Page 30 of Playing Games

Oh, trust me, I know he does.What I’m trying to understand is why do I keep finding myself thinking about him? Obsessing about him? Creating AI-enhanced apps to analyze him and what he does to me?

But I don’t even think about telling Quinn all that. Instead, I feign annoyance and roll my eyes.

“You just want me to end up with a football player so you can rub it in my face.”

Quinn’s smile is huge. “I admit, that would be a fun bonus, but you know all I ever want is to see you happy.”

I appreciate his words, but the fact that he’s tying the premise of happy into a conversation he initiated about Blake Boden pushes me a little too far out of my comfort zone.

“Do we really have to talk about this?”

He chuckles. “No, I guess we don’t.”

“Good.”

“I’m going to, though, just a little bit more.”

“Quinn—”

“All I’m going to say is to give it a chance.” He holds up both hands in the air. “Don’t shut shit down just because you think you should. Let the wind blow you.”

“Right,” I say with a groan. “Because that’s exactly who I am as a person. Just letting thingshappeninstead of planning them.”

“Maybe it’s time to adapt.” He shrugs one suggestive shoulder in my direction. “Didn’t you learn anything here at camp? You’ve got to think on your feet.”

“Please.” I sigh. “Don’t even think about using football analogies on me.”

Quinn’s booming laughter sounds like it comes from his toes. “All right, I’ll let it go. I’m just saying…”

“Yeah, yeah, I hear you,” I say, hurrying to hush him as Blake approaches us from the center of the field, a smile on his undeniably handsome face. “Now, drop it.”

Quinn slings the bags of balls over his shoulder with a gloating smile, and I consider the ramifications of stabbing him. I don’teven know howIfeel about Blake yet. The last thing I need right now is Quinn freaking Bailey complicating things by inviting outside interest in the situation.

“You still up for that weight-room competition?” Blake asks as he arrives, a bag of his own balls slung over his shoulder. The two big, muscular men look like a couple of fit football Santa Clauses.

“You bet,” Quinn agrees. “Cat’s busy until five anyway.”

The mere mention of his wife’s name makes me smile at the fond memories I have of her over the years. “How is Cat these days?”

“Excellent,” Quinn says, beaming. “Better than every other person combined, in my humble opinion.”

I smile. “Good you found someone who can put up with you.” I was a fairly young girl when they got together, but I was aware enough to know their romance was full of struggle and obstacles. Now that I’m researching compatibility, everything about how their story unfolded seems way more interesting than it did back then.

“Please. She doesn’t just put up with me. She worships me.” Quinn winks. “Just like Boden’s going to after I kick his ass at the racks.”

“Great,” Blake says through a soft chuckle. “We’ll drop these balls off in the training closet on the way there, then.”

“You both act like you have privileges in the weight room.” I point at Quinn. “You’re retired.” And then at Blake. “And you don’t play professional ball yet.”

“Yet, huh?” Blake waggles his brows.

I shake my head, but Quinn just smiles at me.

“We’re with the owner’s daughter, Lexi Lou. Somehow, I think it’ll all shake out okay.”

I sigh.

“Don’t worry, Lex,” Blake chimes in. “We’ll try to make it entertaining, at least. And I can still spot you if you want to participate.”

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