Page 65 of The Love You Win

“I can neither confirm nor deny,” I say. But I’m not fooling anyone. My cheeks hurt from smiling so wide, and I know they’ve got to be bright red.

“Riiiight,” LaTonya says. “And why is half of his team requesting to follow you now?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he was talking about me at practice today? I’ve hung out with three of them a couple times now, but I only briefly met the rest.” I can’t deny I’m curious to know what prompted this influx of requests from them.

As if thinking about it summons him, a text from Maddox flashes across my screen.

“Is that him?”

I nod, unlocking my phone.

Maddox

I made the mistake of showing photos from our date to the guys. They asked if you’d posted them on your Instagram account, and Griff saw your username when I tried to pull it up. It set off a chain reaction with half the team wanting to follow you. They all think you’re cool, but they can be a lot. Sorry.

LaTonya not so subtly reads his text over my shoulder. “Well, that’s adorable.”

Laughing, I hold the phone to my chest. Because yeah, this text was adorable, but he’s sent me some racy ones since giving me three orgasms in one night. And I don’t need anyone else seeing a text like that.

My coworker chuckles. “Sorry. I’m being nosey. I’m going to unpack some boxes in my classroom. But I want to hear more about this.” She gives me a little wave and a waggle of her eyebrows, and then I’m alone in my classroom. Just me, boxes of supplies, and my thundering heart.

Me

Don’t be sorry. I think it’s cute.

Maddox

I think you’re cute.

Charmer

So why didn’t you post any of the photos? I’m sure it would make your ex jealous.

My mind flashes back to seeing Alex’s best friend, Jackson, at the charity dinner and all the uncomfortable feelings his appearance dredged up. Would posting romantic photos with Maddox make Alex jealous? Maybe. But I don’t want to post something so meaningful for Alex’s benefit. I realize I don’t give a rat’s ass about what Alex thinks of me. Or if he thinks of me at all. Truthfully, I think what I’ve actually been mourning these past five months is the life I thought I’d have and the dreams I built up when we were first together. Not the man himself. Because he’s an ass.

Me

I don’t want to make Alex jealous anymore.

Three little dots appear, disappear, and then pop back up a few seconds later.

Maddox

Oh. I see.

Panic arcs through me like lightning. I reread my text and realize Maddox has probably misunderstood what I mean.

Me

I don’t want to make Alex jealous because I don’t give a crap about Alex. See, I’ve gone out on a date with this really great guy, and I don’t know where it’s going, but he seems to have made me forget all about my ex.

Maddox

Is that so, Short-Stack?

Yep. And I wanted to post the photos, but I wasn’t sure if this guy would be okay with that, and I was too chicken to ask him.

Well, unless the guy is a total idiot, he’d want to show the world that he spent an amazing evening with the most beautiful woman on the planet.

---