Page 16 of Chasing Football Dreams

“I think if you came in two minutes later, he might have or I might have,”

His furrowed eyes followed me as I gathered my belongings and walked out from behind the counter. “Is he dangerous?”

“No, he is just some Gigolo who by the looks has the hots for me,” I hated that Duncan is observant and that I was blind to it.

Xander smiled. “Oh, is thathim,”

I wasn’t even surprised that Duncan told him. They were like brothers after all.

Xander followed me with his laid-back strides out of the diner and came to a halt on the sidewalk when Duncan’s Merc SUV pulled up. My tummy broke out in thousands of butterflies when he climbed out and reminded me why I’d fallen so hard in love with him. His confidence and big strides should be almost intimidating for any man who dares come too close to me.

Xander shook his hand and Duncan removed his sunglasses, placing them on my head before finding my lips.

“Thanks for getting Zoey,” He thanked Xander, completely unaware of making my hormones skyrocket.

“Yeah, I was around and it seems like she is tough enough to take care of herself,” He said with a wink that caught Duncan’s attention.

By now I was already running over to his SUV and getting in the passenger seat, not wanting to repeat what happened two minutes ago.

He followed with Xander following.

Duncan said nothing as he slipped into his seat with Xander sitting in the back. I wanted to hand him back his sunglasses but instead, he wrapped his hand around mine and rested our interlaced hands on his lap.

I looked out the window to hide my blush and let them talk about the upcoming games and how Ivy was improving. Duncan dropped Xander off at his parent’s house on our way over to his house.

“Why haven’t you told them about your place?” I asked.

“I have,”

“Then why only invite me over?”

“Because I want to spend time with you and they will be over at my place tomorrow night,”

I hopped out when we arrived at his place and followed him inside. The place was starting to look like a home with the new furniture he got and I was almost tempted to stretch out on his new couches.

My feet halted when I entered the kitchen and found a wrapped box on the counter. “What’s this?” I asked.

“Your birthday present,”

I looked at him. “But you already got me the jacket,” I reminded him.

He shrugged. “I only received this earlier today,”

“Is that why you had to leave?”

He nodded and gestured for me to open.

I pulled the wrapping off and opened the box to find the first edition copy of Pride and Prejudice. “Duncan? How in the hell did you get this?” I was almost too scared to pick it up—afraid I would ruin it.

“My mother knows some people and I got her to make a few calls,”

“Duncan, you really don’t have to do all of this for me,” I was barely able to save up some cash for his upcoming birthday and here he was spoiling me.

“You deserve everything and I can give it to you,” He laid his hands on my shoulder, planting a kiss on my head. “There is one more thing,” He held a smaller box out to me.

“It’s a phone,” I noted.

“I know you are comfortable with your old phone but I would be more at peace to know that I will be able to know where you are if something must happen,”

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