Page 80 of Home Game

“You don’t have to like me back,” he said as he took a step outside into the snow. “But you should know what you’re worth. With me, or your boss, or anyone else. Fucking rock it today, Emmmet. No fear.”

He pumped his fist in the air as he took off in a jog toward his house and hopped into his Bronco.

It was like a tornado had just rolled through my house. Through my heart.

I grabbed my phone and dialed Landry, barely thinking it over first.

“Emmett,” Landry answered.

I walked out into the snow, my shoes making a satisfying crunch. I opened the garage from outside and walked to the side of the Porsche.

“Landry,” I said. “I have a question.”

“Is it about Cutmore?” he asked. “Because I’m about to head into the office, too. If you think he’s going to chew you out, I can come in and be right there next to you.”

I breathed in a lungful of crisp, cold air. “Actually, I don’t think I’m worried at all about what Cutmore might say.”

“Really?” Landry asked, genuine surprise in his voice. “What’s up, Emmett?”

I cleared my throat. “Is it bad if I am falling for a formerly straight pro football player who’s the opposite of everything I am?” I asked bluntly. “That can’t possibly be a good thing, can it?”

I felt like I may as well have just run naked through the center of town. Like I was suddenly airing every private thought I’d been keeping inside.

Had I really just admitted that out loud?

Or tomyself?

But Landry’s melodic laughter came through the phone. “Oh, Emmett.”

It was so good to hear him laugh.

“Am I losing my mind?” I asked.

“Let me guess,” he said. “Did you finally charm the pants off of Storm again and you’re ready to admit you two are cute together?”

“Cutetogether?” I protested. “Are you the one who’s out of your mind?”

“I saw you two together,” Landry said. “You were at each other’s throats, but you also looked at each other like you were the center of the universe. Yes, you’re cute together.”

“I did notcharm the pants off him,” I said. “It was more like the other way around. He ended up at my house, and then it snowed, and…”

“And of course, of course, you can’t help but fall for someone on the first snowy night of the year,” Landry teased.

I breathed out a long sigh. “I’m pretty sure I could fall for Storm even if I was at the top of an active volcano. As much as the snow does turn me into a hopeless romantic. I’m pretty sure I still also want to fight him, multiple times a day, but… it’s starting to feel like even when we fight, it ends up with both of us smiling.”

“Wow. Youreallylike him.”

“Shut up. God, how is that possible?”

“It’s not just possible,” Landry said. “I think it’s the best thing you’ve told me in years.”

I sighed, sliding into the front seat of the Porsche. “This morning should be awful, for me. I should be dreading the meeting with Cutmore so badly I can barely speak. But instead I feel like I’m on a cloud.”

“AStormcloud,” Landry said.

I groaned.

“It’s a good thing you’re my best friend, because otherwise I’d slap you in the face as soon as we got in the office.”

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