Page 32 of Dream Girl Drama

Chloe was beginning to look uncomfortable by herself in the coupled-up family area, which propelled Sig into motion. He hefted his gear bag more securely onto his shoulder and wove through a few groups to reach Chloe, who softened at the sight of him. Just kind of exhaled with her entire body, wringing her hands briefly before giving him a quick hug. Way too quick.

They didn’t hug like that when they were alone.

People were watching, though. Wondering about their dynamic. Why Chloe came to every game like a devoted girlfriend, when in fact, she was his future stepsister. Yeah, they wondered about his relationship with Chloe for a damn good reason.

He wondered about it, too. Day and night.

Mainly about how much longer he could embody this obsession with Chloe without having a nervous breakdown. Niko, the private investigator, was still in the process of verifying thepreliminary facts and the case, not to mention sifting through Harvey’s plethora of past relationships, which was taking time. A lot more time than Sig and Chloe had.

“Hey,” he said, letting her go from their brief embrace. Feeling eyes on his back. “Thanks for coming.”

She gave him a prim look. “I don’t think the refs were very glad to see me.”

He chuckled, remembering her indignant pout on the other side of the glass.

Indignant and beautiful. God, so fucking beautiful.

“Nope,” Sig responded. “Pretty sure every ref in the league has your face pinned to a dartboard in their kitchen.”

Humor was slowly beginning to replace the tension that was always between them at first. The moments that held the empty space where a kiss would be, if they were free to express themselves honestly. “With their poor eyesight? I’m not worried about them hitting a bull’s-eye.” She scrutinized the lower half of his face, her gaze snagging on the bandaged cut on his nose. “Is it bad?”

“Nah. I’ve cut myself worse shaving.”

With her attention fastened on his jaw, she hummed quietly.

Sig moved a little closer. As much as he dared in this setting. “What?”

“Nothing,” Chloe murmured. “I’ve just never seen you shave before.”

He swore his heart was beating in his stomach. Every time. She did this to him within secondsevery time. “Would you want to watch me shave, Chlo?” he asked, after a brief check over his shoulder. To make sure no one was within earshot.

Slowly, her eyes climbed up to meet his. “Yes.”

It took an effort to keep his breathing even. Was this a crazy conversation to be having in the friends and family area after agame? Absolutely, yes. Was it odd for him andthiswoman? No. Not at all. There was nothing typical about her. Or them. There might be dozens of people scattered throughout the room, but when they were standing this close and no one else could hear them, anything went with Chloe. And he lived and breathed to find out what she would say and do next.

“If you shave for me,” she said for his ears alone, her tone playful now, “I’ll let you help me decide what I should wear for the first day of my new mentorship tomorrow.”

He dismantled that statement piece by piece, examining every part of it.

“Hold up. You’re starting a new mentorship tomorrow?”

She nodded, a smile blooming across her mouth. “My instructors told me they were trying to land me a mentorship with the first chair harpist at BSO.” Boston Symphony Orchestra. “I got the email while I was in Paris. They are going to take me on.”

Sig tried not to stare at those lips. Failed. “When were you going to tell me this was in the works?”

“You’re busy with the season.”

He scoffed. “On day five of Hell Week, you texted me that you wanted French toast, so I brought you out for French toast, in between practices. In a sweaty T-shirt and shorts.” He tamped down on the urge to lean down and kiss her forehead. “You know damn well I’m never too busy for you, Chloe. Whyreallydidn’t you tell me?”

Her smile dipped. “Because I’m nervous and I was thinking of backing out.”

Again, he struggled not to reach for her. “Okay. We’ll talk it out.”

“All right, Bearcats fam,” called the arena’s maintenance guy, Augie. “We’re turning the lights off and going home, if you don’t mind making your way to the parking lot.”

“Night, Augie,” Burgess boomed to Sig’s right, throwing the man a salute. “Thanks.”

Everyone followed the captain’s lead, shouting their thanks at the maintenance man, while filing out into the team parking lot. Once they reached Sig’s truck, Chloe exchanged a hug with Tallulah and Lissa. Sig fist-bumped Burgess. And then Sig was boosting Chloe into the passenger seat of his truck, wincing as he always did when the damaged leather touched her thighs. “Don’t even start grumbling about a new truck. Not again,” she said, preemptively, checking her appearance in the rearview, her pinkie dragging a U-shape beneath one of her eyes. “This one is perfect.”

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