Page 14 of Bravely Yours

“I wish I could keep up with mine.”

“Yours?” I raised an eyebrow at her.

“Yeah. I have good intentions every year, but by this point in the season, it’s usually a lost cause. My dad nags me about it, so you would think I wouldn’t forget.”

I was intrigued. “Do you create a team just to appease your dad?”

“My dad is a huge football fanatic, so fantasy league and watching games together is our thing.” Her shoulders rose and fell as she took another bite of her food. “I was cheerleading captain in high school. Between that and my dad, I know a pretty good amount. I love the idea behind fantasy football, and I’m excited at the beginning of every season. But I don’t know. Life happens, and I get sidetracked easily, I guess. Especially now that I have Nora.”

Her phone chimed from where it sat on the floor next to her, pulling her attention away from me. She unlocked the screen, and her eyes went wide in the same way they had earlier today outside the diner. Just as quickly as the expression appeared, though, it was gone again.

“What is it?” I asked, chills running down my spine.

She shook her head and placed her phone face down on the carpet. “Just a wrong number.”

My stomach twisted at the fear that clashed across her face, but I’d let it go for now. We were neighbors, and I was helping her out. It wasn’t like I could demand she open up and tell me what was going on. But I had this weird need to get to know her more, and I wanted her to trust me. To feel comfortable letting her guard down.

I guess I just had to earn it.

Chapter Ten

SARAH

As I setthe last grocery bag on the counter, I looked around. Somehow, I’d subconsciously picked up enough to make dinners for two.

Jay had been over all but two nights this past week. I assumed he was on shift when he wasn’t with us.

But when he was here, we would fall into an easy routine. I’d start dinner, then Nora would fuss. Within a few minutes, Jay would show up at my door and keep her occupied while I cooked. Then we would eat and watch football or a show onNetflix. We both liked comedies, so choosing what to watch was never an issue.

Nora, miraculously, was playing nicely in her Pack ’n’ Play while I put the groceries away. I hated to admit it, but it was almost disappointing that she wasn’t fussing. If she didn’t cry, then I couldn’t expect Jay to show up at my door.

A high-pitched squeal of delight pulled my attention. Nora was bouncing and pushing the buttons on the stuffed elephant, making it light up and say the phrases it had been programmed to make.

A knock sounded on the door a moment later, and for a fleeting moment, I hoped it was Jay. But that was unlikely since Nora wasn’t crying.

Yet it was Jay who appeared when I swung the door open.

One brow raised, he tilted to one side and peered around me. “Thought I heard her crying.”

Does he just sit outside my door waiting for Nora to make the slightest sound?

“Oh.” Although I desperately wanted him to come in, I wasn’t going to lie. “Nah, she was just squealing over a new toy my mom got her.”

Nodding, he shuffled his feet and sent me that smile of his that Ireallyneeded to stop obsessing over.

“Well, I’m here now anyway. I can sit with her…”

“Oh.” I clasped my hands in front of me and looked from him to Nora and back again. “You don’t need to.”

“I know. But—I want to.” The last of his words were laced with so much sincerity.

My heart panged and my throat went tight. “Are you sure?”

In response, he stepped inside, coming so close I had no choice but to back up and pull the door open wider.

He swung Nora up into his arms, and she proceeded to bop him on the nose. With a chuckle at the two of them, I made my way back into the kitchen. He was so good with her,or at least he had come a long way from that day in the grocery store.

“Did you update your lineup yet?”

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