Page 85 of Dangerous Play

“I know who you are too.” He flashed me a half smile, and I almost fainted. He knew my name? “Sky won’t shut up about you, and I have to hand it to him—you have some sick footwork when you actually focus.”

“Yeah... thank you.” I ran my fingers through my hair and gave a shy smile. Was he actually complimenting me? “I don’t usually get distracted, but I got a bit caught up in some stupid shit. It was the first and only time, sincerely. I usually take this very seriously.”

Aiden hummed, looking over me. “I sure hope you do. It was great to see you play live finally. You’ve got good technique, and I’m impressed with your speed as well.”

I grinned at him like an idiot. Sure, sounded like he was complimenting me.

“You run for fun, I presume?”

“Yes, sir.” I nodded with a stupid grin. “My girlfriend loves long runs, and we run together.”

As soon as the words left me, I realized I forgot to use the past tense, and it was too late to take them back.

Shit.

“You have a girlfriend?” Aiden arched his brow, and I shook my head.

“Ex-girlfriend, actually. The whole fake dating fiasco that ESPN loved reporting?” I sighed as I dug myself into a deeper hole.

A ghost of a smile hinted at Aiden’s lips. “I presume that was the pressing matter you and your teammate were discussing in the middle of the game?”

I blew out a long breath and chuckled. “Yeah... not my finest moment, but I looked up, and she wasn’t there, and I don’t know why I was expecting her to be there. Well, clearly because I love her... but you know... I should probably shut up.”

Aiden let out a low laugh. “Oh, to be young and in love.”

“Yeah, not so great,” I shook my head.

“Come on, Grandpa, have you seen the size of this?” Eric shouted, and I almost choked on air.

Did he say Grandpa? I sure as hell heard that.

Looking back, Maddox and Dex both looked equally horrified as we all glanced back at the soccer legend in front of us.

“Listen, it was really great to meet you,” he said, nodding to me, unfazed by the Grandpa part. “I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

“Thank you for coming,” I nodded back with a wide grin. “It was amazing to meet you in person.”

Aiden clamped my shoulder as he passed me and stood next to Eric to take a look at the trophy before congratulating my very starstruck team.

“Gosh, he is hot,” Rosie gaped after him. “Blonde hair, incredibly blue eyes... I don’t care how old he is, I love him.”

“I literally look the same,” Dex commented, his voice offended. “You don’t say that about me!”

I laughed at his disappointed puppy face, but my happiness was short-lived as he threw my phone back at me.

“Asshole,” I muttered as I caught it at the last minute before it hit the pavement and swiped, checking my messaging thread with Ivy.

Missed you at the game today, Blossom. I wished you were there.

“The words you are searching for are ‘thank you,’” Dex corrected me with a grin. “Now, wait for the magic to happen.”

I stared at the chat for several minutes, where there were no dots, nothing appearing at all, before I pocketed the device and rejoined the conversation.

“Since we’re not driving back today, I vote we get drunk,” I announced to my friends.

The season was over. My National Team career was over. I could be just Max until next August and not worry about soccer and my image anymore.

“Look at this—Max is learning to let go of things he can’t control,” Nova jumped on my back as I headed toward the parking lot and our cars.

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