Page 84 of The Night We Met

“Oh this old thing…?”

I’m rewarded with his signature smirk. Yep! It’s still panty-dropping worthy.

“Get together you two,” Sarah instructs us.

Mason wraps his arm around my shoulders as I wrap my arms around his waist and lean my head on his chest.

“Oh that’s being framed,” All the girls announce.

When the girls swipe through the picture, Mason leans down to kiss my cheek. “I’ll see you after the game, yeah?”

I nod, because I don’t trust my voice at the moment.

“Bye, ladies.”

“Bye, Mason.”

I’m still looking at him running back to the field because his butt in those shorts is something else.

“Earth to Kamryn.”

I blink a couple times and look over at the girls that have matching grins. My face burns hot at having been caught looking at Mason’s butt.

“Let’s go and get some food.”

“Touchdown baby!” Sarah hoots from our seats. My best friend knows how to garner attention.

Mason hooked us up with the swanky seats in the stadium. He tried convincing me to sit in a box, but I wanted the feel of the crowd. It’s the third quarter with five minutes left on the play clock. Mason has done really well for his first game with a new team. He meshes with his offensive line like a well-oiled machine, he’s calm under pressure, and he looks healthy. He and I both know that being a professional athlete, in a high-contact sport like football, an athlete's shelf-life is only so long. That’s if they can stay healthy for the entirety of their career.

The game flies by with very only a few timeouts pausing the speed of the game. Before I know it, the game is over and Mason and the boys won. If that’s not a great sign for how the rest of the season should go, I’m not sure what other sign anyone would need. I heard some veteran fans complaining about Mason’s ability to last the five years his contract is good for. It took everything in me to defend him. But his game defended himself.

While following the crowd out of the stands and veering off to the side entrance to the locker rooms, I get a text from Mason that he and some of the guys are headed out to a bar. I slow my steps as I respond to him.

“Hey do you guys wanna meet Mason and some of the guys at a bar? He said we could go home, shower to get ready, and then meet them.” I watch as the bubbles pop up signaling him typing.

“Hang out with pro football players? Is the sky blue? YES, I will come!” Sarah says. “Hopefully.” She’s the most boy-crazy and painfully single one of all of us.

Emily and Jax shrug their shoulders, and Jax answers for the both of them. “Why not?!”

Me: Yeah, we’re in. We’re gonna head back to my place to get ready and then we’ll meet y’all.

Mason: Okay. We’re going to Shooters. So whenever you’re ready, we’ll be there.

Me: Okay. See you soon.

I forgot how bad football traffic is. Which is why I’m glad my house is within walking distance of the stadium. It’s a tiring walk, but at least we’ll walk off some of this food and beer. Once we get to my house, I’m in drill sergeant mode.

“Chop chop ladies! One of you takes the shower upstairs and one of you takes the shower downstairs.”

“Ma’am yes ma’am!” They all stand at attention.

“Get out of my face!” I say this with their sarcastic remarks.

Those girls are something else. Lucy pushes my hand for some attention. “I know my sweet girl. Let’s go potty.”

I let Lucy into the backyard and head up to my room to figure out what to wear. My default is a black outfit. But I’m in the mood to shake it up. Walking into my closet I find a dress from one of my first launches. It’s a mini dress with cap sleeves and a cinched bodice. I’m still cheating a bit with the black, white, and pink flower design of the dress. But it’s casual enough for a bar, but not too casual that it makes me look younger than I should. I heft out my Doc Martens and place them by my bed along with my dress. I’ll figure out my hair and makeup after I shower.

“Next!” I hear Jax call from the downstairs bathroom.

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