Page 106 of A Quarterback for Christmas

Sitting up, she plays with the hem of her skirt, and it’s the quietest I’ve ever seen her. She doesn’t like that answer, but she’s not going to force it.

“What are you thinking about?” I nudge her with my elbow, offering her a smile.

“That if only I had said no to Jimmy Johnson, you would have been able to ask me to prom.”

“But then we would have never had sex on a treadmill.” I try to make her laugh, but I just get a sad smile.

“Look, you’ve said it yourself. You’ve always wanted to go to London. You need to do that, and I need to be here. Who knows what will happen after.”

Her eyes are watering, and I feel it in my gut just as much as her, but I’ve got to be the strong one. One of us needs to think rationally.

“So you’re okay with this? Me leaving and us being nothing more than friends?”

“Hell no. I want you, Bella. Always have.”

“Then why can’t this happen?”

“Because as much as I want to pretend this could be our happy ending, I know it would only be a misleading chapter in the book. For the time we're apart, being anything more than friends would set us up for failure again. Let's take the time to get toknow each other better. Let’s build a foundation of being friends first.”

She pushes her tongue out, licking her lips in the process. “Friends first?” She processes the words and gives a gentle nod. “So, as friends, can I have your number?”

“It’s all yours.”

“Can we text?”

“I would be upset if we didn’t.”

“And call?”

“Daily.”

“What about Snapchat?”She raises a brow with a mischievous expression on her face. Guessing she’s planning on making the whole ‘friends’ concept really hard on me.

“Maybe not Snapchat. Look how badly technology ruined things for us last time.”

“So email or snail mail. I get it.” I hope she really does and doesn’t see it as a rejection. I don’t want to close off the opportunity to be with her, but we need to be realistic.

“So really it's no pressure kind of thing?”

“No pressure. Let’s get to know each other as friends. After all, I’ve known you as the girl who hated me, then liked me. Now, I need to know the girl you want to be.”

“What if who I want to be is with you?”

I shrug my shoulder, hiding how much hearing that makes my chest constrict. “Then you'll find that out in London, and I’ll be waiting.”

She looks downcast, but I'm adamant about the decision. We are not going to screw this up. We've done it too many times and learned the hard way.

“Okay, friends?” She holds her hand out, and I accept it with a shake.

“Friends,” I confirm. “Now, I should probably help you get to your hotel. Want you nice and rested for your flight tomorrow.”

“Trying to get rid of me already,friend?”

“Never.” I kiss her on the cheek, and the taste of her skin brands me. It’s not the end. It never will be for Bella and me.

Chapter 31

Bella

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