. “Cleared it with my manager because of Isabel visiting.”

She smiled widely, and after my day, it was one small, sweet relief that I could still do that.

"Did you take the Tube out here?" I asked, holding the door open for them as we made our way to get a black taxi. Lia nodded. "Wasn't too bad."

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