Page 87 of The Longshot

I steady myself so that I don’t fall before hopping down to the other side and extending my hand up for him this time.

“Does this answer your question?”

He smirks down at me yet stays in place.

“What?” I mock, turning my head to the side. “Scared, Captain?”

He jumps down, clutching onto my hand before bringing it to his lips. “With you.” He kisses my palm softly. “Never.”

“And last, but certainly not least,” Gary’s voice bounces from wall to wall as he walks backward through the empty tunnel and out onto the field. “Here is my oasis!”

He’s been this theatrical with practically every room in the stadium he’s shown me so far.

“These are the offices!”

“These are the changerooms!”

“These are the bathrooms!”

I’ve never known someone to get so excited about a toilet, but now, as we reach the grass, I can tell he’s experiencing a different level of happiness.

“Though this part…” He’s back to searching for my face. “You’ve seen before.”

“Not like this.” I’m quick to refute, joining him by his side as I take in the view around me, absolutely astonished beyond belief. “This is… wow.” I can’t help but feel intimidated by the sheer number of vacant seats that surround us. “Do you ever get nervous?” I wonder.

“Not really.” He shrugs, completely nonchalant.

I shoot him a look of pure disbelief, placing my hands on either hip.

“What?” He laughs. “It’s true.”

I refuse to believe what he’s saying. “That’s crazy talk, Gary. I mean, look at this place.” I raise my hands into the air while doing a twirl. “It’s huge!”

Gary carefully follows behind me, running his hand along his bottom lip in the process. “I guess overtime I’ve grown comfortable.”

I stop in place. “Fair enough, maybe you’re not nervous anymore, but you must’ve been at some point, right? Are you even human?”

He laughs, teetering with my remark as he tucks his hands into either pocket. “Fine,” he caves. “I was nervous, once.” He takes slow steps towards me. “But funnily enough, it wasn’t during a game.”

“Oh?” I cock a brow with inquiry. “When was it then?”

He pulls both hands out of his pockets and places them onto my shoulders, turning me around so that my back rests firmly against his broad chest.

We’re like puzzle pieces fitting together.

“See that spot up there.” Gary points upwards towards the seats both Hazel and I sat in during the last game.

I gulp as his breath sends tingles down my spine. “Mhm?” I respond.

“Well…” He tucks some loose hair behind my ear, leaning in to whisper softly. “It turns out that during my last game there was this girl who was sitting there watching me…”

Goosebumps rise to my skin as he runs his calculated touch-up and down my arm, forcing me to shudder into his arms that much more

“And when I found out that that was the case…” He switches to my other ear, lips practically pressed against my cheek as he speaks this time. “Do you want to know how that made me feel, Chelsie?”

My heart pounds out of my chest. I want to fight this urge to look back at him, but the desire is too strong. I have to look at him. I have to see his face. I have to face him.

I turn around, only making him wrap his hands around my waist and not to subtly pull me in.

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