Page 5 of How We Loved

Nick waves as Trevor responds, “Yes, it’s very nice to meet you.”

“So, what are you looking for? Maybe I can help,” I ask.

“Oh, I found what I was looking for, sweetheart.”

His friend laughs out loud, and I instantly blush.

“Does that really work for you?” I ask.

“I’m hoping so.” He steps even closer to me.

“Are you from Springstown?” I ask, wondering if he’s here with the team we just beat.

He bows his head. “Yeah, even though I’m embarrassed to say so with the shellacking we just took on the field. You won’t hold that against me, will you?” He turns to Natalie. “If I remember right, number 81 had a lot to do with that.”

Natalie gives us a cheeky smile. “Yeah, sorry about that. He’s really good.”

“That he is,” he agrees. “So, how come you don’t have a number painted on your face?” he asks me.

I shrug. “It is slim pickin’s in this small town.”

“Maybe you need to venture out of town then.” He gives me a sexy grin that makes me laugh.

“You’re good.” I nod slowly.

“Good enough to get your number?”

I turn to Natalie, who tilts her head in his direction, like I should do it. “Fine, give me your phone.”

He pulls it from his pocket, swipes it on, and hands it to me. I enter my name and number, then hand it back to him. He instantly hits the Call button, and the phone in my bag rings.

“Just making sure.” He winks.

“That would have been pretty embarrassing if I had given you the wrong number,” I joke.

“Good thing you didn’t.”

We stare into each other’s eyes for a few seconds until someone else comes from around the corner.

“Trevor, Nick, we’re about to leave your asses!” someone calls out from behind Trevor.

“Hold up,” he yells over his shoulder, then turns back to me, reaching down and lightly touching my hand. “I’ll call you later.”

“Okay,” is all I can get out as I blush.

He turns to leave with his friends, and when they’re out of sight, Natalie nudges me with her shoulder.

“He was cute!”

“Who was cute?” Ben asks as he exits the locker room with Eli, Dalton, and Marcus by his side.

The two couples instantly enter their own lovestruck worlds, leaving Ben and me, as well as Susie, by ourselves. Yes, Eli is here, too, but he’s already two steps ahead of us, like usual.

“Just a guy who asked for my number,” I state as we start to walk toward the parking lot.

“What guy?” he stops to ask me, his voice sounding more fatherly than just a general question.

He looks around, searching for Trevor, but he’s already turned the corner, and we can’t see him anymore.

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