Page 100 of The Fake Out

Pop nodded and then blew out a breath. “I’m going to overstep, but she’s my girl, so I have to.”

I turned to him, confusion whirling inside me as I worked to process his statement.

His brown eye cut into me, sharper than I usually saw from the laid-back man. “I didn’t fall off the turnip truck yesterday. I can see there is something going on between you and my daughter.” He sighed. “So I’m asking, what’s your plan there?”

My heart hiccupped. That was the question I asked myself every day. The one I had no good answer for.

I shrugged. “She’s got a life in New York.” Like a magnet pulling me in, Gi caught my attention, and there was no way I could look away as she hugged her friends. “And God knows where I’ll be next year.”

“Won’t that always be the case for you? The unknown of professional sports?”

I nodded.

“You’ve liked her for a long time.”

I could lie to a lot of people, but not to her father. “Years.” I swallowed.

“And you’re worried about how Chris would feel.”

A dip of my chin. Of course I was. Thank fuck Chris paid so little attention to anything that didn’t involve Avery. It had made it relatively easy to hide my feelings for Gianna all these years. But when he figured it out, he’d lose his shit.

“Well, when the dumbass freaks out”—Pop patted my shoulder—“tell him I approve.”

My heart lurched, and my breath escaped me. The shock that hit me was enough to finally pull me away from watching Gi.

He lifted his chin in his daughter’s direction. “See that smile?”

I did. I drank in that expression as often as I could. Gi wasn’t quick to offer it, and she didn’t laugh a whole lot, so when she did, I damn well noticed. Because when she smiled at me, my day got better.

“I’ve seen that smile a lot more often lately. And you’re a lot of the reason. So as long as you make my girl happy, then we’re good.” With a pat to my shoulder, he sighed. “You’re a good man, and you have a huge heart, Emerson. And the way you look at her.” He shook his head. “Damn. I don’t see how my son hasn’t noticed. But when he does?” Turning to face me, he held out a hand. “Remember, tell him you have my blessing.”

My throat felt thick, and I swallowed hard as I slipped my hand in his. “Thanks.”

“Pop, you coming?” Chris called from the door.

They flagged Avery down and headed out. Not long after, I found myself headed home too, with the scent of orange blossoms filing the air.

“You have a good night?” I reached across the armrest and set my hand on her thigh, finally able to touch her.

“The best.” She smiled.

“Good.”

We made our way up into the apartment, but Gi seemed anxious. Not really nervous, but somehow on edge. Multiple times, she reached for her hair to twirl it, and she shifted constantly, which was normally my thing, not hers. It felt vaguely familiar, but I wasn’t sure when she’d been this kind of twitchy.

“You okay?” I asked when my apartment door shut behind us.

She nodded. “I just… have something for you. Or something I think you’ll like.”

In a flash, it came back, her in the kitchen, shifting on her feet, in my jersey. Unsure of how I’d feel about it. She had no reason to be nervous then or now.

I reached out and pulled her tight against me, the black fabric of her dress scratching against my navy suit. She needed to feel my affection, as well as hear it. “Anything that involves you, I know I like.”

She pulled back slowly, looking up at me with a small smile that felt a lot bigger in my chest than on her face. She released all but my hand and guided me toward the area of our living room that had become her studio.

“So.” She released me and reached for a brown box. “Not long ago, you mentioned painting yourself blue.” She lifted the flaps of the brown box and pulled out a pack of paint.

Body paint.

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