Page 49 of Second Down Fake

Cassandra suppressed a grin. “Oh, okay. Then it’s a surprise. When he asks if you want dessert tonight, surprise! You already had it and you learned something new to say to mean people.”

“Dad!” Mila shouted, jetting off as Rob walked into the room.

“Should I sneak out before she spills?” Cassandra asked, ribbing me as she slid closer.

I wrapped an arm around her waist, almost subconsciously searching for a way to get her closer. Her eyes slanted up at me, but she didn’t move away. “I don’t know. How much ice cream did you feed her?”

“She dropped her first one…well, the cone anyway, so I had to buy a second.”

“Oh, yeah, we should definitely split. Grant’s gonna have a fit.”

“Bye Mila, thanks for hanging out with me!” Cassandra waved as I guided her to the door. “Bye, Lena!”

“So, what’d you think?” I asked as we emerged into the back entrance to the Breakers’ office building and into the team parking deck.

On a weekday, I could identify every single car in the lot, but on game days, anyone with a tag took advantage of the security-controlled parking and the entrance away from the stadium parking lots. I guided her to my car.

“The tailgate was a blast. The game was interesting.” She drug out the last word with a grin. I opened the passenger door, and she paused, squaring up with me from the other side. “So, real talk. How mad were you when you saw my jersey?”

“Pretty pissed,” I admitted. “You made Trent very happy, though.”

“Until you stopped throwing him the ball?” She quirked up an eyebrow, and my gaze slid down to her lips.

“I was just breaking in some new receivers.”

I’d get an earful tomorrow from Coach Simmons and the receivers’ coach about boxing Trent out of any passes. But Trent would get over it. Eventually.

“He didn’t have anything to do with my jersey.”

Relief mixed with exasperation. “Please tell me you didn’t buy his jersey.”

“Maybe I found it in Becca’s stuff.” Cassandra winked.

“Liar. Becca would never.” I rounded the car. “And you know I can’t strip for you every game, you know.”

She frowned, scrunching up her nose. “Sad. The other fans really liked it.”

“I bet they did,” I mumbled as I slipped into the car. Cassandra already had the console open, Sour Patch Kids on her lap. “I’m taking you back to my place so you’ll eat something besides all the candy in my car.”

“I have food at my place.”

“And I can give you a couple of jerseys. My jerseys.”

“You keep a stock of jerseys at your house? Did I not get the complete tour? Is there a Diego Salazar museum that I missed? Complete with a gift shop?”

“My assistant keeps some merchandise in the spare bedroom for me to sign and send to fans, thank you.”

“Your memorabilia is in the sex spare bedroom? That’s pretty warped, Diego.”

I rolled my eyes and started the car. “If you’re going to be difficult, I’ll just drop you off at home and you can wash that one to wear for the next game. No video games for you.”

The edge of her lips pulled up. “Alright, take me back to your place, then.”

SIXTEEN

CASSANDRA

The tinny upbeat notes of a battle blared. I sat cross-legged on Diego’s couch with him beside me.

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