Page 45 of Forever Wild

As she turns to go with a grimace that is likely supposed to be a smile, I reach out to stop her. “Oh, shit. No! I’m not a superfan. I mean, I am a fan, but I’m not a stalker or anything.” I smile. “I’m Bryn.” Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to do anything for her. Shit. Jameson has told me all about Lila and her grad school. Has he not told his family about us? I assumed he had, but I definitely don’t want to be the one to break the news.

I’m also actively trying not to think about all of the reasons that Jameson might have chosen not to tell his family about me. A few may be sneaking through my guards, though, since I’m currently thinking am I not good enough for him to tell his family about? And what if they don’t like me?

Unsure what to do, I shoot Lila an uncertain smile and say, “Well, it was nice to meet you. I really promise I’m not a stalker.” I nod and take a couple steps away, turning back to watch the men on the green.

Lila, however, does not seem to be done with our conversation. She moves closer, a quizzical look on her face. “You thought I would know who you are.”

“Uhm,” I glance back up at Jameo on the green, as if catching a glimpse of his face will make it clear what I should tell his little sister. “I met Jameson at Wild Bluffs a few weeks ago. We’v—”

“You’re BRYN!” she all but shrieks, drawing a number of stern looks from the people around us. She pulls me into a hug, her petite frame comically small against my height. “Oh my goodness! I was so sure you were a stalker, I didn’t even pay attention to what name you told me.”

I smile and hug her back awkwardly. “Yup. Not a stalker. But I wasn’t really sure what to do with you, Miss Superfan.”

Her green eyes twinkling, Jameson’s sister replies, “Oh, you’ll get used to the superfans. You think the women are going to be the awkward part, but they aren’t. It’s the men, and not the gay men, the straight men. They fawn over my brother like he’s the second coming or something. I’ve never known what to do with that level of adoration for a man who I know still wants to eat cereal for most meals.”

She nods to a guy in green who has been walking along with Jameo’s group the whole time. “That’s a man-crush for sure. I’d say there is a seventy-five percent chance Jameo is his favorite athlete, not just golfer.”

I watch the man in green as we all follow along with the golfers to hole fourteen. He does seem to be a superfan, but then again, I thought Lila was a superfan two minutes ago too.

“Wait.” I stop and look at her. “Why aren’t you in school? It’s Thursday.”

She rolls her eyes and then starts walking again. “Why aren’t you at work?”

“Uhm, I’m playing hooky from the last day of a tech conference.”

“I’m playing hooky from the last day of classes this week.”

As it would be very hypocritical of me to say anything else about her presence, I opt to turn my attention back to the golf. When Jameson birdies the next hole, Lila starts her obnoxiously loud clapping again.

I grab at her hands. “Lila, what are you doing? Shut the fuck up,” I hiss.

But it’s too late. Jameson hears her and, as if he knows it is his sister, his eyes find hers, his smile slowly spreading across his face.

Lila tips her head toward me. “It’s my way of letting him know I’m here,” she says. Jameson follows her movement, and after a momentary look of confusion, his eyes widen in surprise and recognition. As he turns to walk toward the next hole, I see the pleased grin he tries to hide from me and the rest of the crowd.

***

“I’m supposed to be here!” I joke. “You’re the one who showed up unannounced in a completely different state!”

Lila and I are in the lobby of Jameson’s hotel, both of us sipping on our third Coors Light of the afternoon. We’ve been here for the last hour, waiting for Jameson to get done with all the post-round nonsense that he has to get through—the interviews, a call with his swing coach, changing, getting pounded by the hot water of his shower as he…

I jerk my head back to Lila—the sister of the guy I was just picturing taking a hot, steamy shower. Why did I not decide to share a hotel with him on this trip?

“What?” I ask, clearly having zoned out there for a minute.

Lila’s easygoing laugh is so much like Jameson’s that it’s a bit disconcerting at first.

“I said, my last class for the week ended early this morning. Then I basically sprinted through the entire airport to make my flight. I knew my parents weren’t able to make it out for the beginning of Jameo’s tournament, and I didn’t want him to feel like he was alone. If I had known you were going to be here…”

“You what? Wouldn’t have decided to come to Vegas for a weekend?”

She smirks. “Hell no. I would’ve skipped my class this morning so there would’ve been no doubt that I was going to make it.”

I laugh and take a drink of my beer.

Lila stares at me for a moment before saying, “He’s a good guy, you know.”

“Who? Jameo?”

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